When I was in Alaska, I was a park my plane in the back 40 gravel kind of girl. Lowflybye and my IA really stressed getting a hangar when I got down in the lower 48, and I managed to... less than a week before a big hail storm. So far, it has my plane, a wing's worth of extra ribs and hardware, a desk left by the last guy, and two extension cords. Beyond moving the case of oil and my toolbox out here, what else do you guys recommend for stocking a T hangar?

Dot_AK wrote:When I was in Alaska, I was a park my plane in the back 40 gravel kind of girl. Lowflybye and my IA really stressed getting a hangar when I got down in the lower 48, and I managed to... less than a week before a big hail storm. So far, it has my plane, a wing's worth of extra ribs and hardware, a desk left by the last guy, and two extension cords. Beyond moving the case of oil and my toolbox out here, what else do you guys recommend for stocking a T hangar?

Glad to hear you got one! While I don't have a hangar at the moment, I like having some fold up chairs that end up going in the plane on trips, a couch, a radio (FM or VHF), a minifridge full of beer / water, and a grill.

Yep, the mini fridge along with your choice of beverages.
Case of oil.
Rags for the occasional cleaning job or just to wipe the oil dipstick.
Windshield cleaner and its own separate wipes.
Can of GoJo.
I also keep a jug of water for hand washing or to pre-wet bugs on the windshield before cleaning.
Spray lubricant- WD-40 or something similar. Just remember if you use a silicone based product it can be hell to remove for future painting.
Small portable air compressor. Heck I normally have one of those $20 12V ones from the -Mart store, great for a low tire or front strut.
Maybe a jack and stands just in case you need to fix a tire or brake issue arises.
Small assortment of screws and bolts.
Small tool kit.
I also keep an empty bucket for when I change the oil. It is there without having to 'remember to get it next time' and I can drain it after a flight when the time is due.
Keith

If you have electricity, a 'trouble light' (or two) comes in handy....
and some kind of adjustable/portable cobbled contraption to hold an 'over the shoulder' spot light comes in handy if you do much inspecting/maintaining of your engine.
The trouble lights (2) can be put low in the engine compartment in the winter with a 60w bulbs (in each one) and lots of blankets etc **wrapped tight around it-AND the prop. Just have them all in place and wrapped and all you have to do is plug them in to turn them on for a flight the next day. Reason for 2 is they seem to ***burn out frequently with this duty and chances are if you peek in and check them both when you plug them in-at least one should last till morning.

lc

***Walmart bulbs
They are by my airport and open long hours.

**Straps/bungies/clothes line pins-or some of each. The strong (spring) metal chip clips that can be found do well.....

Small portable air compressor. Heck I normally have one of those $20 12V ones from the -Mart store, great for a low tire or front strut.

Those little things come up with enough pressure for a front strut on a Cessna?
I'm surprised. I'll hafta try that. I didn't expect they would........

lc

Littlecub wrote:

Small portable air compressor. Heck I normally have one of those $20 12V ones from the -Mart store, great for a low tire or front strut.

Those little things come up with enough pressure for a front strut on a Cessna?
I'm surprised. I'll hafta try that. I didn't expect they would........

lc

Sir,
Actually no, unless you get one that puts out a lot of pressure. The way around that is to tie the tail down with a block or whatever is handy. This takes all the pressure off the nose strut, then you can pump it up and check the pressure. this might take a little longer to do this way but when you are in a bind, the FBO is closed and you want to go someplace it works. Hey, I grew up on a dairy farm...gotta improvise when the situation arises.
Keith

Pressure tank for the strut. A floor crawler,and rolling stool. A trickle charger/40F thermostatic outlet. A couple of cheap halogen construction lights. ladder. Tool kit.Extra plugs, bearing grease, drop light, air filters, oil filters, couple cases of oil, cleaning stuff, small $20 shop vac, table for records, big box of shop rags and towels, oil pan, waste oil tanks, big shelves for tools, buckets of water for bug cleaning, 50 gal drom and sump pump for washing, ice removal tools.

A good supply of flying stories, some folding chairs for the longer ones, beer and a mini fridge for visitors flying stories and a sleeping bag for when the stories got too long and the fridge was too well stocked. Maybe a really good go-bag for when the urge strikes and a good cross country adventure has your name all over it. That ought to cover the really important stuff.....

I have a shelving unit that uses the shelf racks that are just wire, like resturants use, They stay dust free and allow good ventilation. They use to be screwed to the wall 20 feet away from the airplane. I redid it last year, now it's on wheels so when loading up for a trip no more walking back and forth. Much handier, and best of all I can see all my camping gear,, making it much less likely I'll forget something!

All the other stuff others mentioned of course plus lots pictures on the wall including a few maps.

Another airplane? I guess the question really should be: Would you rather be in a T hangar by yourself or be in a larger hangar with someone else. I've had both and really can't decide which is better.

Dot's Back whoot whoot! Up here, for cold winters, its an easy answer...a bar and a Herman Nelson

Would you rather be in a T hangar by yourself or be in a larger hangar with someone else.

I prefer the luxury of being the 'Lone Ranger'-on this one. That way when I cuss out the SOB who caused the 'hangar rash', I don't lose a friend! (Eventually I forgive myself)

lc

I used a hangar for repairs once where there was no electricity . A tank of compressed nitrogen with a regulator worked great to run an air wrench instead of a compressor.

A tank of compressed nitrogen with a regulator.

That is what I have always had to use for the front strut. (if I remember rightly-set at about 70 psi....) My tired old compressor wouldn't even 'think' about it, and I haven't tried my new one.

lc

I believe all comments are good ideas except the one about the mini-fridge. A mini-fridge just isn't adaquate. It doesn't hold enough beer and can't hold things like 1/2 gallons of Baileys to go with coffee on foggy mornings or marguirita mix for summer afternoons. It also doesn't have enough space to stage camping foods before launch. The mini-fridge is better than nothing and will work in a pinch until a larger cold storage device can be obtained. I also learned from experience to keep a bag of kitty litter on hand for that once in a lifetime occasion when you are draining super hot oil and your drain hose falls off and oil goes all over the floor.

I have all the stuff mentioned so far, plus a snow shovel, a piece of conduit to knock the ice out of the door tracks, a large tow bar that can be hooked to a trailer hitch ball, and all of my dead files after 4 decades of practice, a bunch of old law books (useless, since all of my research is online these days). In Tennessee, you probably don't need the snow shovel, ice chipper, or the law office stuff, but you oughta consider a tow bar, even for your little tail dragger--lots easier for one person to accurately move it about. My IPC/BFR instructor has a C140, and he's certainly found his tow bar to be handy.

Cary

A push broom to sweep up the oil-absorbing kitty litter and a long handled feather duster to clean wing tops.

Must have mouse traps! Get the live capture type. That way you can catch three or four mice at a time. Mice can do a lot of damage in a short period of time.

A scanner to listen to who's landing or taking off.
A bike to ride down to the FBO to use the bathroom.
A propane space heater to move around to where I'm working.
A bathroom scale.

DEGJR wrote:Must have mouse traps! Get the live capture type. That way you can catch three or four mice at a time. Mice can do a lot of damage in a short period of time.

For mouse insurance or when you are away it works to take a 16 inch wide roll of valley tin. Cut it long enough to stand on edge and circle each wheel and clamping the ends together with visegrips. A mouse can't climb the slippery surface to get to the wheels.