•With the development of modern synthetic materials following World War II, cotton fabrics were replaced in civil aircraft applications by Polyethylene terephthalate, known by the trade-name Dacron or Ceconite.
•This new fabric could be glued to the airframe instead of sewn and then heat-shrunk to fit.
•Grade A cotton would typically last six to seven years when the aircraft was stored outside, whereas Ceconite, which does not rot like cotton, can last over 20 years.