Paul,

You had a discusion about early composite aircraft.

To my knowlege the first successful aircraft was a totally composite sailplane designed and built by one Byran Stender, the B.S.-1, while a student at Darmstadt.  It was completed just in time for the German Nationals and it was flown in it by Byran, I believe.

It took first place in each of the first three days.  A noted German contestant made the remark: "Ja! It is doing well in these strong thermal conditions, but it von't in veak conditions!"  The weather changed,to weak thermals.  The B.S.-1 continued to win each day.  The next to the last day of the contest the B.S.-1 had accumulated enough points that it would have won even if it hadn't flown the last day.

Two more ships were built using the molds.

Some time later Byran was running some flight tests and there was a catastrophic failure of the spar within the fuselage.  Byran left the sailplane, at about 1000 feet agl, but his chute did not open.  As was customary, then the ripcord was tied to a laynard with its end attached to the spar.  Consequently the ripcord was never pulled.

After the accident the remainder of the spar was tested.  Although made of E-glass it tested way way lower than it's calculated strength.
 Eugene Sandburg

What year was that?

Paul Lamar