Aircraft dope

Aircraft dope is a substance painted onto fabric-covered aircraft to tauten the skin. Airplane glue was to be applied only in well-ventilated areas. Breathing the fumes made people dopey acting stupid, foolish, and clumsy.

The term dope is generally used today to refer to anything that gets people high either pharmaceuticals or the evening news.

Dopers may appear stupefied, confused, muddled, befuddled, disorientated, groggy, or muzzy.

Yup, it’s the very same aircraft dope Uncle Sam used on the cloth surfaces of his biplanes in the Great War.

Aircraft dope shrinks cotton and linen fabric and provides a watertight seal.

6👍 1👎