Original factory corrosion treatment

[Joe Johanson]

Hi,
I have heard that our Comanches were all zinc chromated at the factory during manufacture. Can anyone shed some light on this process and how it was accomplished? (I have a 1965 260)

Thanks,
Joe Johanson

[Dale Vandever]

The large sheets were spayed with zinc chromate on both sides after the rivet holes had been drilled, but not set..

The small pieces were dipped in zinc chromate.


Dale

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

It is pretty simple. All of the aluminum airframe parts were painted with zinc chromate primer, and then assembled. This primer prevents most corrosion, and has been very effective on the airframes of the Comanches. When a plane is stripped, and repainted, the zinc chromate also is stripped from the exterior, however the interior primer survives. The aircraft should be reprimed with a good primer before being repainted.
-Zach