Slick light aircraft tie down
Mon Oct 28, 2024 9:54 am
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
I use 1" tubular webbing from REI, or other climbing stores. The stuff I buy has a 4000 lb minimum breaking strength. It's cheap ($0.50 per foot). I permanently terminate one end with an overhand knot on a bight with a shackle. The other end gets tied as needed, which usually involves a bowline about halfway up the webbing, so I tie to something in the ground, run back up to the bowline, and cinch back down. Not a fan of open hooks, as they can fall off when things are bouncing in the wind. Shackles are cheap enough. Be aware that tying knots in ropes and cords can significantly reduce breaking strength.
Mon Oct 28, 2024 2:44 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
jcadwell wrote:I use 1" tubular webbing from REI, or other climbing stores. The stuff I buy has a 4000 lb minimum breaking strength. It's cheap ($0.50 per foot). I permanently terminate one end with an overhand knot on a bight with a shackle. The other end gets tied as needed, which usually involves a bowline about halfway up the webbing, so I tie to something in the ground, run back up to the bowline, and cinch back down. Not a fan of open hooks, as they can fall off when things are bouncing in the wind. Shackles are cheap enough. Be aware that tying knots in ropes and cords can significantly reduce breaking strength.
Spot on.
There are numerous charts on knot strength as a percentage of breaking strength for different materials. It’s definitely worth taking into consideration.
Pete
Wed Oct 30, 2024 4:35 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
jcadwell wrote:I use 1" tubular webbing from REI, or other climbing stores. The stuff I buy has a 4000 lb minimum breaking strength. It's cheap ($0.50 per foot). I permanently terminate one end with an overhand knot on a bight with a shackle. The other end gets tied as needed, which usually involves a bowline about halfway up the webbing, so I tie to something in the ground, run back up to the bowline, and cinch back down. Not a fan of open hooks, as they can fall off when things are bouncing in the wind. Shackles are cheap enough. Be aware that tying knots in ropes and cords can significantly reduce breaking strength.
Does it have some give to it?
This is on a 7AC with brand new spars, so one of the major factors is that 5G25 type condition, don’t want it to be like a dog running and harshly finding the end of his chain
Debated making a tie down with some 10,000lb dyneema and some Ti shackles properly spliced in, it would be one sexy tie down, but add one a small dock line snubber maybe
Kinda like
- NineThreeKilo offline
- Retired
- Posts: 1679
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:16 pm
- Location: _
Wed Oct 30, 2024 6:08 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
Why not just proper dynamic climbing rope then?
- Zzz offline
- Posts: 2854
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: northern
- Aircraft: Swiveling desk chair
Half a century spent proving “it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Wed Oct 30, 2024 6:18 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
I've contemplated this a lot and my strategy has evolved over the years. For my maule, I use 3/8" transport chain with open hook ends. I find it's quick, affordable, definitely stronger than any plastic rope/webbing/strap, and doesn't have any give so I don't have to worry with the plane rocking about.
Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:12 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
asa wrote:I've contemplated this a lot and my strategy has evolved over the years. For my maule, I use 3/8" transport chain with open hook ends. I find it's quick, affordable, definitely stronger than any plastic rope/webbing/strap, and doesn't have any give so I don't have to worry with the plane rocking about.
- NineThreeKilo offline
- Retired
- Posts: 1679
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:16 pm
- Location: _
Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:17 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
Zzz wrote:Why not just proper dynamic climbing rope then?
I’d have to actually tie a knot, like physical labor?
Plus this is the realm of folks who could stand to lose 50+lbs who spend $20k to have gear legs that weigh 20lbs less
The original $12 item in my list I now want to find a digital scale and test, as I’d wager it’ll hold more than enough for a 7 series or the like
BUT if I was going to do something else why not just splice something fancy up, maybe some sexy heat treated Ti fittings, dyneema with strength to adnauseam, shock mitigation, splices most people couldn’t spell let alone have the fids in their desks or skills to do, I mean this is GA let’s not pretend practicality is a pre req
https://countycomm.com/products/titanium-snap-shackle
- NineThreeKilo offline
- Retired
- Posts: 1679
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:16 pm
- Location: _
Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:03 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
Zzz wrote:Why not just proper dynamic climbing rope then?
this is what I use. along with carabiners top and bottom. It does stretch some initially and loose tension. so if you want it tight you need to re-tie it after a few minutes.
Wed Oct 30, 2024 9:02 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
gahi wrote:Zzz wrote:Why not just proper dynamic climbing rope then?
this is what I use. along with carabiners top and bottom. It does stretch some initially and loose tension. so if you want it tight you need to re-tie it after a few minutes.
So dyneema on a snubber might be ideal?
- NineThreeKilo offline
- Retired
- Posts: 1679
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:16 pm
- Location: _
Wed Oct 30, 2024 9:45 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
asa wrote:I've contemplated this a lot and my strategy has evolved over the years. For my maule, I use 3/8" transport chain with open hook ends. I find it's quick, affordable, definitely stronger than any plastic rope/webbing/strap, and doesn't have any give so I don't have to worry with the plane rocking about.
Lordy, how hard does the wind blow there?
Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:14 am
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
gahi wrote:Zzz wrote:Why not just proper dynamic climbing rope then?
this is what I use. along with carabiners top and bottom. It does stretch some initially and loose tension. so if you want it tight you need to re-tie it after a few minutes.
I use static line. Not as much give as dynamic, but still has some stretch and takes a good knot. Bowline around the tie-down or a biner on a figure 8 on the bottom and yes -gasp- a hand tied knot.
I save the chain for pulling Audi Quattro’s out of the snow banks that are headed to the Nordic ski resort at the end of our road…..
Pete
Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:06 am
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
asa wrote:3/8" transport chain with open hook ends.
Stored in a tidy box in the aft baggage to balance that boat anchor out.
- Zzz offline
- Posts: 2854
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: northern
- Aircraft: Swiveling desk chair
Half a century spent proving “it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:11 am
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
NineThreeKilo wrote:Zzz wrote:Why not just proper dynamic climbing rope then?
I’d have to actually tie a knot, like physical labor?
Did I say you have to use the whole 50m rope? 50 years of climbing technology have brought us to the peak of gadgetry for binding and attaching 10.5mm kernmantle rope, we have only to devise a clever combo of these tools.
- Zzz offline
- Posts: 2854
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: northern
- Aircraft: Swiveling desk chair
Half a century spent proving “it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:13 pm
Re: Slick light aircraft tie down
Webbing doesn't have much give. Climbing rope typically does, so you have some elasticity to absorb a fall. I went with webbing over rope for the size/volume (4000 Lb rope tends to be about 1/2" diameter), the cost (maybe $20 for enough webbing), the strength, and the ability to buy it locally.
DISPLAY OPTIONS
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
Latest Features
-
Live to Tell
A Minnesota pilot is surprised to learn that the sudden asymmetric drag of an out-of-rig ski can…Read More -
Creators
Working in some of the Yukon's most beautiful and remote environments, photographer Simon Blakesley captures aircraft in…Read More -
Aircraft Ownership and Maintenance
Upgrading to big tires can make a huge difference in backcountry performance, but with those gains come…Read More -
Tales from Yesteryear
In this tale from bush flying yesteryear, Don Cogger signs up to help Atlee Dodge Jr recovery…Read More
Latest Knowledge Base
-
Destinations
A regional guide with ideas for winter camping destinations in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona.Read More -
Aircraft
Finding an affordable aircraft that can handle the backcountry for $80K or less? A challenge for sure, but with the…Read More -
Aircraft
01.29.2018 - Zane - Updated tire diameter graphic to add 8.50x10 Guide to tires for use in the backcountry and off-airport landing…Read More -
Pilots
12.22.2013 - Initial article format Operating aircraft on skis and negotiating a snow-covered landscape is an entirely unique skillset and environment.…Read More
