I'm training at an Aircraft Maintenance hanger and I never found a place where I can use my metric tools. (I knew I only need imperial tools but the tool box I purchased had both metric and AF)
I have a lot of metric sockets and spanners which I think not usable at all. they are professional quality tools and I'm thinking to sell them.
Do you think it's a good idea? or will there be some cases I need to use metric tools for aircraft maintenance? I guess they only add weight to my tool box.
There is a need for metric sockets, spanners, etc.- on every French-built aircraft! As far as light aircraft go, SOCATA, Robin/ APEX/ CEAPR, and PZL (Polish)all need them, if you're doing anything on the airframe. Engines are all Lycoming, however.
If you're only using Imperial stuff for the time being, take out the metric stuff and get another box for them - if they are decent quality you may well need them later on.
Not all aircraft are held together with Imperial fasteners, I've worked on types with both Imperial and metric on the same aircraft .
I agree with the other replies - I started my training in 1966, and over the years I've used Whitworth, BA, BSF, AF and Metric tools. In the course of your career you never know what you'll be working on, so if you don't have room for it at the moment, just store it somewhere safe. One lesson I learned very early was to keep every tool - it'll be needed sometime
I never thought I would use my old WIT and BSF which I had locked away until the Good old ATP came into my life and the nasty brake control valve needed to come out the rule is, keep them all, some day some where?
Ah I said LIKELY. The more discerning types out there will have something requiring BSW,or in my case a mish mash of what previous owners have made work. But I take your point perrin,do you have your own driver too?
When you change the electrically driven hydraulic pump on an Airbus A320 you remove the pump from the aircraft complete with a mounting cradle. To remove this cradle from the pump you need a metric spanner. I had worked 30 years without a metric spanner till I found this out, and had to go and borrow some from the MT bay.
Some aircraft batteries terminals went over to metric for a while too.... I have the odd socket over 2 inches in diameter that came in my initial tool set and some 3/4 drive, never thought I'd ever need them, but have used them once or twice to get me and others out of the poo... So as said hang onto them. I also have metric in my box, a draw full of spanners etc, simply for those odd items that turn up and use them.
If you ever get onto Helicopters, the likes of Puma are all metric.
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" until the Good old ATP came into my life and the nasty brake control valve needed to come out"
Any form of adulation for the most comprehensive example of "the biggest heap of junk that should never have flown, but did " would suggest the person opining such needs to consult a Doctor....at the earliest opportunity.....
You forgot the add the flap gear box replenishment....5/16 Whit. spanner required.
Only Woodford could have created this anomaly....and they did.
If you ever have the pleasure of working on A300's, you may be surprised when both your 3/8 spanner and your 7/16 spanner won't fit on certain contactors when you are trying to replace them Definitely worth keeping some metric tools stashed away somewhere!
Metric Tools
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No a Rolls is A/F and thats what you get after working(?) over 50 years in 
Definitely worth keeping some metric tools stashed away somewhere!
