Termites in T-crafts?

[fearofpavement]

This may sound weird but some of my guys on the Amazon are concerned about whether or not termites could eat the spars on a Taylorcraft. So my question is: Has anyone ever had or heard of termites eating T-craft spars or other wooden plane parts? The termites there are very aggressive and much more prolific than here in the USA. Thanks.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

I've never heard of termites eating on a flying wood airplane. Doesn't the wood have to be in contact with the ground to be in danger from the termites? I always thought they were subterranean. Tom

[fearofpavement]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

I've never heard of termites eating on a flying wood airplane. Doesn't the wood have to be in contact with the ground to be in danger from the termites? I always thought they were subterranean. Tom

No, there doesn't have to be ground contact. Here in Georgia I have seen them eat the wooden window frames out of a cement block garage for example. They make mud covered "tunnels" and use those to travel to different locations for their munchies...

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

As long as the termites keep holding hands it's OK. A guy on another list who owns a Bellanca calls them terminates. They can reach wood up off of the ground. They build earth tubes attached to the non-cellulose block/ brick (tail wheel?), foundation to maintain the right environment and can go up several feet. The planes in the Amazon would probably have to be tied down in the same place for a while to be vulnerable??? Maybe start a tie down rotation program The termites also fly, they do a swarm thing in the spring.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

A termite needs to go to a water source once a day. The mud tunnels accomodate travel back to ground moisture. If there is a source of moisture above ground, say a leaky attic in a house or a pool of water in a wing, then the termites will not need to travel back to ground.

Here in S. Texas, the rule of thumb is that if the wood is 15 inches above ground such as on concrete piers, the termites will not tunnel that high and they go somewhere else.

The solution in the Amazon is obviously to put the plane on 30 inch tundra tires and prop the tail wheel up on a cinder block. Oh yes, in case the Amazon termites did not get the memo about the 15 inch tunnels have the Texas termites e-mail the Amazon termites and tell them the termite union does not require them to tunnel too high.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

We put an ORKIN sticker on my buddies Bellanca. I think more mice have eaten Taylorcraft spars than termites.

Mike

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

Yup, the mice like the wax on the rib stitching too...................

[VictorBravo]

Re: Termites in T-crafts?

Find out if there is sme kind of chemical spray or plant extract material that repels them, and cpray it on all three tires every day?

Also you should see what type of varnish is on the spars and figure out whether that varnish will stop them from being interested.

Sorunds like a question for a well eductaed biochemist or pest control company down there.