4 Feb 2023

Used a kitchen broom handle and the handle on my toolbench to re-form the shape for the rudder tip skin to match the front of the rudder tip.

Devised a solution for the earth strap required for the static wick on the rudder. Drilled 7mm hole for M5 rivnut in rudder rib 1 just forward of the lowest drain hole in the region of the rudder control bracket attach point. Scuffed the primer off to create a conductive surface. Scuffed primer off the rudder skin and around the three related rivet holes in rudder rib 1 adjacent to the rudder spar channel on the right hand side. This will create an electrical conductor between rib 1 and the rudder skin which the static wick is attached to. Crimped connector to one end of an earth strap supplied by Sling. The idea is that this will be secured to the rudder using a M5 bolt, and the opposite end will be secured to the lower fuselage with sufficient slack in the strap to accommodate the rudder movement without impediment or fatigue. I did not like Sling's suggestion of attaching earth straps to the rudder cables and using them as earth connectors via the rudder control bracket - this could result in drag on the cables and static electricity being channelled along the cables to inappropriate places like the rudder pedals or lead to rudder cable fatigue. And paintwork could cause a poor connection.