Back outside or not?

[bonal]

So I met with the 2 other players and looks like I will be staying inside for a while longer the Cessna (it's a 175) is not moving for a month or 2 then its out for another location. The Tiger will be replacing it in a few months and we will have to figure that out when it does. Now if I can just get these clouds to lift so I can get back in the air. Thanks for your comments and thoughts I know this is not a permanent situation but looks good for now.

[DrBill]

If you get a tug or used lawn tractor to make it easier moving the planes in /out that will ease the transition !

We just put a ball on the front of an old MTD for the mechanic at our airport so he can hook the towbar to the front of the tractor.

BILL

[bonal]

Actually we pulled the Cessna out to try some different angles and its a lot easier to move than my mooney. But it's back in the back with my mooney out front where it belongs.

[carusoam]

Consider a paper exercise with scaled paper cut outs.

Our engineering team used to do this for moving machinery through hall ways and doors to place into rooms properly.

It tells a lot about the ability to turn corners to stack things in place.

One step more advanced than a cad drawing...

Best regards,

-a-

[Hank]

Start with a CAD drawing to scale--hangar, doors, cabinets, planes.

Print the building on one sheet, planes, cabinets, etc., on another. Cut out the movable pieces, set them on the building drawing and see what works. Obviously your Mooney belongs up front by the door! (That's where mine lived when sharing at different times with a 182, A36 and Champ/Bass Boat pair.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I would suggest staying put and seeing how it all plays out. So much of the good/bad will depend on what kind of people you're dealing with. The longer you stay put, the better the chance another hangar may become available.

That's exactly what I did. Two years ago I was sharing a box hangar with a Pitts and a Cirrus. We organized the hangar so the Pitts never had to be moved, but I would often have to move the Cirrus when I wanted to fly, and vice-versa. The Cirrus owner's tug was an unwieldy beast so it definitely wasn't fun, but I just hung tough and waited it out until another hangar became available. Fortunately, no one damaged anyone else's planes.

[Houman]

A big reason why I partnered in my current Rocket was that the other owner had a hanger. At my local airport that is now destined to close in 2 years, there is no hangars available, if one wants to rent, well if you are lucky to have one free, then it is quite outrageous and if someone wants to sell their hanger, well it will stay on the market for a short 30 seconds before it is bought.

 

After spending a while on tie downs, I would never ever ever ever want to go back outside. The plane stays so much nicer and everything works better when it hasn't been frozen for 2 weeks in our Canadian winter...

 

My opinion only, but I guess it is pretty shared, stay in if you can...

[John Pleisse]

Most of 4352H's concerns can be addressed by using a full set of covers, wings and all.

 

Careful.......some covers hold water or people missuse them by having them strapped too tight, which traps water (especially wing and long fuselage covers). If you want to be outside, yes, the cover can help.

[jlunseth]

I don't know if it makes a difference to you, but the ailerons on a Mooney are particularly susceptible to hail damage.  It only takes "ordinary hail," the small stuff, to dent the airlerons.  The rest of the aircraft is generally unaffected.  I found that out the hard way on a trip to Jeffco once.  I ordinarily have my Mooney in a hangar at my home base.  Whenever I travel, I check out in advance if it can be hangared should weather threaten, and I don't hesitate to pay a hangar fee if that does happen.  Winds are pretty much irrelevant to a Mooney so long as you have it tied down and use the seat belt on the yoke to keep the elevators still.  I should amend that a little, my aircraft, the 231, has a "heavy" elevator that hangs down at rest, and it takes a fair amount of wind to kick it up and start any flapping, the Mooneys that have a "lighter" elevator that is counterbalanced, might need to be a little more careful.  But if you strap the yoke back with the seat belt I don't think you would have a problem.  And of course the aircraft should be tied or chained down.

[DXB]

I'm finally moving to Roanoke, VA in January and I'm facing the same problem. Hangers are $375/ month and they have covered spaces that are open in the front for $165/month. I'm used to having my plane in a hanger and not sure about an open hanger. It's hard for me to justify almost $400/month for my old plane. Anyone store there planes in an open hanger like I'm talking about? The only other option is driving an hour for a cheap hanger. . Thanks. Troy

I got a T-hangar for my newly acquired '68C- $400.   It was the only one available at this "modest" price at my nearest field. No concrete slab- the floor is uneven asphalt- great fun with the tow bar.  In a heavy rain, 70% of it is covered with 1-2 inches water, which then turns into a skating rink with a temp drop.   Oh, and did I mention there's no ventilation?  Condensation settles on the wings and freezes.  When summer arrives, with no fans to equalize the humidity, this will amount to parking my plane in a wet sauna after it rains.    It might actually be better off outside!    I would certainly trade my current situation for a less expensive open hangar.    BTW, anyone know of a better available hangar near Philly?  

[Marauder]

I got a T-hangar for my newly acquired '68C- $400. It was the only one available at this "modest" price at my nearest field. No concrete slab- the floor is uneven asphalt- great fun with the tow bar. In a heavy rain, 70% of it is covered with 1-2 inches water, which then turns into a skating rink with a temp drop. Oh, and did I mention there's no ventilation? Condensation settles on the wings and freezes. When summer arrives, with no fans to equalize the humidity, this will amount to parking my plane in a wet sauna after it rains. It might actually be better off outside! I would certainly trade my current situation for a less expensive open hangar. BTW, anyone know of a better available hangar near Philly?

Which side of Philly are you at?

[DXB]

Which side of Philly are you at?

Plane is at KPNE, and I'm trying to stay as close to home in Center City as possible.   I've thought about trying to move eventually to S Jersey Regional or possibly Cross Keys but am not too familiar.

[Marauder]

Plane is at KPNE, and I'm trying to stay as close to home in Center City as possible. I've thought about trying to move eventually to S Jersey Regional or possibly Cross Keys but am not too familiar.

I think there are a couple of guys from this site at South Jersey Regional. On the north side there is KOQN (Brandywine). I am based further west at N57.

[bonal]

Based on your description of the T hangar at 400 I think you may be better off outside or at least pulling it out after the bad weather passes to let things dry out. Some of the enclosed hangars at my field are really bad wet in the winter and humid in the summer and since they have some openings big enough for small birds you get major bird crap much more than if outside. Of coarse Cali weather is much less brutal than Philly. I know at some point I will have to move out but I must admit it's pretty nice to be inside.