Tool Enables Accurate Repairs Without Aircraft Downtime

P&D Enterprises has developed a new Rib Alignment Tool (R.A.T. Tool), which has been specifically designed to enable aircraft mechanics to perform fast and accurate repairs to damaged flap, aileron and elevator "ribs".

"Whether it's a result of 'hangar rash', mishandling or just wear and tear, the majority of general aviation aircraft have some type of misalignment damage to their control surfaces," explained P&D CEO and inventor of the R.A.T. Tool, Dan Harris. "While this type of damage is prevalent in all aircraft, it's especially problematic in high-wing Cessnas. From what I've seen, I'd say about 80-percent of these aircraft have some level of control surface damage."
 
"While it's hard to see, this type of damage results in changes to the airflow and will have a noticeable impact on the aircraft's performance including its airspeed and control responsiveness," he added. "The R.A.T. Tool is a fast and inexpensive way for pilots to get back the performance they've lost."
 
A long time pilot, Harris designed the R.A.T. Tool as a cost-effective and easy to use tool that would enable technicians to quickly and accurately realign these control surfaces.
 
"The old way was to use a large, square screwdriver to force the ribs into alignment," Harris said. "This delicate work and if done incorrectly will result in additional damage that will mean having to remove the control surfaces for more extensive and costly repairs."
 
The R.A.T. Tool uses two outside manipulating rods and two inside stationary rods. Once correctly inserted into the trailing edge of the control surface ribs it's a simple three-step process to straighten and align the ribs. The R.A.T. Tool provides excellent consistency without placing added stress on the upper and lower skins of the control surface.

FMI: www.rattool.com