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Kennon or Bruce Aircraft covers

Tommy

By Tommy
in General Mooney Talk

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jrwilson Mentor

jrwilson

Posted
Posted

I have used Bruce's several times for extensive whole aircraft covers for 2 planes before I had a hangar. Good company, didn't like the fit on one and Bruce came out and personally measured the plane, took the cover back and fixed it. Granted the plane was in San Jose and his shop is in Sunnyvale, so really close, but still good service. I wouldn't expect that in Australia though. :)

M016576 Grand Master

M016576

Posted
Posted

Greeting Mooney Spacers.

I am hinting about getting some cover for my Mooney M201

https://www.aircraftcovers.com/general-aviation-models/mooney/201-205-231-252-and-mse

http://www.kennoncovers.com

Just wondering if anyone had experience with these two companies?

Thanks

I had a Bruce's cover on my old J, and it was great. The thing I liked about it the most was the clip system: you replaced two sheet metal screws just aft of the cowl flaps with buttons that screwed right in, then the cover clipped directly to the buttons, so you didn't need to put a strap under the whole fuselage. My only gripe? I wish they would have put that same button system on the back strap, too (maybe they have by now).

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

While it is neither of these, Plane Cover makes a great product.

 

This is me in the foreground, with a Plane Cover I got with the plane, six years before the photo. I don't know the full age, just how long I've had it. The Eagle next to me has a Bruce's cover, but I don't like how it's not snug, requires sheet metal work to install, and flaps in the wind.

 

Mine is held snugly with three straps that snap into each other, not into the sheet metal. The snaps have extra padding behind them to protect the paint. The edges are tight, minimizing rubbing and abrasion. There is extra padding on the inside against the windows.

 

It's a nice picture of an amazing row of Mooneys, at a MAPA PPP. I just felt sorry for the poor controllers, with so many Mooneys in the air all weekend. Notice that there is also an array of covers, as well as Mooney models. Because nothing suits everybody . . . .

 

Happy shopping!

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chrisk Veteran

chrisk

Posted
Posted

I purchased a cover from airplane-covers.com. I've been happy with it, but I only use it when traveling and the plane needs to stay outside. And for this mission, I got the lightweight version. --Used about a dozen times in the last 6 months.

M016576 Grand Master

M016576

Posted
Posted

While it is neither of these, Plane Cover makes a great product.

This is me in the foreground, with a Plane Cover I got with the plane, six years before the photo. I don't know the full age, just how long I've had it. The Eagle next to me has a Bruce's cover, but I don't like how it's not snug, requires sheet metal work to install, and flaps in the wind.

Mine is held snugly with three straps that snap into each other, not into the sheet metal. The snaps have extra padding behind them to protect the paint. The edges are tight, minimizing rubbing and abrasion. There is extra padding on the inside against the windows.

It's a nice picture of an amazing row of Mooneys, at a MAPA PPP. I just felt sorry for the poor controllers, with so many Mooneys in the air all weekend. Notice that there is also an array of covers, as well as Mooney models. Because nothing suits everybody . . . .

Happy shopping!

Just to be clear: the Bruce's cover does not require "sheet metal work". It requires a Phillips screwdriver and about 2 minutes of time to replace 2 sheet metal screws with 2 provided screws that have clips on them. Also of note: there is no requirement to do the screw replacement- the Bruce's comes with a front strap if you choose to use it, it's just a PITA compared to the snaps.

The eagle w/ the Bruce's cover looks like it's straps aren't tight enough. Mine (when I had it), fit very well. Not as tight as your Plane Cover, but it was snug, and didn't rub.

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Just to be clear: the Bruce's cover does not require "sheet metal work". It requires a Phillips screwdriver and about 2 minutes of time to replace 2 sheet metal screws with 2 provided screws that have clips on them. Also of note: there is no requirement to do the screw replacement- the Bruce's comes with a front strap if you choose to use it, it's just a PITA compared to the snaps.

The eagle w/ the Bruce's cover looks like it's straps aren't tight enough. Mine (when I had it), fit very well. Not as tight as your Plane Cover, but it was snug, and didn't rub.

 

Thanks, I didn't know that. But I did see the snaps. The loose Eagle cover is using a front strap. My Plane Cover has two front straps [in front of and behind the nose wheel] and one rear strap behind the wing. And a nifty zippered case.

bonal Grand Master

bonal

Posted
Posted

M.A.C. Covers have served me well one thing where I live we have the most brutal sun some kind of government test I think. Any way I have found that the darker colors seem to hold up better than the whites. There quality and customer service is excellent and they run a couple hundred less than the Bruce covers.

Schinderhannes Experienced

Schinderhannes

Posted
Posted

We had a Bruce for our LongEZ and it never fit right and the wing covers did fall apart after 2 years.  We bought a cover from Airplane-Covers/Custom Cabin Covers   906-343-6664 for our M20C. 

The cover was about $250 and after 3 years in the Southern California sun it is still in excellent condition.

triple8s Mentor

triple8s

Posted
Posted

I was outside with my "C" model for a couple years and bought a Bruce's cover. He sent a sheet with specific instructions on how to properly measure your aircraft. I followed the instructions sent it in and recieved a cover that fit perfectly. The material is thick and high quality I would buy from him again.

Joe Zuffoletto Mentor

Joe Zuffoletto

Posted
Posted

Here's a voice in the wilderness for Kennon. I've had two of their covers and both looked and fit great. They use straps fore and aft. The cover for my Encore had a protrusion for the hand grip above the luggage compartment which the cover for my Acclaim lacks; I would ask for that if I had to do it over again, but it's a minor issue.

triple8s Mentor

triple8s

Posted
Posted

Has anyone ever had a cover on in a "hail event" I have often wondered how much it would help and also if maybe someone made covers that were intended to absorb some of the impact. There was a hail event at my house once and we had a bit of warning that it was approaching so I got two sleeping bags spread over the roof and hood of my truck, recieved no dents. of course I guess I'd really have needed a "test" vehicle setting next to mine to get an accurate determination as to what benefit the bags actually were but I know it didnt hurt. I had to set things on the bags to keep them in place until they got soaked from the rain but like I said there were no dents and the hail was a little bigger than golf balls. Of course "her" car was in the garage!

chrisk Veteran

chrisk

Posted
Posted

Has anyone ever had a cover on in a "hail event" I have often wondered how much it would help and also if maybe someone made covers that were intended to absorb some of the impact. There was a hail event at my house once and we had a bit of warning that it was approaching so I got two sleeping bags spread over the roof and hood of my truck, recieved no dents. of course I guess I'd really have needed a "test" vehicle setting next to mine to get an accurate determination as to what benefit the bags actually were but I know it didnt hurt. I had to set things on the bags to keep them in place until they got soaked from the rain but like I said there were no dents and the hail was a little bigger than golf balls. Of course "her" car was in the garage!

 

For hail, the wings, and elevator need protection.  I've never seen a plane at an airport with more than a canopy cover.

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

+4 or 5, I didn't count for Jim Concil, Plane Cover, in Salisbury MD. Jim was really easy to work with and treats customers as friends, trusting payment will be sent. He sent me a matching canvas "pocket" to accommodate an OAT probe which I had not thought would be under the cover and had not identified on Jim's order form.

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Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

 I've never seen a plane at an airport with more than a canopy cover.

There's a reality show about "mountain men". The guy in Alaska who flies into the wilderness to work trap lines has wing covers and more for his Cub(?) I suspect Canada and Alaska planes get more ice and snow protection. It's no fun to clean snow, ice, and frost off a plane in order to depart in freezing temps. Been there, done that.

Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

Posted
Posted

For hail, the wings, and elevator need protection. I've never seen a plane at an airport with more than a canopy cover.

I have wing and tail covers for mine. It is a mesh type material that has protects from hail and allows easier removal for snow. When I was based in Buffalo, I carried a spray bottle of IPA to help clear off the frost as well.

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

I have wing and tail covers for mine. It is a mesh type material that has protects from hail and allows easier removal for snow. When I was based in Buffalo, I carried a spray bottle of IPA to help clear off the frost as well.

Buffalo... that's in Canada... right?

Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

Posted
Posted

Actually, Buffalo, like Muskegon MI, where we once lived, get more snow that Toronto or Montreal, I'm pretty sure.

Any place downwind of the lakes usually got hammered. And sometimes in narrow bands. I grew up south of the city and we were in a snow belt. Northern Buffalo might get 5 or 6 inches and we would be dumped on with a couple of feet. Ah, those were the days...

Right up there with walking 20 miles to school everyday. ;)

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

Any place downwind of the lakes usually got hammered. And sometimes in narrow bands. I grew up south of the city and we were in a snow belt. Northern Buffalo might get 5 or 6 inches and we would be dumped on with a couple of feet. Ah, those were the days...

Right up there with walking 20 miles to school everyday. ;)

You didn't forget that it was uphill, both ways.

 

We were only in Muskegon one winter ('66-67) but it was a good one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Blizzard_of_1967

 

It snowed every day for a Biblical 40 days and 40 nights.

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