Parking: Ramp vs Hangar

[mooney_wannaB]

Author's Disclaimer: Yes I've searched the forum already. 

Found some postings from 2014 on the benefits of a hangar. 

I plan to use the plane as a work commuter between Arkansas and Louisiana. I fly offshore 14 days on and 14 days off. So I'm only at a given airport for two weeks at a time. I've done the homework and can get discounted hangar rates for my situation in both states.

The difference in insurance costs(roughly) is I'd pay up to $3600 on hangar fees to save $700 on insurance. Yes, yes, you're  saying the heat, the hail, the paint, the avionics, the wind. I am aware of hangar benefits. 

I just wonder if a good, high quality, set of covers is a realistic solution? I'll never be in a hurry and don't care about the put on/take off time. Transporting plane supplies for maintenance is not a big deal either. 

If anyone has experience with outside storage and using covers I would greatly appreciate your thoughts. 

[Godfather]

My personal opinion is if you care about the plane put it in a hanger.  I know many people do not have that option but it really brings the stress level down for myself during storms and winter weather (a problem you don't have to worry about). I have a Bruce custom cover that has never been used...not enough benefits to mess with IMO when I travel.

[chrisk]

Presumably one of the airports is close to the gulf?  If your dealing with salt in the air, I would seriously consider a hangar.

On the financial of your equation, you may want to consider the fuel tanks.  Mooney lure claims empty tanks and a plane in the sun are a bad combination for the longevity of a leak free fuel tank.    On the other hand, full fuel adds weight and is rumored to reduce the life of the rubber doughnuts.

[mooney_wannaB]

5 minutes ago, chrisk said:

Presumably one of the airports is close to the gulf?  If your dealing with salt in the air, I would seriously consider a hangar.

On the financial of your equation, you may want to consider the fuel tanks.  Mooney lure claims empty tanks and a plane in the sun are a bad combination for the longevity of a leak free fuel tank.    On the other hand, full fuel adds weight and is rumored to reduce the life of the rubber doughnuts.

Good points to consider. I've found a company that manufactures nose to tail covers. Even hail resistant wing covers. In that case, at least direct solar heating would be minimized. Million dollar questions is, how well do said covers fold up and travel?

[carusoam]

Look at it this way....

Been outdoors for 10 years. It's terrible. Crime, sun, ice, weather, no electricity.  Chance of getting hit by somebody.  Add paint.

Been indoors for 5 years. It's expensive. Might need a powered device to move the plane in and out.

 

or this way....

outdoors is really low cost. A good cover works wonders.  

indoors is pretty care free.  

 

How do you look at the same things?

 

Best regards,

-a-

[mooney_wannaB]

Sounds like a hangar is the winner. I suppose it's worth peace of mind during periods of inclement weather. Honestly I wouldn't have thought ramp rash was such a problem until now. Thought folks would more careful around other people's airplanes. 

Edited July 8, 2016 by mooney_wannaB

[PMcClure]

If pride in ownership and condition issues are important to you, not having a hangar isn't really an option. That aside, if I were to make a financial decision, I would have to know the value of your plane. If you are talking an expensive modern bird, I think there is no question to get a hangar. But if you have a 50 years of oxidation and dings then $3000 a year may not be worth the investment. Again, that is only the financial side of things. 

And regarding covers, I have decided never to put my nice Bruce cover on my plane again near the beach. The sand and salt can get under the cover and cause scratches. I will either Hangar it or rely on sun shields only from now on. PS - anyone know where I can buy some nice sun shields that go inside? 

[steingar]

Airplanes belong indoors.

[Bob]

Your cost is only $250 per month and without paying for an empty hangar.

I travel about 5 month a year for business and am forced to cover it while away.  Don't like it, but don't have a choice many times.  I would jump at your option!

 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, carusoam said:

Look at it this way....

Been outdoors for 10 years. It's terrible. Crime, sun, ice, weather, no electricity.  Chance of getting hit by somebody.  Add paint.

Been indoors for 5 years. It's expensive. Might need a powered device to move the plane in and out.

 

or this way....

outdoors is really low cost. A good cover works wonders.  

indoors is pretty care free.  

 

How do you look at the same things?

 

Best regards,

-a-

Does the "Crime" cause wear or make things disappear?

Clarence

[dlthig]

Hangar, if that is an option is the safest way to go. If you've got an old paint job and don't plan on keeping the airplane then you may want to consider a tie down, you would be treating it like a rental. Several years ago I had the same conversation with an owner. I kept my Cherokee in a hangar and my friend kept his Mooney out. His logic was that it was cheaper to paint and replace interior in the long run. That was quite a few years ago when paint was 5K. I think he'd have his Mooney in a hangar if that was an option today. I know that would be my plan, but hangars are rare and expensive in Charleston.

 

[Andy95W]

Where would you put your refrigerator and beer?

[takair]

We've moved around a little so have had the plane indoors and out, north and south.  In rough numbers, it felt like the aircraft took twice the amount of upkeep when outside.  When indoors, the airplane is as I left it.  Outdoors you need to worry about the invisible threats to your aircraft.  Water and ice in pitot and static systems.  Water in fuel.  Bugs in pitot tubes, birds in the tail.  Mice wherever they feel like being.. If you can afford it, it is worth it to avoid these issues alone.  If you can't afford it, it just takes more attention and extra patience.  Covers are good protection but difficult to deal with in wind or when wet.  Get the best you can afford, wind is a constant threat to covers and loose covers can cause more damage than they save.  Here in CT, the hangar goes for more than the plane is worth, but when Mother Nature turns on her fury, I feel much better knowing the plane will be just like I left it.  Coming back from the rig and heading for home will be much easier without having to wonder what went on around the plane.  Wish I had a $250 hangar!

[carusoam]

A NJ tie down is $100. Hangar >.5 AMU....

If you leave for two weeks, there will be seasons that you want to tie down like a hurricane is going to come through and cover things like a hail storm is about to hit.  Mostly because you can't get weather forecasts that are that accurate that far out...

When a hurricane comes through you will see all the planes that nobody was able to care for, up against some nicely cared for planes...

Some owners have no idea how desructive their plane can be.  We had one guy with a new to him plane do a run-up with the ropes holding the plane, sort of.  Tested both the strength of the ropes and insurance company at the same time. His ownership lasted about three days.

they don't teach ownership skills with flying lessons.  It's good to keep asking questions...

Best regards,

-a-

[Godfather]

6 hours ago, PMcClure said:

And regarding covers, I have decided never to put my nice Bruce cover on my plane again near the beach. The sand and salt can get under the cover and cause scratches. I will either Hangar it or rely on sun shields only from now on. PS - anyone know where I can buy some nice sun shields that go inside? 

I agree with the above.  I use car shades that pop open...Basix Magic Shades.  I don't recal the exact size at the moment but they work great.

[carusoam]

Cliffy, crime is like wear.  Sometimes you notice it and sometimes you don't.... sometimes the fuel dissapeers, it's a leak...

Outdoors the wear is continuous, 24/7...

Indoors you can still get bugs nesting in important places...

Airplane ownership isn't as challenging as it sounds,

-a-

[M20F]

Financially when you look at a $300+ swing between a hanger and a tie down, the hanger makes no sense.  Any damage that comes from being outside (and after 30yrs of doing it I have noticed nothing more than windows/paint going a bit faster) you can easily cover with that money and still have money left over.  If you live where hail is prevelant than that is definitely a consideration though.

I also have never known a plane parked outside having mice issues.  I know several parked in hangers who have had that problem which has caused some expensive issues. 

 

Edited July 9, 2016 by M20F

[bradp]

Done both in an out.  When I lived in Boston a hangar was more than my rent.  So she lived outside and through the last bits of Hurricaine Sandy.  She did well, but then I moved to the Midwest.  Harsh winters, industrial soot.  I decided to move to an airport further away and got on the waiting list for hangars.  Comparatively cheaper here.  While waiting Murphy's law struck and my plane got damaged by hail.  Since being in big storms move through and I no longer worry.   My family enjoys hanging out at the hanagar.  You make friends with your hangar neighbors.  Plane is protected.  You're preflighted and out in 15 minutes instead of 30.  There's no misery in putting the cover on in 30kt howling winds.  I'm not having to douse the plane in TKS fluid to get the ice / frost off.  I don't have construction on the airport that blows sand and dust under my microfiber cover (none are perfect) that scratches and ruins the windshield.  Hangar is the best thing I did for the airplane and my flying enjoyment. 

You can go for a month to month arrangement for a couple of months to see how you like it before committing.  

[Cyril Gibb]

19 hours ago, PMcClure said:

And regarding covers, I have decided never to put my nice Bruce cover on my plane again near the beach. The sand and salt can get under the cover and cause scratches. I will either Hangar it or rely on sun shields only from now on. PS - anyone know where I can buy some nice sun shields that go inside? 

I'll second that.  I had my canopy cover on two weeks ago on a trip to the Dakotas.  The dust blown up under the cover and wind caused quite a bit of paint and window damage.

[Danb]

21 hours ago, mooney_wannaB said:

Sounds like a hangar is the winner. I suppose it's worth peace of mind during periods of inclement weather. Honestly I wouldn't have thought ramp rash was such a problem until now. Thought folks would more careful around other people's airplanes. 

It's a shame so many folks don't give a rats behind about others belongings. That's why so many folks park away from the store.

[Hank]

The ability to store tools, oil, covers and accessories when not being used is very nice, too. I bought some Gorilla shelving to out stuff on, it filled up rapidly. My folded canopy cover in its stuff bag takes up half of the top shelf. Two cases of oil are in the bottom shelf. I have a set of plastic shelving for liquids (Wash-n-Wax, Tri Flo, etc). Then there's the roll around tool box for oil changes, annual, etc.

its the less-discussed benefit of hangaring.

[ArtVandelay]

Don't have bird problems inside.

I used my hangar as a storage unit.

I can preflight, out of the weather (sun, rain, etc) in a mosquito free environment.

Don't have to worry about prop wash, careless pilots

As mentioned before I've been told heat destroys fuel tanks sealants.

I haven't met a AP who stored their plane outside.

This Florida, ocean is just a few miles away...

If I had a 152 or other aircraft that was fairly cheap I probably would store outside.

[1964-M20E]

What part of Louisiana will you be flying to?

 

 

[steingar]

Can't imagine having an airplane outdoors in a Midwestern winter. Preflighting in a hangar is sufficiently difficult.  Preheating would be OK if you have a Red Dragon or equivalent.  Still takes time.  And lots of fun putting your wet/icy/snowy cover in your nice airplane or in your car.  Sitting outdoors is a death of a thousand cuts for an aircraft. Affects the paint, interior, Windows, avionics, everything.  Turns the experience of winter flying into a real drag.

[M20F]

Lot of OWT on this thread, 30yrs outside and no problems.  Obviously a hanger has a lot of perks and if you can swing it, why not.  Parking a plane outside aside from hail doesn't do much to it other than paint/Windows and financially if you do it offsets.