In aircraft construction, why is plywood preferred over solid wood?

Plywood is preferred over solid wood in aircraft construction primarily due to its greater strength and stability. The manufacturing process of plywood involves layering thin sheets of wood veneer, which are glued together with the grain of each layer running perpendicular to the adjacent layers. This cross-laminated structure enhances the material's resistance to warping, splitting, and bending compared to solid wood, which can become unstable due to environmental factors like humidity and temperature changes.

In the context of aircraft, maintaining structural integrity and minimizing weight are crucial. Plywood’s layered construction allows it to achieve higher strength properties while being lighter than a solid wooden counterpart of similar dimensions. Additionally, the uniformity of plywood contributes to more predictable mechanical properties, which is essential for safety and performance in aviation.

While options discussing weight, cost, ease of workability, and aesthetics have some truth to them, they do not encompass the primary reasons plywood is favored in the demanding context of aircraft construction where strength, stability, and reliability are paramount.