Dan Olsen wrote:

 

I’m starting on the installation of the winglet on my first wing of the IV-P.  My desire is to bond the winglets on permanently as I don’t see a good reason to make them removable.  The lights will be removable through their lens covers. 

 

Interested in hearing from other IV-P owners as to whether you have needed to remove your winglets or not.  Would I be making a big mistake by making them permanent?

 

Dan,

For my money, make them removable. I put a LOT of stuff in my winglets, such as the magnetometer for the Chelton EFIS, temperature probes and retractable landing lights. They also permit access to the fuel quantity probes, pitot connections and fuel tank vents. The tank vents may seem trivial, but having them elevated well above the fuel tanks keeps them from venting fuel when parked on a slope, etc. There are alternatives to all of the above, but you’ll find space/real estate problems with many things you may need to install in your airplane, and this is a good place for some of them.

Bob