Hey, I saw this on another list someplace. Clever idea. Glue only where necessary and leave the handle as a friction joint to break them down and throw them in the back someplace. These are for a Waiex. Size as necessary. Take a look.

Respectfully, I must say my first impression is little stopping power because of the spherical nature of the chock. I adore the little handle, good for flight schools and FOBs during light Wx.

8GCBC wrote:Respectfully, I must say my first impression is little stopping power because of the spherical nature of the chock. I adore the little handle, good for flight schools and FOBs during light Wx.

I use little wooden blocks 3/4" square by about 2" in front of each wheel when handpropping the Luscombe. After start, I untie the tail and then climb in. It takes over 1700rpm to drive over the blocks, and you can leave them there on the ramp and fly away.

With 1.5" PVC pipe I think these would hold as well as a 2X4

EB

ok, thanks for follow up....!

Being a Geologist, I actually like to use rocks, not exactly lightweight, unless you carve some pumice, which I may do as a joke someday. I actually have some chunks of petrified wood that are somewhat chock shaped in the hanger.

dogpilot wrote:Being a Geologist, I actually like to use rocks, not exactly lightweight, unless you carve some pumice, which I may do as a joke someday. I actually have some chunks of petrified wood that are somewhat chock shaped in the hanger.

I used to use pebbles like you say but got to worrying about leaving hard stuff on the ramp there by the gas island. A little bag of blocks weighs a few ounces and are disposable.

EB

Since it was mentioned, I used rocks to chock my pickup truck, mainly lava which is surprisingly strong. I don't worry about theft either.

Ok, on the subject of really dumb chocks. We had a pair of stinker salmon that we used as chocks, tied a rope on the tails of the then hard frozen fish. Used them for a week in Cold Bay, small things where funny up there. Had to stop when one of the Fish & Game guys thought something was fishy about them.

dogpilot wrote:Ok, on the subject of really dumb chocks. We had a pair of stinker salmon that we used as chocks, tied a rope on the tails of the then hard frozen fish. Used them for a week in Cold Bay, small things where funny up there. Had to stop when one of the Fish & Game guys thought something was fishy about them.

I've never seen that one but I have seen frozen road kill Caribou used for various forms of humor and revenge.... Not a clue about who did it though

I carry a pair of these folding wheel chocks. They are pretty light weight - wish I could find the same thing in aluminum, but they work great. Weighs 1.6 lbs.

I have a bout 20 feet of cord tied to them so after hand propping and getting in, I pull them in and take 'em with.

I am nervous that with some bumping the leg will fold on collapsing chocks, I.e. heavy winds? Is this true, or me just being paranoid? I will not use them on the boat trailer.

There is a raised surface - would be pretty hard to arbitrarily unfold. I place them firmly against the tire - and they will not move. Once in the plane, if I have a hard time pulling them in - I actually "bump" them by shifting my weight forward and push back releasing the brakes. They don't unfold.

I'm pretty comfortable with them. I just wish I had some even lighter weight. They are overkill for my 750lb plane.

I would be way more nervous about the pvc pipe chocks. They'd slide pretty easy on asphalt or concrete and the radius of the pipe doesn't get any weight on top of them. My folding chocks are concave - so the tire will roll on top before really trying to push forward - adding weight and friction to the bottom. They won't move.

Thanks for the guidance on the fold models! Glad they work.

I happened to walk past a tire dealer at an aviation trade show once, near the end of the show. He was selling mostly big airplane tires, some of which were made by Michelin. He had a set of plastic Michelin chocks there that looked perfect for 8.50 x 6.00 or larger tires. They are cupped to conform to the tire, and plenty large, as well as VERY light. Tied together in pairs with a long cord. I asked him if he sold the chocks, and he grinned and said he'd give them to me rather than carry them home. Been using them for some ten years now.

MTV

Took a cedar 4x4 about 16" long and cut it diagonal in half on the table saw. Drilled a 1/2" hole in the end of each, used wood glue to glue in a 1/2" rope 20" or so long to make a pair of great chocks. Your can always use them start your camp fire in a pinch. Light weight, low cost, lose them.... no big deal

I can't see spending a lot of money on chocks when it's just not that hard to make them out of wood (as hangartrash describes) or aluminum or steel angle (with lots of lightening holes).

Mole wrote:I can't see spending a lot of money on chocks when it's just not that hard to make them out of wood (as hangartrash describes) or aluminum or steel angle (with lots of lightening holes).

Ya exactly. It amazes me how some have too much money and spend so much on something so simple. It's simple f' in physics. Day old donuts with a piece of string tying them together would make an effective set of chocks, it aint rocket science. I just cut wedges out of a 2X6 put a little varnish on em and stick them back and front of the tire. so simple, so light and takes 10 minutes to make. The PVC ones at the top of this thread in 1.5 " would have great holding power, You would have to have s**t in your head to go out and spend more than 20 bucks on a set of chocks.

I've seen too many airplanes roll where they shouldn't or get blown around by someone's propwash that I chock both wheels religiously. Mine are wood, made out of 1x2's? I made some out of aluminum angle & was pretty proud of them until I discovered that my 850's rolled right over them without even trying. Back to the wood. I've seen PVC used, even a short piece of heavy rope wrapped around the tires.

It was so windy in Vegas this week, I came back to my 182 and found the tire on top of my chock rope. Wood chocks were to the sides of the wheel. Damn. Glad I double chained all three rings on Sunday. At least the plane was there. Anybody got a good design for 182 rudder lock?
I put a ratchet strap around the pedals. Not the best solution that day.

flightlogic wrote:Anybody got a good design for 182 rudder lock?

I use these, just with a way bigger washer. I have three in the airplane. Rudder, but up top forward of the hinge, and each aileron. And so the locks on the ailerons don't slide off the trailing edge, I bungee the locks to the the tie-down rings to hold them in place.



Gump