So what does "Balsa" mean?

[Flanker .]

A bit of fun info from the Spanish World of the Flanker. Do you know what "Balsa" actually means ? Well pronounced BAL as in Ballet or Balance, BAL SA means "Raft" in Spanish as the soft light wood was what was used in South America for making Balsas - Rafts.

 

There a little fact from Spain.

 

 

Hasta ahora mis amigos.

 

Vais Bien

 

F

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Marko]

because the way the balsa tree grows with its large leaves its also called the nurse tree

but did you know its also regarded as a weed as when the seed pods blow onto cleared farm land the spout very quickly there large broad leaves block out the sun for the crops and did you know they can grow up to 90 feet tall but become very unstable as bark on the outside prevents the tree from breathing so it rots inside due to the high water content about 60% ,and its classified as a hardwood

 

cheers............................... mark

[Josip Vrandecic -Mes]

*Balsa (Sp) 1 any of several tropical American trees (genus Ochroma) of the bombax family that yields an extremely light and bouyant wood used for airplane models,rafts,etc.2 the wood. 3 a raft,esp. one made up of a frame resting on cylindrical floats. (From the WEBSTER NEW WORLD DICTIONARY).....ugh !

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

There we go folks - balsa trees, courtesy of "another forum" shhh!

 

Apparently balsa trees only live for 10 years or so - I think that means we have to build lots of models guys or they will take over the world!

 

BEB

[Plummet]

Well I have been doing a bit of research.  

 

I discovered various possibilities in tables of acronyms.

 

BAL = Blood Alcohol Level     SA = Swansea postcode

 

or

 

BA = Bachelor of Arts,   LSA = Light sports aircraft

 

B = Second Grade   ALSA = artificial life-support apparatus

 

So balsa could be a measure of welsh drunkeness,  an artistic aeroplane, or a poor quality lifebelt.

 

Hope this helps - (but somehow I doubt it).

 

Plummet