Outdoor Aircraft Storage

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Chris Dickens

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Chris Dickens
I live in an area where there aren't a plethora of general aviation airports. I've checked around at virtually every public GA airport within 1.5-2 hours from where I live and everyone has a very lengthy hangar wait list. I am planning on purchasing an airplane (Baron 55) in 2025. I've gotten on the wait lists early (at least the wait lists that don't require me to already have an airplane).

I'm starting to accept that I'll have to store the airplane outside for a while. Hopefully it's only a year or so, but given that reality, anyone have recommendations for aircraft covers and tie-down straps? In addition to fuselage covers I'm considering getting wing covers and engine plugs as well. Thanks!
 
https://www.aircraftcovers.com/

Engine plugs are a must, lest your nacelles become bird sanctuaries.

I got my tiedown stuff from the aviation departments of west marine and amazon.

What kind of climate are you in?
 
If I were unable to have a hangar forcing my only choice to be leaving an aircraft in the weather, I wouldn’t be an aircraft owner. Many people make it work for them, but I personally wouldn’t be able to subject my aircraft to it It bothers me even to leave a plane in weather on the ramp for a few days when I travel.

My $0.02.
 
MBDiagMan said:
If I were unable to have a hangar forcing my only choice to be leaving an aircraft in the weather, I wouldn’t be an aircraft owner. Many people make it work for them, but I personally wouldn’t be able to subject my aircraft to it It bothers me even to leave a plane in weather on the ramp for a few days when I travel.

My $0.02.
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Problem is there are some airports that won't let you even get on the waiting list with out a N-number. The only way to avoid outdoor storage out here is either not own an airplane ever, or build your own hangar at a cost of $300-400k+. I'll eventually get into a hangar, it'll just take 12-18 months. In the meantime, I'd like some good advice on the best products to store it on a tiedown.
 
Chris Dickens said:
I'd like some good advice on the best products to store it on a tiedown.
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It can be done. Look around the ramp at the airport you're interested in and inquire what works best... especially from those owners whose plane looks the best parked outside.
 
I've kept my plane tied down outside for the last seven years with no ill effects. For that matter I've kept my car outside for the last 15 years and it still runs pretty well too. The biggest danger I can see is hail - unfortunately that's just a "roll the dice" kind of risk.

Ask the airport manager if you can keep a storage bin near your plane. When I was able to do so, I kept oil, tools, cleaner, and a generator for preheating the engine.
 
AlleyCat67 said:
I've kept my plane tied down outside for the last seven years with no ill effects. For that matter I've kept my car outside for the last 15 years and it still runs pretty well too. The biggest danger I can see is hail - unfortunately that's just a "roll the dice" kind of risk.

Ask the airport manager if you can keep a storage bin near your plane. When I was able to do so, I kept oil, tools, cleaner, and a generator for preheating the engine.
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Thanks...fortunately we don't get a lot of hail here.
 
man, u got a baron, cover that puppy up! it's not like u got a 172 or something....

whatsup.gif
 
GeorgeC said:
Engine plugs are a must, lest your nacelles become bird sanctuaries.
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To emphasize on the above, all engine bay openings need to be plugged.
Additionally, small birds will find their way in the fuselagw through any fresh air vents that don't have a mesh screen.
They also love to perch on the VOR antenna and crap on your horizontal stabilizer.
If snow/ice accumulation is a possibility, get wing/tail covers as well.
 
AV8R_87 said:
To emphasize on the above, all engine bay openings need to be plugged.
Additionally, small birds will find their way in the fuselagw through any fresh air vents that don't have a mesh screen.
They also love to perch on the VOR antenna and crap on your horizontal stabilizer.
If snow/ice accumulation is a possibility, get wing/tail covers as well.
Click to expand...

I plan on spending the $$$ to buy a really good cover for not just the fuselage, but also the wings, engine and tail. It won't be cheap but it's better than leaving that stuff exposed. I'll also buy plugs for anything the covers don't, well, cover. Snow and ice isn't super common (planning on basing it at FQD unless a hangar opens up at another field) but it's still a possibility.
 
MBDiagMan said:
If I were unable to have a hangar forcing my only choice to be leaving an aircraft in the weather, I wouldn’t be an aircraft owner. Many people make it work for them, but I personally wouldn’t be able to subject my aircraft to it It bothers me even to leave a plane in weather on the ramp for a few days when I travel.

My $0.02.
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This right here ^^^
 
Hopefully you're at least on pavement. My club plane has been outside in the grass. Was a pain to keep clean. At least now we're on a small, cement pad. As others have said, birds in the cowling have been a problem. Fire ants. Most recently, a black widow spider nesting in the tie down chain. I've given up on plane ownership mostly b/c I don't fly enough but also b/c the list of head aches, like no hangers, is long.
 
Chris Dickens said:
I plan on spending the $$$ to buy a really good cover for not just the fuselage, but also the wings, engine and tail.
Click to expand...
FYI: covers can be a double-edge sword. While they can protect from some things they can also damage things themselves like windows and paint finishes. So not all covers are created equal. A good place to start for outside parking, is always keep your aircraft clean and waxed, ensure your tiedowns are of the proper kind and used correctly, and fly your aircraft as much as possible.

Where I've seen the issues happen the most is not cleaning/maintaining the exterior, use of wrong tiedowns, and not performing the proper preventive mx on the aircraft that don't fly regularly. Regardless, have seen and worked on many aircraft that remained parked outside their entire lives, to include fabric covered aircraft, that had minimal issues provided they were maintained in a proper manner.
 
sansoneservices said:
This right here ^^^
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Not owning an airplane isn't an option, and it's not a very constructive suggestion. What y'all are suggesting is an impossibility for me...that I only own an airplane if and when a hangar is available. The problem with this is even if you get on the waiting list (some waiting lists require you to provide an N-number), if they offer you the spot and you don't have an airplane, then they pass you. The only other option is to build my own hangar, which in today's environment will cost double the value of the airplane itself.

I've flown lots of airplanes that were stored exclusively outdoors for many years. It might not be desired but it's not impossible. Maybe y'all live in areas where hangars are more available, and that's great. But that's not the case where I'm at. The closest field is 35 minutes from my house. There are about 7-8 public airports within a 90 minute drive from where I live and ALL of them have very long wait lists for hangars. That's just the reality.
 
Mahneuvers said:
Hopefully you're at least on pavement. My club plane has been outside in the grass. Was a pain to keep clean. At least now we're on a small, cement pad. As others have said, birds in the cowling have been a problem. Fire ants. Most recently, a black widow spider nesting in the tie down chain. I've given up on plane ownership mostly b/c I don't fly enough but also b/c the list of head aches, like no hangers, is long.
Click to expand...

The closest airport (FQD) is paved. It's a pretty nice airport, actually, and we rarely get extreme weather. Snow/ice occurs maybe 1-2 times a year. We do get thunderstorms but the severe variety found elsewhere in the country are uncommon due to the mountains to the west. All in all, the area we live in isn't bad for outdoor aircraft storage.
 
Bell206 said:
FYI: covers can be a double-edge sword. While they can protect from some things they can also damage things themselves like windows and paint finishes. So not all covers are created equal. A good place to start for outside parking, is always keep your aircraft clean and waxed, ensure your tiedowns are of the proper kind and used correctly, and fly your aircraft as much as possible.

Where I've seen the issues happen the most is not cleaning/maintaining the exterior, use of wrong tiedowns, and not performing the proper preventive mx on the aircraft that don't fly regularly. Regardless, have seen and worked on many aircraft that remained parked outside their entire lives, to include fabric covered aircraft, that had minimal issues provided they were maintained in a proper manner.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. I do plan on flying the airplane regularly. I'll fly it at least once a week, if nothing more than a proficiency flight. We live in Western NC, but our family lives in St Louis, Arkansas and Louisiana. We intend on using it to visit them regularly. Our airplane will not be one of the aircraft you see sitting for weeks on end! I fly for an airline and I fully intend to devote some of my time off to keeping the airplane clean, waxed and maintained.
 
The best idea I've seen used is to buy some car wash sponges and leave them in the plastic wrapper. You can used them in a pinch as cowl plugs, or to plug gaps between the tail cone and stab. The clear plastic wrap will still be on them, so they won't get soggy. The sponges are soft enough that if they are missed in preflight they are less likely to have fatal consequences than the alternatives.
 
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