mikem wrote in message . ..

How about delaminations between the wing/stab skins and the under
lying structure?

How about it? As the millenium tshirt said "Grumman: 25
years of rivetless flight"

The skin on these things is epoxied onto the ribs and
spars. What happens if you have to fix it?

It's fighter technology. Very stout. There was one known serial
number range which had problems due to a bad lot of glue ("purple
passion"). I think all those planes have been repaired.

Delaminations are very rare and easy to look for. To my knowledge
it's only been a problem in planes which were improperly prepared
for chemical stripping and painting or which have suffered corrosion.
And corrosion is rarer in Grummans than brand C or P because the
interior surfaces were all coated.

Repairs are straightforward. Flat head rivets, just like an
RV.

Gimmie rivets, anytime.

Whatever you like! I'll keep my "rivetless flight".

Cheers,
Sydney