Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
To:  lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 06:17:43 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-5447416@logan.com>
Received-SPF: neutral
 receiver=logan.com; client-ip=98.139.212.164; envelope-from=browncc1@verizon.net
From: Charles Brown <browncc1@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Subject: Rain, primer, and paint
Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v1084)

OK, the guys who already know this can sit back and chuckle, the rest of =
you, here's a bulletin on flying IFR in primer.  I gather that WLS =
primer is not as hard as paint and about a half hour in moderate rain at =
210ktas was enough to visibly erode small areas of all the leading =
edges.  I think all that really happened was that defects in the =
underlying layers, which had been filled by WLS, were revealed.  At any =
rate, there were numerous small areas (largest:  1/4" X 1/4"; most areas =
smaller) where pinholes, underlying BID mesh, and occasional air bubbles =
in micro were revealed.  Recommendation:  fly with a harder coating than =
WLS or avoid rain.  The WLS held up just fine in ordinary flying for 100 =
hours.

I've scheduled paint as soon as I can get into the shop, in the meantime =
I'm repairing the leading edges and spraying the repairs with K36 primer =
which the paint shop recommended (and I can get a quart for $80 rather =
than paying $300 for a gallon of WLS).  Then, until painting, I'll cover =
the leading edges with leading edge tape.

Question for you IFR guys with APA (Already-Painted Airplanes):  What's =
your experience with rain and paint? =20

Charley Brown
Legacy #299  100 hours=