Away-from-home outdoor storage concerns and tips

[Pinecone]

On 6/10/2023 at 8:35 AM, A64Pilot said:

I think WWII canopies were Perspex, which I think is a brand name, but may also be a higher quality of Acrylic. I’m mostly guessing, but your right those canopies do seem to last a very long time, some of that I’m sure is because you don’t see Warbirds tied down, but some of is likely because it’s better quality.

All the same stuff - "PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and brands Crylux, Alfaplas, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex, among several others."

[Pinecone]

On 6/10/2023 at 8:54 AM, A64Pilot said:

You sure? I’m pretty sure Polycarbonate is widely available. If I change mine it will be Polycarbonate. Why? because a bird bounces off of Polycarbonate, it’s what bullet proof “glass” is often made from. AH-64 has an about 2” thick blast shield between the two cockpits, will supposedly stop a 23mm HEI anti-aircraft round, but I’m dubious of that.

In typical aircraft thicknesses, it will may stop a small bird, but not a big one.  Two bird strikes I know of occured with LARGE birds.

[geoffb]

polycarb is much softer, so it will scratch even more than the acrylic

[Brandt]

I have Bruce’s covers.  Heavy for the canopy. Travel for the the wings.  Don’t end up using them much but I like the quality.  Would definitely use a sunscreen. And I have been happy with these plugs. https://www.affordable-aviation.com/products/cowl-plugs?variant=41201313579059

[Pinecone]

I have some generic canopy cover that came with the plane.  I haven't had it out of the bag.

I got some Bruce's plugs with the plane, but some were missing, so I replaced those.  And got the Bruce's Heat Shields.  

I use the plugs for any stop beyond just fuel.  Even for lunch.   I only use the heat shields if the airplane will be sitting on the ramp during the day.  So if I arrive late afternoon or evening to depart the next morning, I don't bother.

I would like to hear pireps about the Bruce's travel cover.

 

[RobertGary1]

On 3/17/2023 at 11:21 PM, SuperSmash said:

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!

Just get a cover. Been doing that for 20+ years outside full time here in California. No issues. A friend of mine keeps all his school planes outside for 40 years. No mythical beast bothers planes that live outdoors. 

[MBDiagMan]

Two Months???……

First of all. WHERE in the Bay Area? There are some airports close enough to the salt air to be alarming.  Also, will the plane be operated regularly during the two month period?  Two months in salt air without oil circulation can wreak eventual havoc on a Lycoming.

I have a much different viewpoint about extended outdoor tie down periods.  That said, I am extremely fortunate to have a very nice, weathertight hangar in a mostly dry climate, far away from salt air, so I am probably spoiled.  I have had 9512M for 5 years now.  She had brand new paint, glass a nice interior and a new panel when I bought her.  Had I been in the OP’s situation, I would not have bought that plane because I would not be able to bear to watch it slowly deteriorate in the weather.  Even in a good climate, being stored outside will take an eventual toll.  Had I been buying a plane to tie down outside, I would not have bought a plane with new paint, panel and so forth.  I would have looked for a plane that was functionally reliable and solid with marginal or worse cosmetics.

I realize that in the heavily populated areas, hangars are very expen$ive and that is if you are fortunate enough to find one available to begin with.  That makes it a different set of circumstances for such a decision.

My $0.02,

[Pinecone]

Old paint just means it needs to be repainted sooner.

 

[SuperSmash]

7 hours ago, MBDiagMan said:

Two Months???….

Yes; at home base it will have a nice climates controlled hangar, but I travel frequently to the bay area, sometimes for extended periods.

Plan is to have it tied down generally at KWVI, so definitely close to the sea air. It will be flown a bit while there, once every week or two probably.

Sounds like in your opinion cowl plugs and a canopy cover are not sufficient protection?

[MBDiagMan]

Okay, you’re talking Monterey Carmel.  When you said Bay Area, I was trying to envision an airport that wasn’t right on the water.  KWVI looks like it’s 3 miles, which is still not the best, but much better than being a few thousand feet from the water.  Our family has a beach house in Galveston that is about 500 feet from the water.  My brother in law put a golf cart and a few bicycles in a storage area and they turned into solid rust in absolutely no time.  The Galveston airport is pretty much right on the water and I even worry about tying down my Mooney there for a week at a time.  
 

IMHO, tying down a plane outside is not a good thing.  My opinion is biased because I have a nice, large, weathertight hangar in a relatively dry climate, so it’s easy for me to pop off with statements like “I wouldn’t tie down a plane outside no matter what,” but if I lived in a populated area where no hangars were available or were stupid expensive, I might relent like others do.  I will say this though: I think it’s really difficult to believe that a plane will degrade no less outside than in a good, tight hangar.

[gabez]

On 3/18/2023 at 7:52 AM, 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.
 

 

OMG I just bought those...so bad ass

[gabez]

22 hours ago, SuperSmash said:

Yes; at home base it will have a nice climates controlled hangar, but I travel frequently to the bay area, sometimes for extended periods.

Plan is to have it tied down generally at KWVI, so definitely close to the sea air. It will be flown a bit while there, once every week or two probably.

Sounds like in your opinion cowl plugs and a canopy cover are not sufficient protection?

I park mine at Kwvi on the ramp. I had a V tail and now an M20K. I put a cover all the way to the engine cowling. I wash it and wax it maybe once every 2 months. I haven't seen really any weather damage to both plane besides the occasional bird poop that I quickly clean. you get some fog in the morning but then the sun quickly dries it

[SuperSmash]

8 hours ago, gabez said:

I park mine at Kwvi on the ramp. I had a V tail and now an M20K. I put a cover all the way to the engine cowling. I wash it and wax it maybe once every 2 months. I haven't seen really any weather damage to both plane besides the occasional bird poop that I quickly clean. you get some fog in the morning but then the sun quickly dries it

Great to know,  thanks! Maybe see you there at some point down the road. :-)