Can a Cessna 180 and an Aeronca Champ fit in a 40 foot wide by 48 foot long hangar? I know it would be tight and probably a pain in the behind, but I found a great deal on some 42' trusses. Any one have a hangar similar in size? How much of a hassle is it. The Champ gets flown a lot more than the 180 so I would like to keep the 180 in the back.

No Problemo

Nosedragger wrote:No Problemo

Ever plan on putting flint tips or the other wing Ext. on the 180?

We keep a BD-4, Kitfox, and Bearhawk in a 50x50 and on occasion add a Rans S7 so I agree it shouldn't be any problem getting a 180 and a Champ to snuggle up.

They have to sleep foot to head Army style. Offset the 180 enough that before the prop gets to the back wall, you can push the tail toward the closer side wall until the wingtip almost touches the back wall. Now back the Champ tail first into the V between 180 wing and tail.

Nose to tail as Contact described works but you can also back the 180 in, turn it sharp so the tail goes to a corner, then back the Champ in past it's nose at an angle.It get's easier after a few times.

The Champs tail should tuck in nicely under the Cessna's wing...will be tight though.

Thanks for the input. I am going to build a 24'X24' addition against the middle of the back wall to put the Tail of the 180 in and have some extra space for Mowers and other equipment. Just thought of that last night when I came across a stack of 24' trusses on Craigslist.

I don't plan on extending the wings in any way but, if I did what would the wingspan end up being for the Wing X extensions? I have a Horton stol kit with the small droop tips now.

Cliff, your situation sounds like an easy fit.

Here's my doll house...scale model hangar floor plan and airplanes. A Breezy, two Kitfoxes and an RV 9. Several other people and I were considering going partners on a hangar for sale. A couple thought they fit just fine. I opted out. Looks like a major pain in the A$$ and hangar rash.


Then a Sonox and I went partners on a tiny T hangar. I used my RV 9 model because I had it on hand and it worked so didn't have to build a scale modle Sonex. It worked but was still a pain in the A$$. When he graduated from college and flew away I let the lease expire and went back to trailering my Kitfox for each flight.

tcj wrote:Cliff, your situation sounds like an easy fit.

Here's my doll house...scale model hangar floor plan and airplanes. A Breezy, two Kitfoxes and an RV 9. Several other people and I were considering going partners on a hangar for sale. A couple thought they fit just fine. I opted out. Looks like a major pain in the A$$ and hangar rash.


Then a Sonox and I went partners on a tiny T hangar. I used my RV 9 model because I had it on hand and it worked so didn't have to build a scale modle Sonex. It worked but was still a pain in the A$$. When he graduated from college and flew away I let the lease expire and went back to trailering my Kitfox for each flight.

That's great!

cliff wrote:Thanks for the input. I am going to build a 24'X24' addition against the middle of the back wall to put the Tail of the 180 in and have some extra space for Mowers and other equipment. Just thought of that last night when I came across a stack of 24' trusses on Craigslist.

I don't plan on extending the wings in any way but, if I did what would the wingspan end up being for the Wing X extensions? I have a Horton stol kit with the small droop tips now.

Wing X will be wide enough that wyou won't fit in a 40' door... I think it puts you right at 40' plus a bit extra for the Horton tips.

Is it an option to install the doors on the wider side?

My dad used to fit a Stinson and a C-120 in his hangar that's 40x32 or so without much trouble. He had a couple dollies that jacked the wheels off the ground for one airplane then you could roll it around into position.

Here's a C-180 and a citabria sharing a 55x54 hangar with ease. You could shave 10' off both ends no problem:


And here's a Piper Clipper (pa-16) and a C-172 sharing an end T-hangar. It's tight but doable. Probably woudn't work if the 172 was a 180 because the cowl would be too high. The amazing thing is that there was also an assembled kr2 in the back corner of the hangar maneuvered around the post:





CW

There's an old Adobe hangar on our ranch that is 42X42. The 180 and cub both fit. The 180 has to go in the back, but it works.

I set a Jeepula on a 8 sided garage today that has a pretty cool revolving turntable. He can fit 8 rigs in there and has easy access to any one of them. The Ford panel truck is on the turntable, it's remote controlled and has it's own electric motor, it spins pretty briskly. I know this concept is not new, and has been used for hangars before, but to see it in action was pretty cool, as were his various rigs. He had a 1300 lb 'Nam era all aluminum Jeep that was was designed to be dropped via parachute, all original, it makes a great rock crawler he said! My favorite was the blue and silver snub nosed Ford hauler with a tilt cab plus a dump bed, all re-engined and fully decked out inside.


A Jeepula is like a cupola, except a '52 Willys is used

clippwagon wrote:

A friend of mine keeps a C180 & a taildragger Yankee in a hangar-and-a-quarter hangar like that, only the Yankee wing goes under the 180 not over like that Pacer. He has to roll the 180 mains up on a pair of 2x10's and the tailwheel up a ramp to get it high enough for the Yankee to clear.

cliff wrote:... a 40 foot wide by 48 foot long hangar? I know it would be tight and probably a pain in the behind, but I found a great deal on some 42' trusses....

I dunno how great of a deal you found, but it would be a shame to build a hangar you weren't entirely happy with just to save a few bucks. I know a guy who had a small homebuilt and built himself a little hangar just big enough for it, but when he got a bigger airplane it wouldnt work at all. And the resale market was limited because of the size.

I'd think a 50x50 would be pretty awesome -- equivalent floor space to about 2-1/2 t-hangars, but you should be able to get 4 airplanes in it if you're careful. Or two, plus some other rolling stock.

I would love to have a 100' X 100' if one of you guys wants to pay for it, otherwise I need to build a hangar big enough to get the planes out of the weather, that I can afford. I am tapped out after the purchase of the airport 13 months ago.

My brother and some buddies will help me with the labor and my brother is helping pay for it because we are partners on the Champ.

I have priced several 50' X 50' building kits and they are 15K on up. Cement work is in excess of 6k and a door will cost a grand or two if we build it ourselves.

. I can build the 40' x 48' for about half that. (I think). Plus there are a lot of hoops to jump through with the township if the square fottage is more than 2000 sqft. Water run off study, possible retention pond, has to be built by a licensed contractor, etc... If it is less than 2000 sqft I can go in , pay 25 bucks for a permit and build it. No inspections, No contractor, No water run off study....SAVES me $$$$$$$$$$

My offer still stands, if anybody want to pay for a giant hangar, I'll be happy to accept the offer. Christmas is just right around the corner.

cliff wrote:Can a Cessna 180 and an Aeronca Champ fit in a 40 foot wide by 48 foot long hangar? I know it would be tight and probably a pain in the behind, but I found a great deal on some 42' trusses. Any one have a hangar similar in size? How much of a hassle is it. The Champ gets flown a lot more than the 180 so I would like to keep the 180 in the back.

Build it how you want it!