Go to the YellowAirplane Reference Index Incredible Bi-Plane Adventures

Aircraft Useage Bending, Compressive Strength Botanical Name Combined Value Common Name Comparative Value Hardness Notes Shock Resistance Specific Gravety Stiffness Type Type II

110 Alnus rubra 103 red 103 114
100 100 102 Alder Hard wood

112 Malus pumila var 149
70 283
206 165 102 Apple Hard wood

149 Fraxinus biltmoreana 144 biltmore white 89 248 Commercial "white ash" includes white, green, biltmore white, and blue ash, all of which grow in the eastern half of the United States. Its principal centers of production, however, are in the Lake States and from Tennessee and Arkansas south.
Biltmore white ash is confined chiefly to Tennessee , Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana
161 138 115 Ash Hard wood

101 Fraxinus nigra 129 black 93 152 Black ash is found in the Lake States, in New England and New York. This species as cut in the lLake States is more often termed brown ash 172 124 93 Ash Hard wood

150 Fraxinus quadrangulata 161 blue 94 283 Commercial "white ash" includes white, green, biltmore white, and blue ash, all of which grow in the eastern half of the United States. Its principal centers of production, however, are in the Lake States and from Tennessee and Arkansas south.
Blue ash occours in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and southern Missouri.
207 143 102 Ash Hard wood

149 Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata 145 green 85 225 Commercial "white ash" includes white, green, biltmore white, and blue ash, all of which grow in the eastern half of the United States. Its principal centers of production, however, are in the Lake States and from Tennessee and Arkansas south.
Green ash is the most commercially important ash in the bottom lands of the Mississippi River, its tributaries and in the Costal Plain region.
163 143 115 Ash Hard wood

122 Fraxinus oregona 139 oregon 89 224 Oergon ash is mostly found in Oregon and Washington. 173 135 105 Ash Hard wood

119 Fraxinus profunda 112 pumpkin 76 245 Pumpkin ash is mostly important in Missouri and North Caroliina. 123 130 87 Ash Hard wood

153 Fraxinus americana 171 white 94 225 Commercial "white ash" includes white, green, biltmore white, and blue ash, all of which grow in the eastern half of the United States. Its principal centers of production, however, are in the Lake States and from Tennessee and Arkansas south.
White ash is found in all states east of the Mississippi River but has its least commercial importance value in the lower Mississippi Valley.
215 149 124 Ash Hard wood

150 Average of 4 species 161 commercial, white 91 257 Commercial "white ash" includes white, green, biltmore white, and blue ash, all of which grow in the eastern half of the United States. Its principal centers of production, however, are in the Lake States and from Tennessee and Arkansas south. 196 146 118 Ashes Hard wood

85 Populus tremuloides 87
94 74
94 95 79 Aspen Hard wood

93 Populus grandidentata 92 largetooth 99 90
89 95 96 Aspen Hard wood
Aircraft uses: It can be used as cores in composite construction creating very strong fiberglass structures. It is also used for streamlining wooden struts and braces.
Ochroma spp.



Distribution: Balsa wood grows extensively in Central America and in the northern part of South America. It is the lightest commercial wood known. and is a second-growth tree. Second growth means that it grows in areas where the ground has once been cleared by floods, fires, or human cultivation. It is one of the most rapidly growing trees known.



Balsa Soft wood
Rib webbing, Plywood Core Stock: Because of its ability to take nails without splitting it is desireable for use as web material in wing ribs. Because of its light weight combined with other desirable qualities it is used as core stock for pllywood. 85 Tilia glabra 83
104 74 Basswood occurs from New Brunswick to Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama. In Canada it appears westward to Lake Superiror and Lake Winnipeg and in the United States westward to the eastern part of the dakotas, Kanasa, and Oklahoma. Over 50% of the annual cut is produced in the Lake States. It reaches its largest size in the Ohio Valley but is more abundant farther north. Mature trees reach diameters of 3 to 4 feet. 76 86 93 Basswood Hard wood
Propellers: About 5 to 10 percent of the first and seconds will provide quarter-sawed stock suitable for propellers 138 Fagus grandifolia 156
84 229 Beech occurs from Nova Scotia to northern Wisconsin and south to western Florida with a western boundary to southeastern Missouri and eastern Texas. At maturity it may reach diameters of 3 feet. 190 151 124 Beech Hard wood

122 Betula neoalaskana 144 alaska white 95 145
177 132 118 Birch Hard wood

81 Betula populifolia 130 gray 96 129
207 122 62 Birch Hard wood

103 Betula papyrifera 154 paper 104 138
223 130 101 Birch Hard wood
Propellers: Veneer: About 25% of First and Second grades are suitable for propellers. The largest and best logs are used for veneer 156 Betula lenta 184 sweet 89 248 Occurs from Newfoundland to western Ontario in Canada. In the United States it occurs in New England, New York, New jersey, Pennsylvania, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to Florida. There are many other varieties but only the Yellow Birch and the Sweet birch have any real aviation use. 224 162 152 Birch Hard wood
Propellers: Veneer: About 25% of First and Second grades are suitable for propellers. The largest and best logs are used for veneer 143 Betula lutea 181 yellow 99 205 Yellow birch occurs from Newfoundland through northern New England and west to Minnesota and south along the Applachian ranges to northern Georgia. Thee are many other varieties of birch but only the Yellow and Sweet have any reaql use in aviation 241 149 128 Birch Hard wood

169 Avicennia nitida 188
56 440
235 224 136 Blackwood Hard wood

79 Aesculus octandra 77 yellow 92 74
73 89 82 Buckeye Hard wood

92 Juglans cinerea 99
103 95 The Butternut ranges from southern New Brunswick to Delaware and tin the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia and Alabama: Westward through Ontario and Michigans upper peninsula to eastern south Dakota, eastern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska, central Kansas, southern Missouri, and northern Arkansas. 113 97 85 Butternut Hard wood

133 Conocarpus erecta 119
47 290
110 186 117 Buttonwood Hard wood

103 Rhamus purshiana 133
85 205
197 135 68 Cascara Hard wood

85 Catalpa speciosa 105 hardy 100 102
134 103 81 Catalpa Hard wood

115 Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 118 alaska 97 126
131 114 100 Cedar Soft wood

106 Juniperus virginiana 116 eastern red 89 193
161 119 59 Cedar Soft wood

104 Libocedrus decurrens 82 incense 88 112
75 95 71 Cedar Soft wood

71 Thuja occidentalis 65 northern white 94 71
66 78 57 Cedar Soft wood

118 Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 117 port orford 104 114
111 108 124 Cedar Soft wood

78 Chamaecyparis thyoides 73 southern white 95 83
72 84 68 Cedar Soft wood

92 Thuja plicata 80 western red 104 90
73 84 79 Cedar Soft wood

133 Prunus serotina 137 black 96 171
158 127 110 Cherry Hard wood

86 Prunus pennsylvanica 95 pin 99 98
108 97 86 Cherry Hard wood

96 Castanea dentata 92
82 119
97 108 82 Chestnut Hard wood

111 Castanopsis chrysophylla 115 golden 94 148
134 114 92 Chiquapin Hard wood

88 Populus deltoides 95 eastern 95 86
103 100 90 Cottonwood Hard wood

83 Populus trichocarpa hastata 84 northern Black 105 69
83 86 88 Cottonwood Hard wood

118 Taxodium distichum 108 southern 89 124
107 114 100 Cypress Soft wood

139 Cornus florida 181
79 367
270 173 91 Dogwood Hard wood

124 Cornus nuttallii 158 pacific 80 276
217 157 104 Dogwood Hard wood

135 Pseudotsuga taxifolia (coast region) 125
93 140
114 122 133 Douglas fir Soft wood

117 Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Inland Empire) 110
94 138
101 111 117 Douglas fir Soft wood

108 Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Rocky Mountain region) 101
90 124
94 108 104 Douglas fir Soft wood

103 Sambucus coerulea 120 blueberry 87 162
154 124 85 Elder Hard wood

111 Ulmus americana 133 american 96 157
173 124 96 Elm Hard wood

142 Ulmus racemosa 186 rock 97 248
266 154 109 Elm Hard wood

126 Ulmus fulva 163 slippery 110 171
228 130 103 Elm Hard wood

88 Ficus aurea 79 golden 61 N.A.
92 119 49 Fig Hard wood

75 Abies lasiocarpa 63 alpine 82 79
51 84 69 Fir Soft wood

86 Abies balsamea 79 balsam 90 74
70 92 87 Fir Soft wood

106 Abies magnifica 101 california red 101 124
100 100 99 Fir Soft wood

75 Abies arizonica 66 corkbark 100 64
54 76 76 Fir Soft wood

106 Abies grandis 106 lowland white 106 102
101 100 115 Fir Soft wood

104 Abies nobilis 102 noble 110 93
96 95 110 Fir Soft wood

101 Abies amabilis 102 silver 110 88
99 95 108 Fir Soft wood

103 Averages of 4 species 99 True 106 98
93 95 104 Fir Soft wood

100 Abies concolor 92 white 99 100
85 95 93 Fir Soft wood

112 Nyssa sylvatica 105 black 76 186
113 124 87 Gum Hard wood

194 Eucalyptus globulus 185 blue 85 314
189 168 171 Gum Hard wood

114 Liquidambar styraciflua 120 red 92 143
139 119 99 Gum Hard wood

117 Nyssa aquatica 109 tupelo 79 186
114 124 93 Gum Hard wood

54 Bursera simaruba 49
67 71
45 81 49 Gumbo-limbo Hard wood

103 Celtis occidentalis 139
91 176
204 132 79 Hackberry Hard wood

128 Crataegus tomentosa 176 pear 81 302
272 168 79 Haw Hard wood

104 Tsuga canadensis 95 eastern 90 121
94 103 89 Hemlock Soft wood

117 Tsuga mertensiana 120 mountain 96 152
139 116 96 Hemlock Soft wood

108 Tsuga heterophylla (West Coast) 105 western 100 119
103 103 106 Hemlock Soft wood

183 Average of 4 species 268 true 115 N.A.
411 176 138 Hickories Hard wood

162 Hicoria laciniosa 267 bigleaf shagbark 122 N.A.
434 168 121 Hickory Hard wood

176 Hicora cordiformis 223 bitternut 108 N.A.
320 162 125 Hickory Hard Wood

179 Hicoria alba 253 mockernut 111 N.A.
380 173 136 Hickory Hard wood

150 Hicoria myristicaeformis 207 nutmeg 111 N.A.
311 151 108 Hickory Hard wood

192 Hicoria glabra 282 pignut 119 N.A.
434 178 146 Hickory Hard wood

179 Hicoria ovata 246 shagbark 108 N.A.
363 173 136 Hickory Hard wood

171 Hicoria aquatica 202 water 95 N.A.
266 165 136 Hickory Hard wood

164 Average of 4 species 206 pecan 103 338
292 159 121 Hicories Hard wood

103 Ilex opaca 126
80 205
175 135 75 Holly Hard wood

140 Ostrya virginiana 173
78 300
238 170 110 Hop-hornbeam Hard wood

164 Exothea paniculata 178
64 431
217 197 134 Inkwood Hard wood

225 Krugiodendron ferreum 196 black 42 N.A.
183 281 187 Ironwood Hard wood

96 Juniperus pachyphloea 88 alligator 59 225
111 130 44 Juniper Soft wood

132 Larix occidentails 119 western 80 152
114 130 112 Larch Soft wood

136 Kalmia latifolia 130 mountain 60 340
159 168 81 Laurel Hard wood

225 Robinia pseudoacacia 213 black 90 383
239 178 162 Locust Hard wood

156 Gleditsia triacanthos 164 honey 80 369
203 162 112 Locust Hard wood

121 Arbutus menziesii 115
58 271
131 157 86 Madrofio Hard wood

124 Magnolia acuminata 134 cucumber 103 136
145 119 129 Magnolia Hard wood

108 Magnolia grandiflora 145 evergreen 105 190
199 124 100 Magnolia Hard wood

104 Magnolia fraseri 108 Mountain 96 121
114 108 104 Magnolia Hard wood

232 Rhizophora mangle 222
60 598
231 240 199 Mangrove Hard wood

117 Acer macrophyllum 108 bigleaf 83 174
110 119 97 Maple Hard wood

126 Acer nigrum 149 black 89 231
190 141 110 Maple Hard wood

125 acer ruburm 135 red 89 188
155 132 116 Maple Hard wood

97 Acer saccharinum 106 silver 82 115
131 119 78 Maple Hard wood

106 Acer pennsylvanicum 119 striped 92 140
141 119 99 Maple Hard wood

154 Acer saccharum 165 sugar 86 274
194 154 131 Maple Hard wood

164 Sideroxylon foetidissimum 144
39 495
137 240 135 Mastic Hard wood

103 Umbellularia californica 135 oregon 83 252
203 138 65 Myrtle Hard wood

132 Quercus velutina 145 black 78 243
180 151 107 Oak Hard wood

114 Quercus macrocarpa 123 bur 62 267
161 157 76 Oak Hard wood

97 Quercus kelloggii 94 california black 58 236
107 138 70 Oak Hard wood

162 Quercus chrysolepis 159 canyon live 61 431
185 189 117 Oak Hard wood

138 Quercus montana 139 chestnut 73 214
151 154 122 Oak Hard wood

135 Average of 9 species 158 commercial red 85 245
196 151 124 Oak Hard wood

133 Average of 6 species 145 commercial white 72 260
176 159 110 Oak Hard wood

128 Quercus laurifolia 144 laurel 77 236
169 151 124 Oak Hard wood

190 Quercus virginiana 191 live 59 571
208 219 168 Oak Hard wood

121 Quercus garryana 134 oregon white 59 364
179 173 79 Oak Hard wood

133 Quercus palustris 165 pin 84 264
214 157 123 Oak Hard wood

132 Quercus stellata 146 post 71 290
183 162 105 Oak Hard wood

131 Quercus borealis 158 red 85 245
201 151 121 Oak Hard wood

96 Quercus utahensis 91 rocky mountain white 42 326
110 168 57 Oak Hard wood

156 Quercus coccinea 188 scarlet 91 286
246 162 133 Oak Hard wood

111 Quercus rubra 114 southern red 68 205
117 141 112 Oak Hard wood

136 Quercus prinus 155 swamp chestnut 75 245
186 162 126 Oak Hard wood

176 Quercus rubra pagodaefolia 193 swamp red 91 293
228 165 158 Oak Hard wood

165 Quercus bicolor 185 swamp white 81 290
232 173 135 Oak Hard wood

14 Quercus nigra 165 water 89 240
194 151 144 Oak Hard wood

138 Quercus alba 148 WHITE 72 257
179 162 112 Oak Hard wood

128 Quercus phellos 142 willow 76 252
163 151 123 Oak Hard wood

53 Sabal palmetto 56 cabbage 56 50
69 100 40 Palmetto Hard wood

60 Simarouba galuca 48
57 76
30 89 63 Paradise-tree Hard wood

149 Hicoria pecan 171
83 338
220 162 119 Pecan Hard wood

165 Diospyro virginiana 165
72 386
192 173 126 Persimmon Hard wood

156 Coccolobis laurifolia 152
51 450
161 208 135 Pigeon-plum Hard wood

94 Pinus banksiana 97 jack 90 114
110 105 82 Pine Soft wood

96 Pinus jeffreyi 90 jeffrey 90 105
89 100 85 Pine Soft wood

136 Pinus flexilis 130 limber 83 148
131 100 122 Pine Soft wood

136 Pinus taeda 130 loblolly 83 148
131 135 122 Pine Soft wood

97 Pinus contorta 91 lodgepole 87 98
85 103 94 Pine Soft wood

157 Pinus palustris 147 Longleaf 81 181
145 149 139 Pine Soft wood

128 Pinus pungens 124 mountain 82 152
130 132 111 Pine Soft wood

90 Pinus strobus 84 northern white 95 83
77 92 88 Pine Soft wood

122 Pinus resinosa 120 norway 92 110
118 119 120 Pine Soft wood

108 Pinus rigida 119 pitch 88 133
135 122 107 Pine Soft wood

132 Pinus rigida serotina 124 pond 79 152
127 135 113 Pine Soft wood

121 Pinus clausa 115 sand 85 150
121 122 99 Pine Soft wood

139 Pinus echinata 142 shortleaf 93 162
156 132 125 Pine Soft wood

167 Pinus caribaea 152 slash 67 221
148 173 143 Pine Soft wood

92 Pinus lambertiana 83 sugar 89 90
77 95 82 Pine Soft wood

100 Pinus monticola (Idaho) 97 western 101 83
92 97 101 Pine Soft wood

93 Pinus ponderosa 85 western yellow (Pondersoa & California white 81 98
82 103 82 Pine Soft wood

100 Pinus monticola 97 white 97 83
92 97 101 Pine Soft wood

92 Pinus edulis 88
56 174
92 135 79 Pinon Soft wood

89 Metopium toxiferum 76
47 148
69 138 73 Poisonwood Hard wood

67 Populus balsamifera 65 balsam 89 60
61 81 70 Poplar Hard wood

97 Liriodindron tulipifera 91 yellow 87 95
82 103 99 Poplar Hard wood

133 Sequoia sempervirens 109
93 140
99 111 99 Redwood Soft wood

122 Rhododendron maximum 119 great 76 248
146 135 74 Rhododendron Hard wood

99 Sassafras varifolium 109
89 143
138 114 76 Sassafras Hard wood

165 Amelanchier canadensis 197
83 312
262 178 133 Serviceberry Hard wood

101 Halesia carolina 106
87 126
114 114 98 Silvebell Hard wood

126 Oxydendrum arboreum 137
87 198
152 135 124 Sourwood Hard wood

96 Picea mariana 107 black 102 95
115 103 105 Spruce Soft wood

78 Picea engelmannii 70 engelmann 91 76 Engleman spruce occurs from Southern New Mexico and South eastern Arizona to British Columbia and west to the eastern slopes of the Cascade mountains in Oregon and Washington. Less than 1% would be suitable for use in aircraft as a substitute for Sitka spruce. Aircraft grade would come from stock grown near the Canadian border. 63 84 74 Spruce Soft wood

497 Eugenia confusa 195 red 58 N.A.
228 224 145 Stopper Hard wood

103 Celtis laevigata 121
85 198
163 127 76 Sugarberry Hard wood

104 Rhus hirta 119 staghorn 88 152
163 122 69 Sumach Hard wood

104 Platanus occidentalis 104
75 152
110 124 95 Sycamore Hard wood

124 Larix laricina 118
78 126
120 132 108 Tamarack Soft wood

156 Juglans nigra 155 black 96 210
175 138 123 Walnut Hard wood

124 Juglans rupestris 136 little 80 N.A.
177 143 87 Walnut Hard wood

60 Salix nigra 87 black 99 83
128 92 51 Willow Hard wood

97 Salix lasiandra 91 western black 87 95
82 103 99 Willow Hard wood

138 Hamamelis virginiana 179
96 255
263 151 95 Witch-hazel Hard wood

158 Taxus brevifolia 173 pacific 84 329
239 162 89 Yew Soft wood

 

 


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