Would you fly IMC <200 knots without static wicks?

[Salty]

I’m building an EAB and trying to decide whether or not to install wicks.

On the plus side, there’s not much maintenance and it could be a life saver.

On the minus side, it complicates the build (not a whole lot), costs a ridiculous amount of money for a few wires, and I’ve been flying without them on my Mooney and haven’t noticed yet.

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

I have just 6.9 hours of actual (good flying weather in AZ). On one flight back from Tucson the static was enough to block communication. No wicks on my Cardinal, so I wished I had them.