Seems to me that decision is up to the designer!
To me, pull rivets are appealing for their ease of installation only. There's probably a cost savings for new builders WRT to tooling if they went with pull rivets. Some of the most expensive aircraft tools I own are mainly for installing solid countersunk rivets (DRDT-2, squeezer, rivet gun, tungsten bar) For repeat builders who are the likely customers in the near term, no advantage there.
I voted "pull" but what I actually want is more nuanced than a binary choice. I love squeezing rivets and I don't really even mind driving rivets when I can get my hands on both sides to buck them myself. What I really hate is two-person rivet bucking, since the reliability and availability of your riveting partner becomes a challenge. Not to mention, bucking the rivets inside the fuselage and wings usually involves a lot of painful contortions. So I wouldn't mind a combination of squozen and pulled rivets in order to make solo building easier.
Don't forget repair - particularly field repairs. Poop happens....
Insomuch as this design is backcountry capable, strength is the primary concern. Bush or backcountry airplanes take quite a beating, therefore in an ideal world, universal head solid rivets would be used for maximum strength.
...
I doubt a poll will change all the engineering Vans has already done. I suspect it's a "Done Deal".
Maybe...but then why take a poll at the presentation
I believe that's what's driving this conversation...some hope that Van's is listening...
Probably just me and don’t mean to knock the assemblers out there but pulled rivets just look cheap, amateurish and temporary. Obviously they are the required for certain special situations but otherwise just makes the project look like a high school shop project. Take the time and effort to use solid rivets for a more professional build. Sorry but just my stinky opinion.
I don't know what the performance penalty is for pulled rivets.. eg what the speed difference is between a rv-12 and one of the few rv-12s built with pounded rivets.
...
In my experience blinds don’t hold up as well over the long term in joints with significant load transfer and they’re more prone to corrosion than drivens.
...
No-one seems to have mentioned filling the heads of pulled rivets. I did that on my RV12 and have had no related issues with paint or environment.
I think this is a false choice. The SPA Panther's design allows the builder to choose their style of rivet. In fact, not only can you choose between solid or pulled rivets, you can also choose between flush or protruding....