A Bettsometer is a

fabric Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not th ...

degradation tester commonly used to measure or test the integrity of fabric coverings (and associated stitching) on

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engine ...

and their

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...

s. The Bettsometer comprises a

pen A pen is a common writing instrument that applies ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Early pens such as reed pens, quill pens, dip pens and ruling pens held a small amount of ink on a nib or in a small void or cavity wh ...

-like instrument (which functions much like a

spring balance A spring scale, spring balance or newton meter is a type of mechanical force gauge or weighing scale. It consists of a spring fixed at one end with a hook to attach an object at the other. It works in accordance with Hooke's Law, which states t ...

) and a smooth round needle or pin. The needle is inserted into the fabric and then the instrument is pulled to exert a specific force on the fabric in order to test. A visual inspection is made to check for any rips or tears at the needle insertion point. The Bettsometer test is often a requirement for the annual ' permit' renewal and is usually carried out by an aircraft inspector who will know the requirements of the test (i.e. the areas of sail and stitching to be tested and the force to be exerted).

References

Measuring instruments Aerospace engineering {{aviation-stub