I normally clean the leading edges after each flight (I use Dry-Wash). But on occasion, if it was late, or I was in a hurry, I'd just pull it in the hangar and come back in a couple days.
I came into the hangar one afternoon to perform a delayed "Debugging" deed. When I opened the door I noticed what looked like a long black line going up the side of my fuselage and out across the leading edge of the wing.
My first thoughts were "What the $%^&*()%"!!!!
As I walked closer to the plane, I got the distinct impression that the line seemed to be "MOVING".
The line, was in fact, about a gazillion ANTs. I started brushing them off, then realized, what used to be a leading edge of splattered bug guts was now a clean surface with the "moving black line" going through the middle.
I decided to leave the feasting ants to their dinner, closed the doors, and fly another day.
On my way home I was theorizing how I was going to rid my bird of these new passengers (post flight meal included) if this became a problem.
A couple days later I returned to the hangar. To my pleasant surprise, my passengers-to-be were no where to be found. PLUS, with the exception of a few tiny morsels, every bug part on ALL the leading edges, including the nose and canard, was gone.
I wish I could say I found a new way to "debug" the bird. Can you imagine the commercial potential of this venture. Every Hanger in the world would have "Waiter's Ant Restaurant"; a small ant farm in one of those 10 gallon glass aquariums, just waiting for the Smörgåsbord meal, after every flight.
Anyway, this only happened one other time, about a year later. (Come to think about it, I did see the "ORKIN" truck parked near the hanger a few times!! SOB SOB
Waiter
