Tailcone Covers

[midlifeflyer]

So... yesterday I go to fly a friend's C. Parked outside on the ramp. As usual, during my preflight, I move the elevator up and down while looking into the cockpit to verify proper yoke movement, when I hear chirping. Birds nest!

Interesting part is that the plane returned from it annual lest than a month earlier, during which nests were removed! That huge opening must be very attractive. Besides, as my friend quipped, birds, being natural aviators, know a good safe airplane. 

Looking for solutions, even DIY ones. He's that kind of guy.

[GeeBee]

I've seen birds build a nest with just a few hour on the ramp.

Nor is a hangar a guarantee. My hangar neighbor was fatally killed when mud daubers built up a nest in the fuel vents of his Commander 112.  

Just yesterday, I was under the helm of my boat searching for a wiring issue and found an 8 inch long mud dauber nest. 

 

 

 

[Ibra]

Got the one from Bruce does tailcover & rudder lock & nest protection  
https://www.aircraftcovers.com/M20#2

35 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said:

Looking for solutions, even DIY ones. He's that kind of guy.

Top end of DIY would be with this add-on for extra 10$, it works even inside hangars 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2020 by Ibra

[midlifeflyer]

1 hour ago, Ibra said:

Got the one from Bruce does tailcover & rudder lock & nest protection  
https://www.aircraftcovers.com/M20#2

Top end of DIY would be with this add-on for extra 10$, it works even inside hangars 

 

 

The DIY photo is not viewable. I get a broken image icon.

[midlifeflyer]

2 hours ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

I recommend a hangar.  

 

I don't disagree, but (a) it happens in hangars too - open more than enough for birds to get in  and (b) it's not my choice.

[Ibra]

[ArtVandelay]

My hangar fairy fabricated a small sheet metal faring to close the gap under the tail hook. I think will prevent rodents, but small birds and insects can probably still enter where the elevator controls pass through.

[midlifeflyer]

Just now, bluehighwayflyer said:

I know.  Since at least two of you apparently took my post seriously, the smiley face was intended to denote an apparently poor attempt at humor.  In a hangar at least, though, it feels like the constant march against time, the elements, and Mother Nature is worth fighting.  Out on the ramp, not so much.  

Stuffing some foam In the cracks is about the best a CB can do.

Jim

Don't worry. I knew it was meant humorously.

[steingar]

The Lucky Strike was stuck out in the country for its annual for a longtime this year.  My mechanic stuffed a couple rags in those openings, seemed to do the trick.

 

[David Lloyd]

I used to travel to an airport near Richmond.  Every spring, if the airplane sat on the ramp for part of a day, it would have a bird nest on the engine.  With the Mooney, there would also be straw in the tailcone.   Only had that happen once anywhere else, dozens of times at FCI.  I kept my airplane in  an open hangar for years, all that was available at the airport 2 miles from home.  I found if the cover was put on the airplane everywhere, at home or away, the windows stayed clean, except for a few bugs.

[midlifeflyer]

2 hours ago, steingar said:

The Lucky Strike was stuck out in the country for its annual for a longtime this year.  My mechanic stuffed a couple rags in those openings, seemed to do the trick.

 

I'm sure that would work. But a larger cover definitely has a visibility advantage for normal preflights. I'm kind of surprised I don't see DIYs. Looking at the commercial offerings, they look like a pretty simple sewing job. Grab a sheet fro Walmart and...

 

 

[RLCarter]

this is buddies C in the DC area, less than a month the birds build a beaver dam, it doesn’t take long

[shawnd]

Holy Cow!