Aluminum Specification Code Submitted by Rex Bixby Captain TWA 2817 Shantar Dr.

Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626

N BUILDING or rebuilding racing Ihome workshop builder makes use

AMS Numbers for Aircraft Use

2011

2117

2014

6061

2024

7075

AMS Numbers for Marine Use

5052 5083 5086

H Numbers Indicate Hardness

H3 Strain hardened and stabilized. This is followed by numbers that show the degree of hardness. 2 ¥4 hard 4 V4 hard 6 % hard 8 Full hard 9 Extra hard 0 Soft

6061 6063 6262

Tensile Strength Table AMS # T or H Max. Yield 2014 2024

aircraft and boats, the average

of surplus aluminum. Finding the material for your job requires a basic guide that shows the meaning of such codes as: Reynolds 500 QQ-A-327 6051 T 651 or, Kaiser AN 032 QQ-A-250/8 5052-H32 Breaking these codes down, we know that Reynolds and Kaiser are the names of the manufacturers. The QQ-A means aluminum alloy and the digits which follow (327) (250/8), etc. specify the alloy formula. For the most part, we, the homebuilders, can

disregard these numbers — we are mainly interested in the last two groups of numbers. These indicate the AMS (Aircraft Material Specification) number and the heat treating or tempering of the metal to produce strength.

T Numbers Indicate Thermal Tempering

T-l T-2 T-3 T-4 T-5 T-6 T-7 T-8 T-9 T-10

Naturally aged at room temperature. Annealed material. Solution heat treated then cold worked. Solution H.T. then naturally aged. Artificially aged at high temperatures. Solution H.T. then artificially aged. Solution H.T. then stabilized. Sol. H.T., cold worked, artificially aged. Sol. H.T., artificially aged, cold worked. Artificially aged, then cold worked.

H H H H 5083

25M

10M

61M

37M

T-6 0 T-3 T-4

68M 27M 70M 68M

60M 11M 50M 47M

0

28M

13M

32 34 36 38 0

33M 38M 40M 42M 44M

28M 31M 35M 37M 22M

HI 13

46M

33M

0 H 32 H 34 HI 12

38M 42M 47M 39M

17M 30M 37M 19M

6061

0

18M

8M

T4 or T451 35M T6 or T651 45M 7075* 0 33M Maximum (Ultimate) Strength T-6 83M The point in lbs. per square inch where the

21M 40M 15M 73M

T651

metal fails. Yield Strength

The point in lbs. per square inch where the metal sets (bends) but does not fail.

83M

73M

M equals 1000 lbs. /sq. in. *7075 Is essentially a zinc alloy. Care must be taken to avoid deep scratches and nicks which can start cracks. This Is true of any extremely hardened metal.

For additional information write: Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Distributors—Kaiser Steel & Aluminum, 2537 E. 27th St., Los Angeles, Calif.

I'D WALK A MILE . . . craft demonstrations. The day's activities were initiated by an impressive exhibition of precision sky diving by the Army's championship team, the Golden Knights. Monday morning, the winds were variable and shifting, and

one of the Knights was forced to land behind the spectators on the aircraft parking apron with airplanes all around him and the administration building on the upwind side. The between-races activities were almost as thrilling as the races themselves. Hal Krier effortlessly demonstrated his championship aerobatic form in his Great Lakes. Some of his maneuvers are unbelievable and that inverted ribbon pickup gives me the willies. Art Scholl zipped through his repertoire in his racer "Miss San Bernardino", quite a demonstration of the midget racer's aerobatic capabilities, and a beautiful sight, too. For pure power though, nothing can match the P-51 and the "Bearcat." Their powerful, wide sweeping performances were a perfect counterpoint to the snappy little racers and slower, highly maneuverable biplanes. In all, the day's program was nicely diversified with not a moment of boredom. If the planes weren't in the air, they were on the ground and there was always the chance of meeting some of the participants. For a change of pace, one could battle the huge lines for a hamburger or wander around wondering where the rest rooms were. MARCH 1967

5052

0

T-4

5086

(Continued from preceding page)

34

7075

Each day's activities were ended by the showy performance of the Air Force's Thunderbirds. I sunburned my tonsils watching open-mouthed as they blasted

through their beautiful ballet and assaulted my ears with those afterburners. On Monday afternoon, they ended the 1966 Washington National Air Races by flashing by at zero altitude with afterburners full on. The deafening suddenness of those six jets almost blew me off my seat on the top row of the bleachers. Then it was over. The scores of private aircraft were revving up for a mass exodus and the dust was rising as thousands

of earthbound fans departed. Monday evening, the winners were formally announced and received their well deserved awards. Paul Booth, winner of the sport biplane class, walked off with three huge trophies, each three feet high. Bill Falck won the 190 cu. in. class with "Rivets" and the ladies' stock plane race was taken in a "Bonanza" by Judy Wagner, a tall, lovely blonde who looks more like a movie star than a race pilot. I was most relieved to see Nick Jones that evening after his mid-air collision with Jerry Quarton during the final race Monday afternoon. But the real tragedy was the loss of Ollie Arquilla after a fatal crash Sunday in "Miss DARA" during a test flight. So now the races were over, and I drove home with the feeling that I had witnessed what is truly a sport of kings among the flying fraternity. ®