Hangar vs Covered "Tie-Down" space

[Huitt3106]

I am working through the throws of solo ownership in my Mooney again and am trying to find ways to make it more affordable (I know that's an oxymoron in aviation). I have found the most controllable cost point in my ownership is that of hangar rent. Currently, my monthly rent is hitting $400 per month for an old worn out T-hangar with manual sliding doors. What I am contemplating is moving my Mooney over to the covered tie-downs that give it good protection from rain and any hail (pretty uncommon here) but will not have a closed door. I am thinking about doing this in conjunction with purchasing a canopy/ cowl cover in addition to horizontal surface covers. This will be a yearly savings of right at $3,000 and would put me in a more comfortable position. I know this is a can of worms I'm throwing on the floor, but I am interested in viewpoints on covered storage ($160/ month) vs full hangar ($400/ month) storage. This is not an open tie-down spot. 

 

[Browncbr1]

You could get a new paint job in 3 or 4 years of savings of they don’t raise rent.  I’m now paying almost twice as much now for the same shade hangar 4 years ago at $3500/yr. and they are about to tear it down to build some $700/m hangars in its place.  I’ll have no where else to go on the field except for tiedown.   I’m faced with that or move to and airport an hour drive away.    If I were you, I’d go for the shade hangar and a cover.   The biggest difference is that your plane will get dusty/dirty, especially if there is a lot of turbines at your field.  

[Huitt3106]

2 minutes ago, Browncbr1 said:

You could get a new paint job in 3 or 4 years of savings of they don’t raise rent.  I’m now paying almost twice as much now for the same shade hangar 4 years ago at $3500/yr. and they are about to tear it down to build some $700/m hangars in its place.  I’ll have no where else to go on the field except for tiedown.   I’m faced with that or move to and airport an hour drive away.    If I were you, I’d go for the shade hangar and a cover.   The biggest difference is that your plane will get dusty/dirty, especially if there is a lot of turbines at your field.  

Thanks! I'm strongly leaning that way as the $400/ month mark is really hard to swallow. It's honestly pushed me to flying less as it's a constant reminder of how expensive it is to keep it in the hangar whenever I visit!

[LANCECASPER]

15 minutes ago, Huitt3106 said:

I am working through the throws of solo ownership in my Mooney again and am trying to find ways to make it more affordable (I know that's an oxymoron in aviation). I have found the most controllable cost point in my ownership is that of hangar rent. Currently, my monthly rent is hitting $400 per month for an old worn out T-hangar with manual sliding doors. What I am contemplating is moving my Mooney over to the covered tie-downs that give it good protection from rain and any hail (pretty uncommon here) but will not have a closed door. I am thinking about doing this in conjunction with purchasing a canopy/ cowl cover in addition to horizontal surface covers. This will be a yearly savings of right at $3,000 and would put me in a more comfortable position. I know this is a can of worms I'm throwing on the floor, but I am interested in viewpoints on covered storage ($160/ month) vs full hangar ($400/ month) storage. This is not an open tie-down spot. 

 

This has been discussed many times on Mooneyspace.  There are three options at some airports: Tie-down, covered tie-down and hangar. Obviously covered tie-down is better that not covered, but it still doesn't completely protect it from the elements and is much harder to keep it clean. Having a place to keep airplane-related items and work on the airplane is well worth the difference to me. Some parts of the country the monthly hangar is double what you would be paying for a hangar. And in some parts of the country even at double the price there is a long waiting list. Although $3000 a year is worth noting, you will likely pay less for your insurance if you are in an enclosed hangar, making the difference less. In the grand scheme of things the purchase price is the one of the least expensive parts of airplane ownership, since you'll get that back when you sell it. The yearly expenses you aren't going to get back. Even so, if $200-$250 is the difference per month between inside and outside it's small in comparison to the other parts of ownership. Selling a hangared airplane should also command more when you go to sell it. 

[steingar]

I too am facing financial woes that will impact my aviation.  But I will sell my Mooney before I subject it to the elements.

[Huitt3106]

4 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

This has been discussed many times on Mooneyspace.  There are three options at some airports: Tie-down, covered tie-down and hangar. Obviously covered tie-down is better that not covered, but it still doesn't completely protect it from the elements and is much harder to keep it clean. Having a place to keep airplane-related items and work on the airplane is well worth the difference to me. Some parts of the country the monthly hangar is double what you would be paying for a hangar. And in some parts of the country even at double the price there is a long waiting list. Although $3000 a year is worth noting, you will likely pay less for your insurance if you are in an enclosed hangar, making the difference less. In the grand scheme of things the purchase price is the one of the least expensive parts of airplane ownership, since you'll get that back when you sell it. The yearly expenses you aren't going to get back. Even so, if $200-$250 is the difference per month between inside and outside it's small in comparison to the other parts of ownership. Selling a hangared airplane should also command more when you go to sell it. 

I don't disagree with you at all on the benefits of having it in a fully enclosed hangar, but I'm on the verge of selling if I can't make it somewhat more affordable (or find a co-owner). To break my math down a bit more, I have figured up the hourly costs at my average flying per year. If I downgrade to a covered tie-down, the cost difference will make flying 70 hours next year the same cost as flying 40 hours this past year. That's how I've tried to approach ownership costs (flying time). 

 

Fun note on keeping it cleaner; Signature somehow constantly blows dust and grit all into the hangars (even when the doors are closed). I walked into the hangar a few weeks ago and my airplane was covered in dirt and grit from them blowing the apron off and into the hangars when they patched the cracks in the pavement. 

[Huitt3106]

4 minutes ago, steingar said:

I too am facing financial woes that will impact my aviation.  But I will sell my Mooney before I subject it to the elements.

That's mostly what I'm trying to rationalize at this point. How much worse is a covered spot vs a full hangar? The difference in tie-down vs hangar is obvious to me, but this is a bit different. 

[larryb]

I had a shelter for a few months before my hangar was available. Yes, it is partially protected from sun but I thought the plane got dirtier in the shelter than it would have outside. The birds liked hanging out in the rafters and would poop all over the plane in the shelter.

[DCarlton]

26 minutes ago, Huitt3106 said:

That's mostly what I'm trying to rationalize at this point. How much worse is a covered spot vs a full hangar? The difference in tie-down vs hangar is obvious to me, but this is a bit different. 

A covered spot at my airport out west would be a luxury.  Finding a cramped space in a shared hangar for $800 a month or a T hanger is nearly impossible to come by.  In SOCAL, canvas covers work fairly well.  I've had mine on the ramp for going on 18 years or so.  I go through a cover about every five years and keep the plane waxed.  But... we don't have a lot of rain nor do we have harsh winters.  You do what you've gotta do.  

[Huitt3106]

2 minutes ago, DCarlton said:

A covered spot at my airport out west would be a luxury.  Finding a cramped space in a shared hangar for $800 a month or a T hanger is nearly impossible to come by.  In SOCAL, canvas covers work fairly well.  I've had mine on the ramp for going on 18 years or so.  I go through a cover about every five years and keep the plane waxed.  But... we don't have a lot of rain nor do we have harsh winters.  You do what you've gotta do.  

That definitely makes sense. If I go this route, I'll be getting covers to keep the birds off most of it and just wash the airplane regularly like I already prefer to do. The high hangar cost just doesn't make much sense when there is that much difference. 

[David Lloyd]

I have been in a covered spot since 1982.  That is all that was available at my little airport.  That airport was sold two years ago for residential development and I went on the waiting list at KVUJ (and others) for a 19 months.  A covered spot became available in November. The enclosed hangar list is looong.   I'm good with that.  Used a cover all that time.  Did not use a cowl cover or plugs as I fly every week and the airport does not have a bird problem.  Use the cover every time the plane is parked for more than an hour or so to keep dirt off the windows.

[Huitt3106]

3 minutes ago, David Lloyd said:

I have been in a covered spot since 1982.  That is all that was available at my little airport.  That airport was sold two years ago for residential development and I went on the waiting list at KVUJ (and others) for a 19 months.  A covered spot became available in November.  I'm good with that.  Used a cover all that time.  Did not use a cowl cover or plugs as I fly every week and the airport does not have a bird problem.  Use the cover every time the plane is parked for more than an hour or so to keep dirt off the windows.

You sound like you're living what I am envisioning! I am heavily leaning in that direction as it makes the most sense at this point (for me). 

[Will.iam]

Option B move to an airpark and build your own hanger, get that money back when you sell it and just pay taxes. Or lease one of the airpark hangers. I pay $125 / year for my hanger. Unfortunately the HOA dues are that each month. Still very affordable compared to what airports offer, not to mention the convenience of walking to your plane to go fly or that all your neighbors share a common passion even if they don’t have a mooney

[philip_g]

I pay over $800 a month for a t hangar. Yeah I can repaint the plane every few years with the savings but I can't buy a new airframe when the current one corrodes away from the salt air. (Paint is about 20k here). Different climates are different though.

Edited December 20, 2021 by philip_g

[Pete M]

I'd go covered tie down, corrosion x or similar every two years, wash/wax...should be fine. Dont let parts of the plane hang over the grass. If you plan on doing extensive work on the plane then you'll want a hanger. You can probably keep a locked tool bin near the plane for preventative maint. My last hanger cost 175mo. Cant imagine coughing up 500mo. Thats 60k in 10 years. Now take that same 500mo and dollar cost average into an index fund. Now what do you have? Probably a pretty decent j or k model:) Last place i based ramp tie down was free:) i like free:)

[Huitt3106]

48 minutes ago, Will.iam said:

Option B move to an airpark and build your own hanger, get that money back when you sell it and just pay taxes. Or lease one of the airpark hangers. I pay $125 / year for my hanger. Unfortunately the HOA dues are that each month. Still very affordable compared to what airports offer, not to mention the convenience of walking to your plane to go fly or that all your neighbors share a common passion even if they don’t have a mooney

I am a bit envious of the airpark life, but that will have to wait for later in life if at all! 

[Huitt3106]

44 minutes ago, philip_g said:

I pay over $800 a month for a t hangar. Yeah I can repaint the plane every few years with the savings but I can't buy a new airframe when the current one corrodes away from the salt air. (Paint is about 20k here). Different climates are different though.

I don't envy the challenges of the salty environment, I live in the mountains. 

[Huitt3106]

11 minutes ago, Pete M said:

I'd go covered tie down, corrosion x or similar every two years, wash/wax...should be fine. Dont let parts of the plane hang over the grass. If you plan on doing extensive work on the plane then you'll want a hanger. You can probably keep a locked tool bin near the plane for preventative maint. My last hanger cost 175mo. Cant imagine coughing up 500mo. Thats 60k in 10 years. Now take that same 500mo and dollar cost average into an index fund. Now what do you have? Probably a pretty decent j or k model:) Last place i based ramp tie down was free:) i like free:)

I'm almost certain this is the direction I'll go. Luckily, this covered spot is all concrete and pavement, no grass to worry about. 

[vorlon1]

4 hours ago, Huitt3106 said:

I have figured up the hourly costs at my average flying per year.

Rookie mistake.

Never ever do that.

[Huitt3106]

17 hours ago, vorlon1 said:

Rookie mistake.

Never ever do that.

Haha, well I had to do it with rising costs! It's a painful calculation to work through on the calculator!

[daytonabch04]

In VA, I'm faced with a $50/mo outside tiedown or a hangar $450-600/mo.  No overhead cover tiedown at this airport...  

[Danb]

Dusty it looks like Huitt is in Roanoke.could be neighbors 

[Danb]

4 hours ago, Huitt3106 said:

Haha, well I had to do it with rising costs! It's a painful calculation to work through on the calculator!

Huitt I periodically fly to Va Tech is anything available there?

[ArtVandelay]

You could get a new paint job in 3 or 4 years of savings of they don’t raise rent.  

Not anymore, inflation means jobs are near $20k now, so more like 7 years.
I used hangar as storage unit and can do rudimentary maintenance that I can’t do at a tie down.

[Mooneymite]

Any options at W91, Smith Mountain Lake airport?

How about BCB?

ROA doesn't have many alternatives and the airport seems to me to be less and less pro-little airplane.  Maybe the FBO would cut you a deal if you'd buy a jet?