diamondaviators.net

Anyone use a non Diamond wing walk. The old style is no longer available. Diamond wing walks are big $$$

Thanks

I believe Premier Aircraft in Florida sells a 3M style one thats about 300-$400 per side. The factory also now has one that is sprayed on instead of pasted on.

For owners on the east coast, Glenn Lawler's shop SouthTec Aviation at KRUQ (northeast of Charlotte, NC) does terrific work refurbishing used DA40s for us, and routinely applies the painted-on wing walks to replace the old cracked vinyl wing walks that eventually come off. These painted wing walks look identical to those applied to new DA40/DA42 aircraft from the factory.

I have one of the planes that Glenn did the wing walks on (pretty sure that was on the laundry list of things he did for me in the pre-buy inspection/annual). Better than the original as far as I am concerned.

The sandpaper on the steps has started to come off since then (he didn't do those, it wasn't yet a problem) and I have found some 3M product that looks like it will solve the problem.

I have used with success anti-slip tape from a boating shop. Medium grey colour, fine grit surface. Apply one strip, then strip of masking tape to create an alignment template. Repeat as needed. When applying try not pull the tape as it will stretch. Easier said...
Let it set for 2-3 days as the tape will retract.
Then use a ruler and cutter to cut and align the edges. Slip a thin strip of metal under the tape to avoid cutting into the paint.
I stayed well clear from the leading edge to minimize drag. Works very well and looks clean.

see these threads:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4032&hilit=wing+walk
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4779&hilit=wing+walk

I removed my wing walk completely and haven't felt the need to replace it.

Lance is more agile than me. When the wings are wet with dew if I step off the grey area I lose my footing immediately. In fact, because I'm missing half the sandpaper on the step, I slipped off on my last flight with friends and banged my shin on the trailed edge of the wing there. Good motivation to finish that little chore.

Another purpose of the wing walk is to protect the painted upper surface of the wings from scratches/gouges caused by small stones/gravel that get embedded in the soles of folks' shoes.

The steps are definitely slippery when wet. But it's really cheap to replace that gritted surface. One of mine disappeared last winter and was replaced at annual.