Composite Developments in Aircraft Structures — Part 1

THE first tentative steps in the use of composite materials for primary structures were taken in 1940 when, a Blenheim main spar was built of Gordon Aerolite, a material developed by Dr. Norman de Bruyne's firm, Aero Research Ltd. of Duxford (now part of the Ciba‐Geigy Group). It comprised unbleached flax thread skein formed with phenolic resin in a heated press to form what was probably the world's first advanced composite material.