Tips

Static Wicks for the RV-10

The following helpful bit of information was provided by John Kirkland, another RV-10 builder #40333 (N540XP) who works for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Static Wick Placement for the RV-10

General thoughts on Static Wicks that John sent me:

"Being as I thought of doing this before I had set a rivet, I've used existing skin holes to use skeleton structure as a doubler. For example, on the rudder I stuck a K2000 and a K1000 nutplate on the rear of the top riband the second stiffener down, so there are a couple of extra AN426AD3rivets in those line of rivets. That way I can unscrew the discharger andreplace it when its time. I didn't like the pop-riveted method that I see on Cessnas when I walk the ramp. After a few years they look like hell becausehalf of them are broken off and need to be replaced. On the elevators I am using the outboard ribs E-903 I think. Using the existing line of rivets.Inboard needs a doubler because there is no structure about 12 inches inboard. I pick up my std build wings and get my demo ride July 15, so I don't know how the 3 on each wing tip will get done. Worried about all that fiberglass. Anyway, for the empennage I figured out how to this and bonding straps really cleanly, using existing holes and only drilling a couple of extra #40 for AN426AD3 rivets."

Put the wicks on the left rudder skin to act as a rudder trim.

Static charge accumulates at the furthest points, preferring sharp corners and edges, so inboard placements wouldn't be effective...put them at the tips or outboard areas.


Aircraft Spruce sells them for $51, John got his online from skygeek.com for $37.50 with free shipping.

Some good wicks are: Dayton Granger 16165. Don't use the cheap SW96-10 wicks that Chief Aircraft sells for $20, these are an antiquated technology that's still around to support antiquated certificated aircraft.

Additonal Comments from John Cox - A&P:

"To support what I learned in A&P school, wicks should be on the outer most and most distant points from the aircraft centerline to properly dissipate the stored electron charge. The charge passing through hinge points will need appropriate braided bonding straps to create a most (more) effective alternate path. Otherwise, crystallized bearing points develop at the control surface connection with the appendage. And as this photos show, the Dayton sketch missed one of these important installation points. Low and AFT most below the marker light. The RV-10s most aft point is not only at the top of the rudder.