Industrial-strength tie-downs! Matthew threatening....

[FlyGirlKHWO]

here's hoping that all the folks parked on the ramp in the South Florida area have moved their crafts to safer ground...

hangared in F45 (North palm Beach County,)

Alli

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

I wouldn't have left an airplane in a cheap sheet metal building in the face of sustained 100+ MPH winds, but good luck to you all.

 

[bflynn]

I wouldn't have either. It would have been my ticket out of the area for several days.

 

[FlyGirlKHWO]

Unfortunately, couldn't move it due to a mechanical problem.

 

[Stewartb]

My plane has ridden out sustained official winds up to 117mph and did fine. The two biggest threats in high winds are the earth anchors failing and your plane being hit by flying debris. Oh, do make sure you use something more than cheap dollar store ropes. It always amazes how owners will tie down $200K airplanes using 99 cent rope.

 

[frfly172]

Good luck to all ,on the storm ,going north next week to bring my aircraft to Fla. Glad I don't have to worry about the plane.

 

[Ravioli]

It always amazes how owners will tie down $200K airplanes using 99 cent rope.

I'm sorta guilty on this one. My RV does not have a keyed ignition switch. Just two ignition toggles and a starter button.

But I DO HAVE a lock securing the canopy. Looks like a luggage lock. Very 'secure'?!?

So, I have a $75k airplane secured by a $7 lock.

 

[old cfi]

I wouldn't have left an airplane in a cheap sheet metal building in the face of sustained 100+ MPH winds, but good luck to you all.

Yeah, this. Embry Riddle moved all of their fleet to Auburn. AL. Dorms are even closed. Guess everyone is bunking down in a real college.

Was just over on Flight Tracker watching the P-3 flying around in Matthew. That's a ride I really don't think I'd enjoy.

 

[JustinD]

I keep my plane hangared in DAB but with it showing the eye right there as a cat 4, i got out. I saw hangars destroyed at Boca Raton when i was living in south florida in 04/05 with those hurricane seasons, I didn't want the potential of my plane winding up like one of those!

Safely tied down on the ramp here in TLH

 

[hindsight2020]

I need to review my insurance, but isn't it a requirement you move the airplane X miles away from declared home base in a pre-announced hurricane in order for the insurance to cover any damages if it still gets hit? Haven't looked at my policy in ages, but don't yet live in Florida so I haven't kept up with it. Otherwise, I'd say this would be a great opportunity to tie down an airplane that's a bit cold on the sales market (I keed I keed...)

 

[JustinD]

I read all up and down my insurance and read nothing that said it hurricanes were excluded if I didn't do x

I do however have a nice provision that says if I chose to move my airplane from my base airport if we are under a hurricane warning to an airport 100 miles or more away they will cover up to $1,000 dollars associated with the cost of me and the airplane moving out of the way

 

[kyleb]

I'm sorta guilty on this one. My RV does not have a keyed ignition switch. Just two ignition toggles and a starter button.

But I DO HAVE a lock securing the canopy. Looks like a luggage lock. Very 'secure'?!?

So, I have a $75k airplane secured by a $7 lock.

I don't even lock mine. I'd rather someone take my radios than bust the canopy.

 

[rrrrr]

I read all up and down my insurance and read nothing that said it hurricanes were excluded if I didn't do x

I do however have a nice provision that says if I chose to move my airplane from my base airport if we are under a hurricane warning to an airport 100 miles or more away they will cover up to $1,000 dollars associated with the cost of me and the airplane moving out of the way

Who is your insurance carrier?

 

[ELee3]

I keep my plane hangared in DAB but with it showing the eye right there as a cat 4, i got out. I saw hangars destroyed at Boca Raton when i was living in south florida in 04/05 with those hurricane seasons, I didn't want the potential of my plane winding up like one of those!

Safely tied down on the ramp here in TLH

Since you're over this way, you could make the most of it and attend the flyin in Thomasville (just north of Tallahassee) this weekend.

 

[arkvet]

I'm sorta guilty on this one. My RV does not have a keyed ignition switch. Just two ignition toggles and a starter button.

But I DO HAVE a lock securing the canopy. Looks like a luggage lock. Very 'secure'?!?

So, I have a $75k airplane secured by a $7 lock.

Along the same lines there are thousands of 6 figure valued green tractors around the world that all use the same key.

 

[iamtheari]

Along the same lines there are thousands of 6 figure valued green tractors around the world that all use the same key.

They may all be intended to use the same key, but they probably will accept plenty of other keys, too. We had a JD bulldozer hauled once and forgot to leave the key in it for the guy hauling it, but that was okay because he happened to have a Case IH key that worked just as well. I don't know why they bother. And in a keyed magneto switch, can't you just cut the wires and fire it up since they work by grounding the magnetos when you turn them off? You may have to hand-prop it to start the engine, but no airplane thief is going to be deterred by that.

Back on the subject of hurricanes, good luck to those who have to weather this one. I've only been through the rainy kind of hurricane that makes it hard to drive, not the windy kind that makes it hard for people and houses to stay upright. Since the OP mentioned tie-downs, I do have a question, though. For those who have really tested them, what portable ground anchors do you recommend? I want to get a set for the Cub but here in ND we do occasionally get nearly hurricane-force winds, usually about twice a year over 70mph sustained. (No hurricanes, I think it's just because Canada is angry about something we said.) I don't intend to travel and tie down in that kind of weather, but it would be nice to go airplane camping and not stay awake all night watching the tie-downs because I don't trust them in a light 30mph breeze.

 

[Dr. O]

Along the same lines there are thousands of 6 figure valued green tractors around the world that all use the same key.

Yup. Just got to the combine this morning and the operator took the keys with him last night. Rooted around in the truck and found a tractor key. Worked just fine.

 

[N747JB]

I need to review my insurance, but isn't it a requirement you move the airplane X miles away from declared home base in a pre-announced hurricane in order for the insurance to cover any damages if it still gets hit? Haven't looked at my policy in ages, but don't yet live in Florida so I haven't kept up with it. Otherwise, I'd say this would be a great opportunity to tie down an airplane that's a bit cold on the sales market (I keed I keed...)

More boats sink the day after a hurricane than the day of the hurricane! I am just saying!

 

[Ravioli]

My portable tiedown anchors are "The Claw". Kit weighs about 8# and costs ~$90.

If you go the EAA site they have some directions to roll your own. I've talked to some people that have done it and most agreed they would have come out ahead by purchasing the kit once they accounted for the time to get all the supplies, do the work, etc.

 

[N747JB]

Yup. Just got to the combine this morning and the operator took the keys with him last night. Rooted around in the truck and found a tractor key. Worked just fine.

Just like Cessnas, about 8-10 different key combinations and you don't have to try many to find on that fits, including a tool box key!

 

[upstateny]

3-4 different style keys will start 90% of the boats out there. When I worked at a marina I had them on my key ring and could start almost everything.

 

[JustinD]

rrrrr I have AOPA shop out the insurance every year, they do a good job of finding me a good mix of coverage and cost options. The carrier I have this year is AIG.

ELee3 good point, I'll have to see whats in store for back home, I'm trying to get back as early as I can to assess the damage...plus I was supposed to go on vacation next week but now my entire plans have been thwarted! Just playing it by ear right now and everything is up in the air

 

[Hank S]

My portable tiedown anchors are "The Claw". Kit weighs about 8# and costs ~$90.

If you go the EAA site they have some directions to roll your own. I've talked to some people that have done it and most agreed they would have come out ahead by purchasing the kit once they accounted for the time to get all the supplies, do the work, etc.

I bought a set of screw-ins that EAA was selling at Sun n Fun, and they held my plane when the tornado hit. Lots of planes rolled around, including some held by the Claw. Part of secure tie downs is proper installation, part is the soil you park on top of. The plane next to me broke loose and rolled away, mine didn't move.