What airplane? You could try just removing them.
Boy, ain't THAT clever.
I was reading something recently (need to dig around the internet to find it again)
And I can post on the 'net that I'm a French model. Bone juur.
that basically said static wicks for most GA aircraft are about as useful as winglets.
That's why Rutan (who is a better engineer than I ever HOPE to be, and obviously leaves you so far in the dust that bottom looks like top) has used them on everything from the 'Viggen through White Knight.
I believe it had something to do with the speed that most piston airplanes travel at doesn't really generate enough static electricity to create a problem. It was either that or a change in the quality of radio equipment, but I believe speed was the bigger issue.
The Greeks found 3000 years ago that moving a dry insulator over a solid conductor created small sparks. Most of us have found that shuffling our feet over a nylon carpet on a cold dry day will draw half an inch arc to a grounded outlet. Not much speed in either case, is there?
As to "better quality" if you can find a way to make AM radios impervious to arc noise, the Nobel folks need to hear about you.
I was looking into it shortly after I bought my B55 Baron. It was built in '78 and never had static wicks installed. Since I bought it, I have flown in all kinds of IFR weather including near convective activity and never had a problem with radio reception. Previous owner(s) flew it all over the country fur business and obviously never had a reason to add them.
And I've been on this earth for seven decades and never once charged by a rhinoceros. It must be the salt I sprinkle over my shoulder every morning.
Point? Come on here with hard data and something more than one isolated personal experience and we can talk. Otherwise, it approaches the quality of an old wives' tale.
Just a thought.
Agreed.
Jim
