Hit 10,000 rivets on a single tail section and didn't even realize it

So I was working on this old C-130 tail section at the hangar in Little Rock, just drilling and bucking rivets for what felt like a solid two weeks. My lead mechanic comes over and jokes that I must be close to some kind of record. We actually count the boxes I went through and tally it up. Turns out I had set exactly 10,342 rivets on that one piece. I was just in the zone listening to my playlist and didn't even notice. Has anyone else ever hit a random milestone like that and only found out later from someone else keeping track?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordancoleman1mo ago

@emerycarr nah man, hitting a zone like that is its own reward.

emerycarr1mo ago

Wait is that really a flex or just kinda sad? 10,000 rivets on a single tail section sounds more like your lead was messing with you to see if you'd brag about it. Dude probably knew you were counting or just wanted to see how long you'd keep at it without saying anything. I bet if you asked the old timers they'd say stuff like this is just Tuesday for them, nothing special. Honestly feels like you got caught up in the grind and they got a good laugh out of it.