SuperSmash Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Hi, all! I'm in the process of purchasing a Bravo, and I wanted to solicit some insight and tips regarding my storage situation. At home, it will be in a nice hangar well-protected from the elements. However, I will be using it to travel quite a bit to the California Bay Area, and it is possible that hangar space will not be available, and therefore facing some more prolonged time (perhaps several months) of a tiedown when not in the air. Definitely planning on getting a cabin and cowling cover; are there other things you would recommend? And how much do I risk its overall health (and corrosion risk) being outside in the bay area a couple months of the year? Am I overthinking this? Thanks for all of your insight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundTwo Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 You’ll be fine. No need to worry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PT20J Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Many more airplanes are parked outside than in hangars. They are made for that. I’d skip the cowling cover and just get cowl plugs and a pitot cover. The weather in the Bay area is pretty mild. I kept a M20J tied down at KSJC for seven years and it was never a problem. It just got dirty and needed washing more often. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 When I am outside I cover the cockpit, plug the cowl, cover the pitot. I also place a strap around the yokes as an aileron gust lock. Recently I have started placing screen vented covers over the fuel vents (so mud daubers do not enter) and covering the caps with these units https://wingviewtint.com/collections/universal-plane-tint/products/fuel-cap-covers I have seen too many fuel caps leak rain water because the little O ring on the shaft breaks, even the fluoro blue ones. I also place a do not tow placard on the nose wheel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 When I am outside I cover the cockpit, plug the cowl, cover the pitot. I also place a strap around the yokes as an aileron gust lock. Recently I have started placing screen vented covers over the fuel vents (so mud daubers do not enter) and covering the caps with these units https://wingviewtint.com/collections/universal-plane-tint/products/fuel-cap-covers I have seen too many fuel caps leak rain water because the little O ring on the shaft breaks, even the fluoro blue ones. I also place a do not tow placard on the nose wheel. I just use painter’s tape to cover fuel caps as well the speed brakes slot…ounce of prevention theory. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSmash Posted March 18 Author Report Share Posted March 18 2 hours ago, PT20J said: Many more airplanes are parked outside than in hangars. They are made for that. I’d skip the cowling cover and just get cowl plugs and a pitot cover. The weather in the Bay area is pretty mild. I kept a M20J tied down at KSJC for seven years and it was never a problem. It just got dirty and needed washing more often. Good to know! Thanks. How frequently did you end up washing it? 2 hours ago, GeeBee said: When I am outside I cover the cockpit, plug the cowl, cover the pitot. I also place a strap around the yokes as an aileron gust lock. Recently I have started placing screen vented covers over the fuel vents (so mud daubers do not enter) and covering the caps with these units https://wingviewtint.com/collections/universal-plane-tint/products/fuel-cap-covers I have seen too many fuel caps leak rain water because the little O ring on the shaft breaks, even the fluoro blue ones. I also place a do not tow placard on the nose wheel. Neat, yeah those fuel cap covers look like a wise idea. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PT20J Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 13 minutes ago, SuperSmash said: Good to know! Thanks. How frequently did you end up washing it? I washed it every couple of months. The problem at KSJC was soot from all the jet exhausts. It didn’t get as dirty when I had it at KRHV. That was 30 years ago and maybe the newer jets are cleaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Do you worry about parking your car at a hotel overnight? They are planes not sugar cookies they hold up well. I am not a fan of covers. They wreck the paint and in my opinion (and there will be strong differing opinions which is ok) they don’t do much. I do use cowl plugs and what not. Now is the time of the year. You leave a plane on a ramp at lunch and you can have 4 birds nests before you get back. They move that fast. Enjoy the ride. I’m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
201er Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 1 minute ago, M20F said: I am not a fan of covers. They wreck the paint and in my opinion (and there will be strong differing opinions which is ok) they don’t do much. I’ve been parked outside over 12 years now. I’d argue the cabin cover is your most helpful cover. Who cares about the paint? It protects much more than that. It keeps water from leaking in the door seal, keeps wind and sun off the interior and avionics. Keeps airport debris from flying into windows. Keeps out peering eyes. And as for paint, I can tell you that despite frequent waxing, the only paint that wasn’t faded after a decade outside was the parts normally under the cover. So it does more to protect than to harm paint. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 18 hours ago, 201er said: I’ve been parked outside over 12 years now. I’d argue the cabin cover is your most helpful cover. Who cares about the paint? It protects much more than that. It keeps water from leaking in the door seal, keeps wind and sun off the interior and avionics. Keeps airport debris from flying into windows. Keeps out peering eyes. And as for paint, I can tell you that despite frequent waxing, the only paint that wasn’t faded after a decade outside was the parts normally under the cover. So it does more to protect than to harm paint. I have a working door seal, if yours is leaking it should be fixed not covered up with a cover. I am a big fan of window inserts which are inside, keep out the Sun, and prying eyes. This topic is like LOP lots of debate both sides. In the end we have to do right by ourselves which you feel you do which is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Sun does a lot of damage to interior components and causes early failure of windows and windshields in the form of crazing and cracking. Any thing to break the rays helps. As an example I keep a cockpit cover on my boat. Despite its 25 years of age, the seats and interior looks factory new. Even the plexiglass hatches look new because they are covered. I get many compliments on its condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exM20K Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 57 minutes ago, GeeBee said: Sun does a lot of damage to interior components and causes early failure of windows and windshields in the form of crazing and cracking. Any thing to break the rays helps. As an example I keep a cockpit cover on my boat. Despite its 25 years of age, the seats and interior looks factory new. Even the plexiglass hatches look new because they are covered. I get many compliments on its condition. Kennon used to have an article up on their website about crazing of windows and windshields. They claimed the temperature differential between the outside side and inside side of the windows, and not the sunlight passing through the windows, causes the crazing, and this is why they sell sun shades but no longer covers. I dislike covers for a few reasons: If the windows or doorway water, fix the problem; don’t paper it over with a cover. covers will scratch the windows and windshield. covers are a big, fat, soggy mess to deal with on a dewy or rainy morning. I would recommend an anti-corrosion treatment for the airframe as well. With the Bravo, you’ll probably be up high quite a bit, and when you land, the cold-soaked airframe will get condensation in places you can’t see. +1 on cowl plugs. My rocker covers developed some spots of surface rust after only a short time outside in Vlorida despite the cowl plugs, but every little bit helps. +1 on making sure the controls are belted. -dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 If that were true center console wind screens would never craze as the temp is the same on both sides……yet they do. Some people pointing to the quality of WW2 blisters say American made stuff does not craze. Maybe so, but my experience is the more you block the sun, the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah20Gflyer Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Personally I am a fan of covers especially cabin covers. Sun seems to be the biggest factor in the damage done to anything stored outdoors including airplanes. Second biggest factor is likely water. A cover protects the airplane from both to the degree to which you cover it. In regards to covers scratching windows I haven’t seen any indication of something like this happening. In fact I think covers prevent scratching because if you clean the windshield before you put the cover on then it hardly ever gets dirt on it that needs to be cleaned off, and it’s the removal of dirt that scratches the windshield. No cover and your windows will have dirt on them every time you show up to fly it. Maybe if you buy a super cheap cover that could be an issue but almost all good covers have microfiber on the inside, also it’s extremely important to have a proper tight fit and to have it locked down on the plane so it isn’t flapping around, a cover made of heavier material is helpful. I’ve watched my cover in 45 knot winds and it hardly moves, that is what you are going for. I currently have a cabin and tail cover, I am likely adding wing cover this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.