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Rv-12is Corrosion Protection, Lap sealing joints with Proseal

Flight Youth Engineering continually strives to build our aircraft to a very high standard.
We have been successful in attracting very high quality sponsors and a special thanks must go to ,
Axalta Premium Aircraft Primers and Paint
Brisbane Refinishing Supplies
Bell Helicopters , Australia.

The synergy of the above sponsors has allowed our students to have a very deep understanding of how important corrosion protection is to Aircraft that live in the harsh Australian climate.

It all starts with the prep,
Early on the decision was made because of the high humidity of the East coast of Australia that all parts would be acid etched, Alodined and primed.

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The acid etching and Alodining was handled off-site for safety reasons but all priming was completed by the students.

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It was very satisfying to see large structures come together with max corrosion protection.

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Non of this would be possible if not for the generous support of Axalta Paints and Brisbane Finishing Supplies.

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When the aircraft had completed its first flights it was time for the amazing talented painters at Bell Helicopters Brisbane to shine!

Lap sealing all joints had been discussed as a concern here in Australia and the Team at Bell spent no time at all showing our students how to quickly, by free hand and a syringe, seal up all the lap joints. (The proseal was thinned with acetone to allow the mixture to flow easier)
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It was very satisfying to see ALL lap joints sealed on our aircraft.

The finished paint work exceeded all expectations!

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With again, a special thank you to Bell Helicopters , Axalta Paints and Brisbane Refinish Systems.

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I am so proud of all the Team that made this possible, it is with in all of us to pass on what knowledge and experiences we have and this has proved to be a most worth while endeavour .

On to Aircraft No3...........
 
Our Rv-12is is now at 168 hrs of most enjoyable flight time and will soon be sold to help finance our next aircraft build.
I had some requests for some closer photos to show how effective the Joint Lap Sealing looks on a painted aircraft.

The most outstanding feature of doing this to your aircraft is that there is no way moisture will seep under any seams to start corrosion.

The belly of the fuselage has many joins, and close attention to sealing these will reward the owner with many years of corrosion free service.
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Wing skins and flight controls, all sealed up.

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The fuselage tail is very easy to seal with long straight runs.
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I highly recommend this simple process before final paint to all lap sealed joints. The East Coast of Australia is very unforgiving to any unprotected seams on metal Aircraft.
 
As a old helicopter tech, I like the sheet sealing and did this on my RV6. Did you seal the pull rivet stems also? They aren’t inherently leak free like a solid rivet is.
 
As a old helicopter tech, I like the sheet sealing and did this on my RV6. Did you seal the pull rivet stems also? They aren’t inherently leak free like a solid rivet is.
Hey Dan,
I spoke at length with the Bell painters and they were confident that the primer would do its job with the open pull rivets stems. I guess next level ,you would take the time to seal every rivet but darn that would take some time.
 
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