windshield weather cover

[McRay7ac]

need some ideals on material to make windshield outside weather covers for my BC12D do having to move aircraft
outside in weather for a time.

[PA1195]

Re: windshield weather cover

Windshield covers are commercially available. Do a search. Same for covers for the wings and other plane parts. Typically they are made of nylon or polyester fabric sheeting and held to the plane with stretchable rubber bungee cord material. They keep snow and ice off the plane.

However, if it's windy they will eventually scratch any underlying surface as they blow around and grind underlying dirt into what they're laying on. Your choices...wash off frozen material with warm recreational vehicle water system antifreeze (propylene glycol) or spray auto windshield solvent (methanol alcohol in water), brush or scrape off what you can dry, or use a cover in a non-windy and relatively dirt free environment. This based upon 44 yrs of keeping airplanes outdoors in Alaska.

Gary

[Peterroy]

Re: windshield weather cover

Ray,

I had a set of covers made by Bruce's Custom Covers about 4 years ago. I used them for only one season. They cost me $1,800. They cover every part of the aircraft (including the windshield) except the propeller and the cowl. The wings have 1" of foam for hail protection.

I have been trying to sell them over the past two years -- only asking $600. Are you interested?

Peter

PS: I have pictures if you are interested.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: windshield weather cover

Whoever gets a set check with your insurance company. Some will give you a lower rate than for outside storage.

Hank

[PA1195]

Re: windshield weather cover

I received a complete set of Bruce's Covers with my Taylorcraft. Very sturdy and well made. Tail, fuselage, wings, screen, and engine. They are bulky and heavy for routine transportation but surely will protect the plane when stationary. I've given away most of them to the needy locally. Nobody can afford the shipping from here.

One source of covers that are light for carrying between locations yet durable polyester are these folks: http://alaskawingcovers.com/index.html Unlike coated nylon that is stiff and hard to store in the cold, these products fold and stuff easily.

So I guess for stationary parking heavy duty is better. A tight fit helps in windy conditions. Excellent sun UV resistance like with Bruce's covers is better than with nylon (bad deterioration) and polyester (good resistance).

Edit: Some may wonder why Gary doesn't park in a hangar after 44 years. There's a few reasons mainly availability and cost. There's no local airport owned hangars available, just private units typically on leased property that cost $250-350,000 to build to airport spec. Then there's heat and light in Arctic Temps plus lease fees. There are some unheated T-units (some open and some with doors) but are typically filled and cost $10/day or more to park with a long term lease required. Rental units by the day or week are over $100/day. It takes a business connection for expense write-off or excellent income to afford that protection in most of Alaska. When a hangar costs more to rent and support than the home we live in it's not going to happen.

Gary

[McRay7ac]

Re: windshield weather cover

Found some marine material with felt backing to protect windshield for aircraft temporary park outside mostly from the heat and bird poop
thanks for the ideals - Ray

[SpecialT]

Re: windshield weather cover

Peterroy, I am possibly interested in your covers. I lost my hangar which was a sub-lease, lessee quit flying so he let it go back to the county and to the next on the waiting list. I'm also interested in a port-a-port hangar if anyone has one laying around. Do you think the tail cover can be modified to fit for 8 flying wires? Would you have a link to some pictures?

McRay7ac, how much a yard is the material you found? I bought my wife an industrial sewing machine with the hope she would sew me a cover ;-) . But she says she want's me to do it. ;-(

[Peterroy]

Re: windshield weather cover

Dave,

Where in California do you live? I am heading out to the San Francisco area to visit the grand kids this weekend. If you are relatively close to that area, I can bring the 4 bags of covers with me and you can determine if they can be modified as suggested. I'll be arriving in Petaluma on Saturday and will be returning to Nevada the first week of February. If you want them, you can have them. If not, I'll just bring them back home.

Believe it or not, I also may have a line on a Port-a-Port for you. I bought one from a guy in St George, UT two years ago who had it relocated and reassembled in Mesquite, Nevada for me. Total cost to me was <$25K. I don't know if he wants to deliver one all the way to CA. I also know of a few Port-a-Ports for sale in the Los Angeles area (as of 2 years ago they were available). They could be had for <$10K, but in that situation, you would have to arrange transportation and reconstruction. I lucked out with mine because the guy I dealt with, did all this himself.

Peter

Peter

[McRay7ac]

Re: windshield weather cover

Bought fabric a place call JO Ann fabric for $11 a yard going to install medal eyes for bungee cords easy on and off, holds good in wind.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: windshield weather cover

I saw a cover once that had pool noodles sewn in along strategic lines to keep the fabric from rubbing (still rubbed where the noodles were, but stretched across the windshield). On a 4 piece pre-war windshield the noodles would go over where the metal strips were. Not sure how that would work with a blown windshield, but you could at least limit the rub areas more to places not in the primary field of view.

Hank

[SpecialT]

Re: windshield weather cover

Hi Peter,

I'll send you a PM and give you a call. I have a friend who lives in San Rafael that could pick them up for me. With fabric at $11/yrd it might make sense to try to modify an existing cover, or I was thinking of using the fabric from a motorhome cover. Bring them out and decide what you want for them. I'm also interested in the contact info for a hangar.

David

[skip]

Re: windshield weather cover

I have a set of Bruce's custom covers on my BC12-D and they are very well made and work well.


I have not experienced the chafing that some seem to have experienced.
Mine are similar to what Peterroy has. For his asking price, his set is a really good deal!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: windshield weather cover

I like how the strap puts a smile on your plane too!

Hank

[skip]

Re: windshield weather cover

I like how the strap puts a smile on your plane too!

Hank

It's funny how many different thing about that plane add a smile...

[Guest]

Re: windshield weather cover

Windshield covers are commercially available. Do a search. Same for covers for the wings and other plane parts. Typically they are made of nylon or polyester fabric sheeting and held to the plane with stretchable rubber bungee cord material. They keep snow and ice off the plane.

However, if it's windy they will eventually scratch any underlying surface as they blow around and grind underlying dirt into what they're laying on. Your choices...wash off frozen material with warm recreational vehicle water system antifreeze (propylene glycol) or spray auto windshield solvent (methanol alcohol in water), brush or scrape off what you can dry, or use a cover in a non-windy and relatively dirt free environment. This based upon 44 yrs of keeping airplanes outdoors in Alaska.

Gary

I also had issues with wind making it chafe.

Really scratched up a new windshield.

Had to stop using the cover.

Dave R