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Old 27th Sep 2011, 19:35
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el caballero rojo
 
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Question Help + Info wanted. Buying a fire exposed air frame.

Hi dear Aviation pro´s,

Today I made a pre-buy inspection of a 1944 L4. The aircraft is in a dismantled state. The airframe looks good besides a welding of the frame. I just found out however that it was originally destroyed in a hangar fire. The only remains were the metal frame and some other tubings. All other parts used to belong to other cubs.
The idea is to restore the aircarft to flying condition.
My question; if this airframe was subjected to an enormous heat,... the danger would be that the strength is compromised. Would you buy such an aircraft? How can I found out the structural integrity?
I am aware of destructive testing where a force is used to penetrate the metal. The depth of the point tells you something of the strength. Can I use this method to asses?

I would be really grateful if somebody could shed some light. The project promises to be a real interesting one besides the fire issue.

Many thanks for any future replies.
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