Hello everyone!

I've been a lurker for a long time and finally registered. I'm a lowly 150hr flatlander (Connecticut) who likes to fly into the "hills" of Vermont / New Hampshire with a question about fabric plane storage.

The deal is I'm shopping for an airplane within the next 12-18 months. I am interested in a tailwheel aircraft and many are fabric. Living here in North East Connecticut hanger prices are running well over 500/month which is out of my budget. Planes I'm considering are Cub, C140, Decathlon, Champ. (Always open to additional suggestions).

I'm looking for opinions and factual information about storing a fabric plane here in New England.

I've searched and just can't seem to find any real information on the matter. The locals say you need a hanger but they own metal winged planes and none of them have ever owned a non-metal plane. So here I am confused.

-Chris

Try as hard as you can to get a fabric airplane inside.The sun will kill it,the cold and frost are no good for it.It will be fine for awhile but overall needs to be inside.Wing covers and all that will help

A wise old pilot told me, If you can't afford a hanger to put it in, than you can't afford the plane !!!... Keep in mind, he and I both reside in SD some of the most Brutal weather extremes, -50 to 120 plus and wind like you have never seen, any time of the year..

matt

Every plane likes a hangar. Metal airplanes corrode. Modern fabrics are very uv resistant. I wouldn't let the availabilty of a hangar dictate my airplane choice, personally, unless my choice was an aircraft that still had original fabric from decades ago - in which case a hangar is the least of your problems.

In 1995 I delivered a new Maule with ceconite covering and metal wings to Fairbanks AK. Two years ago I brought it down to CA and used it for nearly a year.
This aircraft sat at the floatpond and flew just a little each year. It saw 90 F in summer and 55 F below in winter. It was rained on snowed on and sunshined on.
After 12 years outside it did not look too bad though obviously not pristine.
At $200 per month for 12 years, the owner saved $28,800 and it probably depreciated $5000 beyond normal.
It had no covers on it atall. I would recommend good covers and a wax once a year. Covers will last 4 or 5 years depending where you are.
Jeremy

Just don't buy a hangar queen and expect it to stay in that condition. A good, entry-level rag-and-tube taildragger with some character shouldn't be too adversely affected. (I used to keep a Taylorcraft outdoors year-round in AK and NH.) Biggest headache was always snow and wind. More than a few inches of heavy snow and I'd wake up with the sweats at night and drive out to the airport at 2:00 am to bush the weight off the wings. Wind will give you the same sick-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach feeling. Covers can be great, but the potential to saw through, chafe, or otherwise damage the fabric must be taken very seriously.

As noted earlier, SUN (more specifically Ultra Violet) is the bane of fabric. Winter weather really doesn't have much affect on fabric.

I kept airplanes outdoors for many years, both work airplanes and personal, some were fabric, some metal. Most of the time, a hangar (it is spelled with an A in this context-a hangEr is actually something you put your shirts on) simply wasn't an option, at any price.

I wouldn't worry too much about keeping a fabric airplane outdoors. As Jeremey says, put a good coat of wax on it once or twice a year, and most of all, TAKE CARE OF THE PLANE. If the wind is blowing, drive out to the airport, and tend the aircraft. Make certain you use good tiedown ropes (no chains), change them every year or so. But care for teh plane, and it will last a long time.

There are places (such as the aforementioned South Dakota) where keeping an airplane outdoors is tough, but not impossible. I kept airplanes outside in Cold Bay, AK--the "birthplace of the storms". We also built a hangar ASAP, because keeping an airplane outside there is a daunting task.

Most normal places, no sweat.

MTV
Go for it.

I would love to have a hangar, but here in Anchorage they are a luxury! I suspect that less than 5% of planes are kept in hangars. If I were in an area subject to thunder storms with big hail and strong winds, I would concur that keeping a plane outside is less than desirable. But, as mentioned above, good tie downs, wing covers, and a good wash and wax each year will go a long way to making a rag and tube plane last when stored outside.

Here's another thought on this subject:

I lived in Alaska for many years, and for a lot of reasons, having a hangar just wasn't in the cards.

The Lower 48 is different, though. In at least some parts of the world, there are actually lots of hangars, owned by cities, municipalities, etc.

Look around a bit. Go visit some of the "outlying" airports around. You might just find hangar space at an airport that is 30 miles away that's cheap. Granted, that may limit the amount of your flying, or at least the spontenaety of your flying some, but....

I hate to post this, cause it'll come across as bragging, but what the hell:

I rent a BIG T-hangar, with bi fold electric door, electricity, but no insulation or heat here in CKN. The hangar door is big enough to put the plane on amphibious floats. I pay $110 a month. Eat your hearts out. I just consider it payback for all the nights I spent at an airport tending airplanes tied outdoors.

MTV

Zim wrote:I would love to have a hangar, but here in Anchorage they are a luxury! I suspect that less than 5% of planes are kept in hangars.

Until it comes time to sell, then ALL airplanes have always been hangared I love the for sale ad picture with the airplane tied down outside with covers on it and the ad says "always hangared".

I'm in Arizona where UV is a BIG problem. For that reason when I bought my C-140 I bought one with metalized wings. A little less usefull load but I'm happy with it.

I've had six airplanes over the years, and with the exception of my present Husky, they were all tied down outside. In fact, while Alaska has the greatest concentration of general aviation aircraft per capita, I would guess that we are on the bottom of the list for hangar space. So there are a lot of little airplanes parked out there braving the weather.

It can be a hassle to take care of an airplane in environments of high wind and snow, and it is a good idea to get them inspected if they have sat there all winter, but, with the exception of weather related events, they generally, otherwise, held up pretty well (both metal and rag). Don't let the snow build up, and park a truck in front of it during high winds ( 50 mph or greater), and make sure that your wing covers have enough mesh that they can breath during high winds.

But I am now of a means where I can baby my "dog" and the hangar sure gives piece of mind.

Nizina

"Sirota" wins my vote for best Avatar.

Problem is, she is facing the wrong direction and is cranking it backwards.

I didn't even notice those two issues with the photo. Something must have distracted me.

Scolopax wrote:"Sirota" wins my vote for best Avatar.

What was this thread about?

Scolopax wrote:"Sirota" wins my vote for best Avatar.

Why? Doesn't everyone have a couple of those in different hair colors?

uh, yeah, what was this thread about anyways? I have always wondered if an aviation ,semi-nude, tasteful calendar would be popular for those guys lucky enough to have a hangar and can display it without fear from the other half! lol

NEpilot,
The rent cost to you would only be $100 if you had 4 other partners.
I own a nice decathlon with 4 others and it's almost always available to fly.
not such a bad way to own an airplane, leaves money in the bank.

Even at that price I posted there are none open.

I live less than 10 minutes from my local airport it is a small 2700' paved strip with some great people just not a lot of hangar space. Some of the more well off leased land from the state and built their own hangar but I'm in a different tax bracket..... The T-hangers are full complete with waiting list; funny thing is I've never seen the doors open on half of them!

Good point on looking a little farther away; there is another small airport about 20 minute drive away that has some hangars but without front doors. Kinda like plane ports made out of barn board.

Thanks for all the comments!
-Chris