Is a hangar worth the cost?

[sufferingcadet]

I have a 1966 M20E that I would optimistically value at $40k.

 

Obviously a hangar is better than a tie down.  A T-hangar costs $225 vs $75 for a tie down.  That's a difference of $1800 a year.  Will having the plane outside on average cause an additional $1800 of deterioration to the plane each year?  If not then it seems a tie-down is the best way to go.  If so then a hangar would be the better value.  I just don't know what problems I can expect, how fast they occur, and the cost to fix them in a tie-down vs hangar comparision.

[helitim]

The short answer is "yes" a hangar is worth the money. Many factors play into this decision. Your location - some airports are more secure than others. The ability to store aircraft maintenance supplies in the hangar. Condition of the paint- do you want to postpone that 12-14K paint job? Current corrosion status of the airframe- do you want to add to it with more environmental factors to make corrosion occur more quickly? If you are on a larger field, the chance of a random ramp inspection is higher if your plane is in view. On and on...... Yes, my hangar is worth the money and I pay a lot more than you are quoting for a plane of similar value.

[Danb]

Yes....our hangers average 500 a month and are worth every penny.

[Guest]

I sleep a lot better dire bad weather knowing that my plane is safe in a hangar. You may want to ask your insurance company if there is a discount on hull rate due to the hangar.

Clarence

[aviatoreb]

Yes!

[Mooneymite]

Yes.

[gsxrpilot]

YES

[Aviator]

Absolutely.

Sent by Jim Flynn using Tapatalk.

[Fly By Night]

I consider a Hangar to be a minimum requirement of aircraft ownership.

[chrisk]

Yes

[Marauder]

Yes....our hangers average 500 a month and are worth every penny.

OMG! You drank the DRBA Kool-Aide! Those hangars were worth $275 when I was there. Not $500 they are asking now.

To the original OP. If you can get a hangar for $225, grab it. Being out of the weather is certainly worth it.

[Bob_Belville]

$250 for a private, closed, locked, T-hanger here and well worth it. As an offset I have a place to work on the plane, store tools and supplies and "hang out". I have a ceramic electric heater and can keep the engine compartment toasty warm all winter and a small compressor to keep tires maintained. 

[Mooneymite]

I own my hangar. Expensive investment, yes. However, I speculate that when I finally do sell it, the cost of storage over all these years will be no higher than zero and I may actually make money.

[NotarPilot]

Yes

[TWinter]

Enclosed is the way to go..maybe your field has a community hanger?, that's also a good option and possibly cheaper. My airport will allow us to build one if we want. I've been in a community hanger for two years..One of the plus sides is the community hanger is camaraderie. Usually what may start as a wash and clean-up mission often turns out being a hanger flying BS session with a fellow pilot..LOL.

 

We pay $200 for enclosed private. The community hanger is $150 per month. I was on the list for a private for two years. One has finally become available next month and I'll be moving to it. Bottom line, I would pay to have a enclosed of some sort.. Good luck.  

[Cruiser]

I would keep it outside, save the $1800/yr for five years then use the money to have the plane completely stripped and painted. It will be worth a lot more when you put it up for sale.

[cbarry]

I'm sure you can sharpen a pencil enough to make yourself think it may be an economical "jump ball," (hangar versus tie down), but it's often the unexpected event (hailstorm, sun damage over time, the wind blowing oil all over the place if you try to change the oil outside--not to mention your cowling damage when the wind flips it over,...that makes you think twice about the money you have "saved." On top of all of this, it's a Mooney and deserves a hangar!

[bonal]

We just got ours in one it has heat compressed air and a storage loft. Our 150 sat out for 4 years and it took its toll we always had a cover on the canopy but the paint did suffer a bit. Our mooney had to sit out for a year and all I could think about is no security on the field and even though the winters here are mild the summer sun is unreal and would destroy a cover in less than 2 years. That's 300 dollars you need to add to your calculation. The one advantage to tie down is how quick you can get and go.

[Ron McBride]

Hanger yes

 

I have tools for small maintenance,    Protection from all weather, for the plane and me.   Probably less maintenance expense, less cleaning and waxing.

Protection for my car etc. when I am flying.   Do you garage your cars?

 

It only takes and extra 5 minutes to open the hanger or close it.

 

ron

[Bob_Belville]

 The one advantage to tie down is how quick you can get and go.

I think I can open the hanger door and pull the plane out about as fast as I could untie tie-downs. Certainly faster than I could remove and stow a cover. A disadvantage of a community hanger is digging the plane out when you want to go. It might involve calling out a lineman after or before hours.

[bonal]

Hey bob that's good to hear. Today will be the first test going for my BFR.

[aaronk25]

I'd bring partners on board before I did a tie down......in addition to above it stays clean!

[Mooneymite]

When you were shopping for your plane and you looked at all those "strays", didn't you notice that the airplanes that were always hangared were in much better shape?

 

I did.

 

That alone convinced me that a hangar is worth more than it costs.

 

This may/may not be so true for late model planes, but when you're looking at planes that are 25+ years old, the hangar makes a huge difference.

[Bob_Belville]

Hey bob that's good to hear. Today will be the first test going for my BFR.

Good luck with the Flight Review!

 

(Another downside to a community hanger is hanger rash. Then there's the possibility that a new lineman might not know how easily a power tow can dent the nose gear...)

[ArtVandelay]

In south Florida the difference between tie-down and t-hanger is $550, which changes the math a bit, that's a paint job every 2 years.

Or enough money saved you could buy a new plane every 6 years.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk