Stainless Steel Airplanes

Noha307 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 09, 2022 11:05 pm

I know hindsight has revealed that stainless steel is not the best material to build airplanes out of, but they do have one advantage I find fascinating. Even after years sitting outside, aside from mechanical damage, they look pristine with zero corrosion. I first discovered this when I saw the Budd RB Conestoga at the Pima Air and Space Museum in November 2018:

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I recently noticed it again when posting a picture of the Fleetwings XBT-12 Sophomore that was in the Soplata Airplane Sanctuary collection:

(Source: Warbird Information Exchange)

Finally, the Budd BB-1 Pioneer has been on display in front of the Franklin Institute for decades:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

MiG-25 was made of stainless steel, since it was intended to do Mach 3+, which would drastically weaken aluminum but the Soviets didn't have the proper titanium skills and resources.

Aeronut · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:18 pm

Although primarily known as one of Britain's largest wooden aircraft, the General Aircraft Ltd Hamilcar glider had the majority of its metal components made from Stainless Steel.

DH82EH · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2022 4:15 pm

XB-70 is all stainless

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1576

...and the Bristol 188.

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 427

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

MiG-25 was made of stainless steel, since it was intended to do Mach 3+, which would drastically weaken aluminum but the Soviets didn't have the proper titanium skills and resources.

I think that they would have had the resources. From "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich about building the A-12 and SR-71:

Quote:

Our supplier, Titanium Metals Corporation, had only limited reserves of the precious alloy, so the CIA conducted a worldwide search and, using third parties and dummy companies, managed to unobtrusively purchase the base metal from one of the world’s leading exporters—the Soviet Union. The Russians never had an inkling of how they were actually contributing to the creation of the airplane being rushed into construction to spy on their homeland.

Stoney · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:06 am

many years ago there was a float plane in Tucson, very chuckle looking, pretty sure it was SS.

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

"I think that they would have had the resources."

I didn't say they didn't have titanium, I said they didn't have the resources, meaning the technology to cut, shape, weld and fasten it. You can read my MiG-25 article in the next issue of Aviation History Magazine.

Noha307 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2022 8:51 pm

Stoney wrote:

many years ago there was a float plane in Tucson, very chuckle looking, pretty sure it was SS.

I don't know about floatplanes, but the Fleetwings Sea Bird flying boat was also made out of stainless steel:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

MiG-25 was made of stainless steel, since it was intended to do Mach 3+, which would drastically weaken aluminum but the Soviets didn't have the proper titanium skills and resources.

The Soviet did build the Alfa-class submarines out of titanium, but they ran into all sorts of issues working the kinks out of the construction process. Like you said, it's apparently a very hard material to work with.

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 427

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

"I think that they would have had the resources."

I didn't say they didn't have titanium, I said they didn't have the resources, meaning the technology to cut, shape, weld and fasten it. You can read my MiG-25 article in the next issue of Aviation History Magazine.

My apologies, I misunderstood that. Having re-read Ben Rich's biography just recently, I suddenly remembered that aspect of the A-12/SR-71 programme. I will have to look up your article, the Soviet approach to building a very fast interceptor was certainly different.

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Stainless Steel Airplanes

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