ORATEX

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ORATEX is the preeminent aircraft covering system and represents the first major breakthrough since cotton and dope.

ORATEX is a pre coloured covering system that is water based and solvent free. No longer do you have to suffer toxic fumes that accumulate in your body, no longer do you have to suffer applying 11 coats of various product to your airframe, no longer do you have to add kilo’s of weight in paints and coatings to that airframe that you spent years paring weight off of, now you can just glue it, shrink it and go fly it.

ORATEX offers major advantages over the legacy covering products such as Polyfibre, Ceconite, Diatex, Randolph etc. ORATEX comes ready to use with everything built in, ORATEX doesn’t need any sealer, any primer, any UV protection and no paint, in fact it needs no coatings at all.

ORATEX is Certified for use in Europe and Canada, and there are over 300 aircraft flying covered in ORATEX around the world today and the numbers are increasing all the time. In the UK the LAA and BMAA clear each aircraft on an individual basis at this time. Following extensive testing FAA STC’s are available for many aircraft including Cessna’s, Piper’s, Taylorcraft and many others.

Non Toxic and environmentally friendly

The use of the ORATEX covering system ensures your safety, there is no need to wear respirators, no need to wear gloves, no need for pressure fed breathing systems, in fact you can use ORATEX in your front room. ORATEX is water based and tools are simply cleaned with cold water.

Skills

TLAC offer regular training courses, courses are run for no more than 5 people at a time and the course cover all aspects of ORATEX, how to use it and the tips and tricks we have learnt over the 10 years of using the product. If you can cover a model aircraft then you are 90% of the way there, but we will teach you how to get a great finish to your aircraft.

Grades of ORATEX

ORATEX comes in 2 weights, both made from highly modified Polyester, the difference being the number of filaments in each fibre. ORATEX 600 has been designed for the Microlight and light wing loading aircraft (in the UK a wing loading of 11.6lbs per sq foot and a VNE of 170mph) whilst the 6000 has been designed for aircraft that can weigh up to 6000kg, although there is an increasing trend for builders of even lightweight aircraft to opt for the ORATEX 6000 for added strength and toughness.

ORATEX Tough yet light weight

ORATEX is use in probably the most harsh environment in the world, that of bush aircraft in Alaska. Landing on sand bars, unprepared strips with all of the abrasive dirt hitting the surface at unbelievable speed and in extreme cold that causes engine oil to go solid is testament to the incredible toughness of the whole covering system. You will never suffer with chipping, cracking, flaking, bulls-eyes or delamination of paint from the surface, yet ORATEX is the lightest covering system we consistently save anywhere between 10 to 30 kg over aircraft covered in the old legacy covering products.

ORATEX bond strength

The ORATEX adhesive system is truly amazing, with the properties of a Holt Melt adhesive, combined with an Epoxy and a Super Glue all rolled into one. Activated by heat to start the bonding process ORATEX hot melt adhesive has been tested to provide adhesion level of over 100lbs per sq inch.

Want to paint over ORATEX

No problem if you have a colour scheme or you want to add features to your covering ORATEX manufacture a 100% compatible paint system. With minimal preparation ORATEX paint can be applied via spray or brush/roller for outstanding results. The paint system is low impact 2 pack that is formulated to be fully fuel and UV resistant.

Want to know more about what ORATEX can do for you? Contact us today

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