Stupid Ice

[triple8s]

1 Coleman cookstove

2 a pot

3 bag of gravel

[Hank]

Next summer, buy a bag of asphalt patch, lay it in the sun for a couple of days, then at midday, pour it in the hole and drive over it a couple times to pack down. Won't help this winter, but may next year.

In the meantime, don't hurt yourself! I spent over an hour once chipping my north-facing door out of the ice, then had to work hardder getting the locking pins out of the concrete so the doors would roll open. That was my only winter in that hangar.

[AndyFromCB]

Next summer, buy a bag of asphalt patch, lay it in the sun for a couple of days, then at midday, pour it in the hole and drive over it a couple times to pack down. Won't help this winter, but may next year.

In the meantime, don't hurt yourself! I spent over an hour once chipping my north-facing door out of the ice, then had to work hardder getting the locking pins out of the concrete so the doors would roll open. That was my only winter in that hangar.

 

Good trick with asphalt patch,in the winter, is to pour on the ground, drive over it a few times, pour a gallon of mixed gas and diesel over it and set it on fire. Works like a charm to fix potholes. Let it melt, it will go out the second gas is done burning, won't be more than a couple of minutes. Gasoline alone won't burn long enough. Needs the diesel. Diesel on it's own won't light up.

[M20F]

We use a http://www.amazon.com/Red-Dragon-VT-2-23-000-BTU/dp/B00004Z2FP/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1424869766&sr=1-1&keywords=weed+torch

[Matt Michael]

We got above freezing here first time in ages yesterday so I took my bobcat skid loader to the airport yesterday. After about an hour of moving snow and a half hour of chipping ice with the bucket (in front of the hanger door) I was able to get the plane out.

8 inches of snow predicted today.

Fortunately skiing is the next best thing to flying.

[gsxrpilot]

Hey Gixxer, your plane is looking good but looks like it has pink lipstick around the spinner. is that a new closure that still needs paint? . if the door can be opened and all you need is grip you might just put down some sand. I feel for all you guys back east I got a nephew lives in Connecticut going to Yale I worry he is safe. think I will go open the door to my office cuz its so nice out right now.

I've never notice the pink color.  It think it's the harsh Texas winter sun affecting the color ;-)

 

how does it handle on the highway?  

I specifically built this because the taxiway in front of my hanger is gravel. I decided I didn't like starting it up and running the prop on the gravel. This way I can tow it about 100 yards to the pavement.

 

 

well it didn't post in the right size, but here is my new tow bar .about 5foot long and expandable .

 built in my kitchen , 10 minutes 

thanks Gsxrpilot

I found I needed to put a little tack weld on the joints to keep them from unscrewing when pulling the plane. It's not a huge problem, but you'll notice the plane start to pull a little crooked. 

 

I find the longer length makes it easier to steer the plane while I'm pushing it around by hand. And glad you found this useful.

[StinkBug]

If it's just one strip across the entry to the hangar, why not just push the plane from behind until the nose wheel is past the ice? Not like you're gonna be doing much steering in that few feet anyways.

[rbridges]

If it's just one strip across the entry to the hangar, why not just push the plane from behind until the nose wheel is past the ice? Not like you're gonna be doing much steering in that few feet anyways.

This may sound stupid but where do you push the plane from behind?

[MB65E]

Well, it's not like it has wing struts or anything. But, Baggage door jam, or the wing walk area. If your stuck on the left side, Flat palms (gloves might slide) on the rear inboard spar. I think he means by hand and not with the tug from behind.

-Matt

[Andy95W]

Here's mine:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424823338.662386.jpg

Just ordered mine yesterday.

[aviatoreb]

Just ordered mine yesterday.

 

They are awesome - but one word of caution - REMEMBER TO TAKE THEM OFF before you climb up onto your wing to get in the plane!!!!!

[rbridges]

Well, it's not like it has wing struts or anything. But, Baggage door jam, or the wing walk area. If your stuck on the left side, Flat palms (gloves might slide) on the rear inboard spar. I think he means by hand and not with the tug from behind.

-Matt

I didn't think I about the baggage door jamb. I knew he was talking about doing it by hand but I couldn't think of a solid pushing surface.

[Spenscot]

I'm from south Florida I just came here to laugh

[Hank]

If it's just one strip across the entry to the hangar, why not just push the plane from behind until the nose wheel is past the ice? Not like you're gonna be doing much steering in that few feet anyways.

That "one strip" can be 12-18" wide (or more), several inches thick, with a near-vertical side facing the door. It can also freeze the door to the ground. BTDT, had no fun.

[Marauder]

I'm from south Florida I just came here to laugh

May the frost not bite you!

[StinkBug]

That "one strip" can be 12-18" wide (or more), several inches thick, with a near-vertical side facing the door. It can also freeze the door to the ground. BTDT, had no fun.

 

 

The several inches thick part I can see an issue with. The OP just talked about slipping though, which is why I suggested pushing from inside the hangar. Baggage door is one spot, Tail cone under the rudder is another that comes to mind. Anything solid that isn't a control surface?

[carl]

My hangar door has not froze yet , I guess i'm lucky.

 

I have about a 6 foot strip of ice todeal with .

 

I hope it is gone on Saturday because the weather is clear but cold.I want to fly. 

[alex]

Ice is not always the problem but every time it snows this seems to happen.

[aviatoreb]

Ice is not always the problem but every time it snows this seems to happen.

 

Your plow guy is not very nice - I see he has his plow set to push toward the door and he could tilt it to push the excess in the opposite direction.  In any case, I too get a snow burm by the door since the plow can't get all the way to the door - but my burm is much smaller despite that we get lots of snow, since our plow guy seems much nicer than yours.  I just open the door and then I can shovel it all a few feet further out very quickly in like 5 min then next time it snows the plow guy ends up removing our shovel out too.  Its not a big deal.  Our extra cold snow tends to be light and fluffy too - but if you go through a thaw freeze cycle then it will turn ice-like and be much harder and therefore harder to remove.

[alex]

They use caterpillar type tractors to plow the snow, the airport authority says they can only plow up to three feet from the hangars to avoid damage to doors. Because I am on a corner hangar I tend to get screwed with 4 to 6 feet especially by that entrance door. It can't take upwards of a half hour to shovel. It's definitely a workout.

[aviatoreb]

They use caterpillar type tractors to plow the snow, the airport authority says they can only plow up to three feet from the hangars to avoid damage to doors. Because I am on a corner hangar I tend to get screwed with 4 to 6 feet especially by that entrance door. It can't take upwards of a half hour to shovel. It's definitely a workout.

 

Our town uses a road-type plow and it has a tilting blade so they can tilt it so the snow gets pushed away from the door instead of toward the door.  It makes a big difference.  Does your airport plow have a tiltable blade?

 

Our plow guy seems to get to within a foot of my door, which is also a big help.

[alex]

Probably not....this is what I've seen them using.

[aviatoreb]

Probably not....this is what I've seen them using.

 

Oooooh.....

 

No one mentioned this problem - with a low wing mooney - at the height of winter - I cannot fit through some of the taxiways since the snow birms can be higher than my wing tips and some of the taxiways are narrower than my wing span.  In recent years our local plowing has widened this a fair bit so it is no longer a problem at home - but So we Mooney drivers need to be selective of where we plan to taxi - especially at away airports where we might not be as familiar with the plowing practice and how wide the taxiways are.  I have on at least one occasion started to taxi down a taxiway only to then decide it is just too little margin - and since you cannot back up - I turned the engine off and then pushed by hand to get out of the taxiway.

[Marauder]

I just got back from the airport. It is ABSOLUTELY beautiful today and I was looking forward to a nice flight. Show up at the hangar and am greeted with 10 inches of solid ice along the entire track system. Looks like all the snow on the hangar roof melted and dripped down and refroze in front of the doors.

I keep telling the wife... FLORIDA, FLORIDA, FLORIDA!!!!! I am SO done with this crap.

[aviatoreb]

I just got back from the airport. It is ABSOLUTELY beautiful today and I was looking forward to a nice flight. Show up at the hangar and am greeted with 10 inches of solid ice along the entire track system. Looks like all the snow on the hangar roof melted and dripped down and refroze in front of the doors.

I keep telling the wife... FLORIDA, FLORIDA, FLORIDA!!!!! I am SO done with this crap.

Problem with snow where you are is its too warm for snow! You get thaw-freeze cycles. We are so old it mostly just stays light and fluffy.

Are you old enough to move to florida? I heard they check your aarp card before they let you in.