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fast99

Pre-takeoff checklist
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fast99
There's another thread on the unavailability of hangers which brings up my question. I live in Eastern Washington; the area gets snow and for a week or 2 each winter below zero temps. Hangers are hard to find. My question is basically how much damage does a plane endure outside? Obviously, there will be UV damage but with covers for the interior will the cold, snow and ice be too costly to consider having a plane outside. How much snow can accumulate before weight damages the plane? thanks
 
fast99 said:
There's another thread on the unavailability of hangers which brings up my question. I live in Eastern Washington; the area gets snow and for a week or 2 each winter below zero temps. Hangers are hard to find. My question is basically how much damage does a plane endure outside? Obviously, there will be UV damage but with covers for the interior will the cold, snow and ice be too costly to consider having a plane outside. How much snow can accumulate before weight damages the plane? thanks
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Hangars keep your plane looking better much longer, no question. But economically is another question. If you amortize the cost of new paint, for example, across the 10-20 years that it takes for the sun to do enough damage to need a paint job - you end up with a very small hangar budget to prevent it.

Don't worry about snow weight. It's basically irrelevant in normal scenarios, and especially so in one that get snow for a week or two per winter.
 
The old man kept the Cessna 120 on a tie down for years - like most of the other airplanes at the airport back then (Detroit area). Cleaning snow and Ice off when you want to go for a ride is a PITA. Pre-heating with no electricity is less convenient. Having to shovel your way to the taxiway is no worse than shoveling the pile the plow leaves in front of the hangar. Working on the airplane outside is significantly more suckey than even an unheated hangar. You also have to haul your tools back and forth.
 
Freezing rain is probably more of a concern. And maybe hail.

Eastern WA doesn't get this as frequently as other parts of the country, but I know you get it.
 
I think my plane has accumulated an order of magnitude more damage from hamfisted owners (myself included), hamfisted mechanics, and other various rashes than from being outside.
 
I went many years before I was able to get a hangar so that I could buy a plane. It’s your business to decide if you want to leave a plane in the weather to melt into the ground. I was never able to make myself do it. Patience is a virtue and it eventually paid off. I now have a beautiful big hangar that keeps my two planes snug and preserved.

To me it’s like making your dog sleep out in the snow.
 
Unless your plane leaks, I would not worry about it.
My recs:
- keep the control lock on at all times
- put a cushion (an old tire will do) under the tail cone. When snow brings the tail down, it will not hit the pavement.
- do not use any covers that go over the glass. Sand will get under and the flapping of the covers will damage the plexi.
 
T
trenton said:
Freezing rain is probably more of a concern. And maybe hail.

Eastern WA doesn't get this as frequently as other parts of the country, but I know you get it.
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This ^^^ hail damage will seriously hurt your plane's value
 
I have a brother in Alaska who keeps his cub outside.He keeps wing covers on it and just makes sure to keep snow swept off,it is definitely a factor up there.Last winter there was a guy who cleaned one wing off completely before the other on his champ and nicely tipped it up on a wing:rolleyes:
 
MBDiagMan said:
I went many years before I was able to get a hangar so that I could buy a plane. It’s your business to decide if you want to leave a plane in the weather to melt into the ground. I was never able to make myself do it. Patience is a virtue and it eventually paid off. I now have a beautiful big hangar that keeps my two planes snug and preserved.

To me it’s like making your dog sleep out in the snow.
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I wish that were an option. Here, they want an N number before you even get on the hangar "waiting list".
 
Heat destroys avionics unless you get a good cockpit cover.
 
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Our club planes have spent their entire 50 years outside.

Suggest
1. As mentioned, get good sun shades.
2. Get good tie down straps.
3. As mentioned, always use the control lock and pito tube cover.
4. Have plane scrubbed and ceramic coated.

It should be just fine. I wouldn’t delay getting a plane just because you have to have a tie down vs hangar.
 
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