One way to differentiate when shopping for airplanes is by material. The type of material used in construction of airplanes can have a significant impact on cost and safety. The skin or outside material for aircraft construction has many criteria to meet and different substances contribute different costs and benefits.
Vintage aircraft utilize a fabric design. The wings and fuselage use fabric covering a frame of lightweight metal or even wood. This type of design can be inexpensive compared to other types of construction. An advantage of this type of aircraft is the extremely light weight of the fabric. This allows manufacturers to add more weight in items like bigger, more powerful engines. There is always a battle of keeping the weight of an airplane below certain limits to enhance range and safety.
Another material used in airplane construction is fiberglass or composite substances. These substances can be extremely lightweight and strong when compared to fabric. A drawback is in the construction process. Special tools and equipment is needed to build and repair this type of airplane skin. The fabric design, mentioned above, needs only scissors and glue, with some skills, to build or repair. Another advantage to composite materials is their strength. Many composite constructed airplanes can withstand icing conditions and lightning strikes.
Choosing and airplane by material that it is built from is a basic starting point when considering airplane ownership. The factors that drive this type of decision come from the intended uses of the plane. How long will most flights be? How many passengers and cargo need to be flown? All of these can drive the ultimate decision of the type of aircraft to purchase.










