Hangar vs Tiedown,,,,,,,,,,,justification

[Cris]

Hangers are great & work especially well as an alternate man cave. It boils down to availability & cost. I have been on both ends of the hanger & tie down issue. I keep my airplane at a great big airport with great facilities but no hangers- period. it is 20 mins from my home & 10 mins from my office. To hanger I'd have to go 45 mins from my home to fields with higher approach minimums & less watchfull eyes.  I bought the Bruce cover & am now buying the wing covers for the winter. I have electric for my engine heater and battery minder at the tie down. If I beg I can get the A/C in the jet hanger for the occational hurricance.  The $'s saved like carasome points out help me justify the new paint job every three years or the next new whiz bang avionics gizmo. I initially got a hanger years ago to avoid the issue of snow on the A/C. Then I could not get the A/C out of the hanger because of the ice & snow build up in front of the doors. At least I could get the snow off the plane when it was outside. Go figure.  So there are legitimate reasons for both options.

[flyboy0681]

Quote: rbridges

I'm still stunned from the $600/month fee.  I didn't realize they could be so expensive.  I pay $175 at my small airport.  I was in an open T hanger until my closed hangar became available.  Besides the other advantages, I enjoy leaving my tools/misc in the hangar instead of having to take them home.

[N601RX]

I guess hanger rent is relative.  I would consider $175 high.  At out airport 14J an enclosed private hanger goes for $65 a month.  Nothing fancy, just an enclosed hanger with electricity and water. 

I think there was a fairly long thread about a year go where pople were posting hanger rent and other expenses for different parts of the country.

[scottfromiowa]

I live in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Is that the middle of no-where too?  My hanger is $68/month.  You requested justification for spending $600/month for a hanger.  There is none... accept that there is limited supply and a lot of weathy folks that "can afford it" so they do.  You apparently live in a place where paying that amount is fine.  Good for you, but as you asked for an opinion mine is don't pay that amount for a hanger unless you are of a pay scale that it's NOT a big deal.  In that case buy a good quality cover and wax/clean your plane regularly...and consider Georgia.

Quote: flyboy0681

With all due respect, I see that you live out in the middle of nowhere in Georgia so it's no wonder that you pay $175 for a hangar. Down here in S. Florida space is at a premium and it's a sellers market. My hangar costs $630 a month but that's split amongst the four partners so it's easy on my wallet.

But to answer Greg's question, knowing what I now know about tie-down versus hangar I would definitely bend the budget towards the hangar. Down here the elements are intense, if it's not the blaring sun then it's the afternoon monsoons or occasional tropical depression.

As others have added here there are other benefits as well, most of all social. When you tie down you never get to know your neighbor while with a hangar you really do. I'm very friendly with all five owners in my row and it's not unusual for me to stop in and be offered a flight somewhere for lunch, puttering around in the sky or sitting around for hours recounting stories. Keep in mind that we all have the same common interest and that's hard to comeby in the general public. In this respect it's been a load of fun.

Another benefit comes in the form of maintenance. When you have a hangar you can usually call in an A&P and he'll perform whatever maintenance is necessary in the comfort of the hangar, something that can't typically be done on the ramp. If the mechanic needs to keep the plane on the stands for a day or two, so be it. If he needs to keep his tools out, no problem.

Lastly, there is nothing better after coming down in searing heat than going to the refrigerator and pouring a cold one.

Send me a private message Greg and I'll fill you in on the storage situation down here in South Florida.

 

 

 

[alex]

Quote: M20F

I have flown airplanes outside for 25 years primarily.  Other than some paint fade, a little window glazing, and some light hail damage, no issues.  Obviously location drives some of this and I am in the Chicagoland area.

Over 5 years you will spend $31K which buys a lot of paint, windows, and interiors if even needed.  While I wouldn't pass a hanger up and they are nice for storing tools/beer, financially I have never been able to justify one in my area.

[AndyFromCB]

Or you could come join us here in "sunny" Iowa. $240 a month at KCBF for two hangars, that's total. For $7200 a year that's a lot of runs down to Florida when you get tired of our Iowa "sun". For only $350 a month you can get a big twin heated hangar, gas included. Been on a waiting list for one of them for a while. For now, little space heater in the baggage compartement does the trick in the winter...

[flyboy0681]

Quote: scottfromiowa

[bnicolette]

Scott you are absolutely right.  It all comes down to budget.  And I would most definitely consider hangar expense part of the budget.  However, that is just me and we are all different folks with different ways of doing things and caring for our airplanes.

For me........There is no better preflight than a very thorough post flight which for me is cleaning every single bug and other debris off of my airplane after each flight all the while looking everything over as I'm cleaning.  In the winter, rain, snow, etc., I still have no problems doing this as my airplane is pushed right into the hangar which I can light up like the sun were shining and heat it if need be.

Greg....It all comes down to how you intend to operate and care for your airplane.  If you want a museum piece that just screams "I'm babied", then get the hangar if you can find one and the budget allows it.  On the other hand, leaving it outside will take it's toll on the airplane but it is certainly not going to crumble and fall into little Mooney pieces of trash overnight. 

What airport are you basing it at?  Aren't there a lot of options in Florida for even getting it under roof?  I've spent a lot of time at Lantana and North Palm Beach airports and they both have "ports" for airplanes.  Do they have those at the airport your thinkng of basing at?  Those would be way better than just leaving it outside or putting a cover on it, wouldn't it?

Whatever you decide, just give it the care it deserves and if you end up keeping it outside, just give it extra extra care with cleanings and wax. 

Good luck and let us know how the prebuy goes.  Where is the pre buy being done at?

B~

 

 

[bnicolette]

Quote: gregwatts

You Mooney guys are known for your opinions,.......so give em to me!

[scottfromiowa]

Quote: flyboy0681

[Txbyker]

I am amazed at various hangar fees on this thread at different parts of the country.  I guess I feel fortunate at $325 a month in Houston area.  I know at my airport you can have a choice of shared hangars at about $325-350, private T-hanger at $325 and a full service FBO that will pull you out, fill you up, put you back in, etc for $325.  Tie downs are much cheaper.  I would venture a guess that there are probably about 10-15 openings for singles in covered hangars at present at KDWH.

As far as tie down versus hanger I like that fact that in a hangar you can do much of your own allowable maintance.  If you can factor that into the equation you can save some $'s on oil changes, landing lights, etc.

[N601RX]

There are also a lot of airparks in Florida that have larger private hangers.  If you meet the right person you might be able to work out something with the owner.  You might find an owner who has a high performance 2 seater that ocassionally has the need to use a 4 seater.

If the hanger is tall enough you can also get a lift and put 2 planes in the hanger. 

[flight2000]

The retirement house we are planning on buying will have a hangar attached or right behind it.  Already have the blessing from the wife and have already started looking...

I can justify the $600 a month if it's going into my own pocket and not someone else's.  Otherwise, more power to you if you can afford it.  For those fees, I'd expect (maybe demand) that the floors be coated, sealed doors, and includes heat, A/C, eletricity, phone line, and internet.... possibly a bathroom and sink too!!

If all of the hangar leasees revolted, would the prices come down?

Brian

[bnicolette]

You know the strange thing is that hangar space is pretty much at a premium at just about any airport.  I know I got the very last hangar at my airport and there is already a huge waiting list which is the case at most airports.  If we were wise, we would start an investment club and build some freaken T hangars!!!!

[rbridges]

Quote: Bnicolette

You know the strange thing is that hangar space is pretty much at a premium at just about any airport.  I know I got the very last hangar at my airport and there is already a huge waiting list which is the case at most airports.  If we were wise, we would start an investment club and build some freaken T hangars!!!!

[DaV8or]

I would look into moving to an airpark. You live in Florida and I think there are more airparks there than any other state in the union. Probably because of hangar rents!! Here's a link to a crude map of airparks in FL.

Seriously, at $600 a month, I would be looking at this option.

[fantom]

Quote: carusoam

Or move to a more hangar friendly state.

 

Money isn't everything

http://x9b.xanga.com/96ee42f1d9132276152475/z214985961.jpg

[Shadrach]

Quote: flyboy0681

[flyboy0681]

Quote: rbridges

 even at my airport, there is a waiting list for both the open and closed hangars.  It took me 2 years to get mine.  We have land alloated for a 4th set of closed hangars, but for whatever reason, they won't build. 

[rbridges]

Quote: flyboy0681

This is a very interesting point. If there is a waiting list of over a year then the law of supply and demand would suggest that the airport authority is grossly undercharging what they can actually get.

 

 

[Shadrach]

Quote: fantom

[scottfromiowa]

Quote: Shadrach

[N601RX]

Quote: flyboy0681

This is a very interesting point. If there is a waiting list of over a year then the law of supply and demand would suggest that the airport authority is grossly undercharging what they can actually get.

 

 

[John Pleisse]

Quote: Shadrach

[flyboy0681]

Quote: N601RX

Even at $65 a month our airport authority is making more that enough money to keep things going