NEPilot,

Another, longer term tack: FInd out who owns the local airport, get in touch with the Board for that airport. See what the odds are of them building more t-hangars as rentals. It's a great revenue source for our city. They don't charge much, but since the FAA provides 90 % funding up front, the 10 % the city has to pay is amortized pretty fast.

I've been told you can't use FAA money to build hangars, but it happens all the time. Sometimes it takes some talking to convince people that it makes sense to go this route, since they do have to pay some money up front. At our airport, the new T hangars we hope to build this year, assuming there's money, will be amortized to the city in just a few years, and then almost all the rent is profit for a long time, till repairs are necessary.

Worth looking into.

MTV

It just so happens the airport plan was up for review. The FAA is pushing for more hangers but with private funding; they even came out and said it would be a money losing game. We are getting self-service fuel by summer which will help lower the fuel cost dramatically.

One other thing I learned attending the meetings is the locals HATE the airport and want it closed; including several town gov't members. They accuse us pilots of spending tax payer money for a rich mans game.

I give the FAA credit though as they flat out said that airport is never closing and that federal noise standards trump local ordinances. It seems many in my town want to turn the thing into a park (sound familiar?).

When I got my certificate everyone thought I was nuts and small planes were suicide. Everyone I have brought up in C152's and Warriors loves it; anytime I hear someone complain about small planes I'll offer to take them up. Most have never been in a little plane.

What has killed us at many small airports is what some people politely refer to as non-aviation-related utilization of hangar space. Serves as a great way to drive up rents and lengthen waiting lists. Not enough airports have convenants against that type of activity. IMO. May insult some people on this forum but if you want to park your motor home inside or run your carpet installation business, find somewhere else than an airport to do it.

NEpilot wrote:When I got my certificate everyone thought I was nuts and small planes were suicide. Everyone I have brought up in C152's and Warriors loves it; anytime I hear someone complain about small planes I'll offer to take them up. Most have never been in a little plane.

I think that is a really commendable approach NEpilot! We had that irrational "airport hate" at one small subdivision a fair bit off the east end of our runway. Then one day a mom stopped by asking if someone could give her daughter a ride for her 18th birthday. That is what she wanted for as a present. Well I took her up, circled her house so she could get a picture and spent a few minutes showing her around. She was so excited that she begged me to take her dad for a ride. Pretty soon word got around the neighborhood about how nice we were and people started stopping by to enjoy our activities. Haven't heard a negative word out of that subdivision in almost three years!

Thanks Boys. I like my avatar too. Only wish I knew the lass - Biblically or otherwise.

But nobody noticed the plane isn't chalked. Guess no one practices safe sex, er, hand propping.

Dave

sirota wrote:Thanks Boys. I like my avatar too. Only wish I knew the lass - Biblically or otherwise.

But nobody noticed the plane isn't chalked. Guess no one practices safe sex, er, hand propping.

Dave

Uhhhhh Did you say something?

sirota wrote:Thanks Boys. I like my avatar too. Only wish I knew the lass - Biblically or otherwise.

But nobody noticed the plane isn't chalked. Guess no one practices safe sex, er, hand propping.

Dave

Huh......what plane??

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

Actually, if you look closely at the prop, she's doing it quite nicely. What? You weren't looking closely at the prop? ....Anyway, either that plane has a engine that spins opposite of most, or the photo has been flipped.

Back to the subject at hand....

The FAA WILL fund hangar projects. THere's a lot of money out there in AIP funds.

Money losing?? Good grief, this airport here is virtually a cash cow to the city. They really don't want to see it go away. Doesn't make Tons of money, but at least it pays its own way, and makes a little.

Course, some of the ground is in sugar beets....

MTV

What I'd like to see alot more of, is just shaded parking. I've seen it at a few airports and its nice not to get the midday sun and it keeps off the rain. Nobody will try to run a carpet business out of it either.

I just had this conversation with one of our IAs on the field regarding a Cessna 180 that was for sale on field and stored ALWAYS outside. It was outside in Alaska and outside in Michigan. Brutal weather always.

Per his advice, there are some risks if you have large hail (good covers help). But otherwise not that big of a deal and most of the time he said that a plane outside dried out faster and one could actually have more moisture and corrosion issues in a hanger than on the flight line.

If its a Cessna and you maintain and fly it, there is little reason to worry. I can't speak for fabric planes, but I have seen many weather outdoor storage pretty well. Even ones with hail damage remained ugly but flyable.

If a fabric covered airplane is covered with modern materials and painted with a flexible, aircraft, two part polyurethane paint, It will hold up to UV light degeneretion better than dope or other non catalized paints. The uv protection comes from the coats of silver or other uv blockers that are under the actual paint, but the top layer of paint is what gives the plane color , shine, visual appeal, and protechs the uv blocker. Dope and other non catalized finishes will not stand up to the uv and weather like polyurethane will. Repairability of polyurethane painted fabric planes is a lot more difficult than dope or say, polytone.
If you can find a plane that had been covered with in the last 15 years, hangared, and painted with a product like Poly Fiber's, Aerothane paint , I personally don't see any problem with it sitting outside other than the normal weather worries that have already been brought up.

NEpilot? Just seen this thread come back alive. Curious if you bought a plane and found a hangar?

If at all possible, hangar is the way to go. My plane has been unairworthy for about 4 years now and I'm glad I've kept it indoors! When I go to the hangar to check on things, I just have to wipe a thin layer of dust off and my glass and interior is still like new. The hangar has been well worth the expense in my case.

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

Well I took care of one of those problems...

bart wrote:

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

Well I took care of one of those problems...

Bart, you just made it onto my Christmas card list

CapnMike wrote:

bart wrote:

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

Well I took care of one of those problems...

Bart, you just made it onto my Christmas card list

I wonder if that 196 is a little nose heavy with the 985 in it!!

I'm not sure but from what I can't tell that is a Beaver

FARMAULE wrote:I'm not sure but from what I can't tell that is a Beaver

I meant the Airplane!!

Nearly all the float planes in Canada sit outside all their life. Not what I would want to do with a really nice plane, but other than the rare hail storm and dealing with the snow loads, it should not be that big a deal and you will be save a lot of money.

Steve

Justa comment on your first airplane.... I've owned a Cessna120 for over 25 years and I can vouch for that being a great first airplane. Very affordable and easy to maintain which means you will fly it alot and gain lots of seat time and experience. As a young family of three, we air camped out of ours a bunch in the early days. Buy some backpacking gear and you will be set for adventure. My wife flew it right after she got her ticket and really gained confidence flying our 120. Other airplanes have come and gone, but the ubiquitous 120 still remains in the stable next to her big brother Skywagon. They're both keepers! On the hangar issue, try and see if you can find a shade hanger somewhere. Best of both worlds. Cheaper cost than an enclosed hangar, keeps the sun and snow off the airplane but lets it breath and keeps the moisture blown out.- just my 2 cents and 25 + years of aircraft ownership.