Tying-out Year-round in New England??

[Steve in Maine]

Back when I had my mostly-metal Luscombe 8A, (did have Ceconite wings), I had to leave it outside all year here in Maine. Except for the inconvenience, it didn't seem to be an issue. Now, I'd like to get a T-craft, but probably can't afford to build a hanger, nor is there much in my area for rent. Tie-down, on the other hand, is 35 bucks a month here. Does anyone in the Northeast/Alaska have a T-craft tied-out all year round?

Thanks,
Steve in Maine

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Down in South East Virginia Earney Bryant made a set of covers for his Taylorcraft from the high end car cover material and his insurance company liked it so much they gave him a hangar rate! He also made a metal stand that was anchored to the ground (or had wheels to roll freely, can't remember) that locked to his tail wheel and held the tail up. Seems like he added a pocket to the top of the wing cover he slid hot water pipe foam insulation tubes in to act as spoilers. The point is, we had a small tornado or big micro-burst hit the tiedown line and it TOTALED the J-3 next to his Taylorcraft. It also damaged several other planes on the ramp, but the only damage to Earnies T was a broken aileron hinge fitting from the aileron getting clipped by the J-3 wreckage.
Good covers WORK and are pretty inexpensive compared to hangar rent.
Hank

[Steve in Maine]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Thanks, Hank!

[Bird]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

I would also change the fuel cap to one that doesn't have the sight guage on it when sitting there is another thread about that here

[Dick Smith]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

I wish I had a hangar, but I don't...so I use a good set of wingcovers, tailcovers, windshield cover and have the material to make a cover for the back of the fuselage. Prop covers are worth having too. I'm fortunate in having the plane tied down on the ice in front of the house during freezeup, so can keep a close eye on things. If the wind blows too hard, I will remove the wingcovers. Also important is snow removal. Dick

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Earny's cover went over the whole top of the wing, the fuselage and the tail. The covers extended all the way down the fuselage sides. Really nice and not that hard to put on and off. I helped him a few times and it was MUCH easier with two people, especially in very much wind.
Another nice thing was the tail cover made kind of a big "tent". It went from the top of the fin and rudder to the tips of the stab and elevators in a bit tent bag that worked really nice to keep the birds from roosting. You needed to keep all the holes closed up or the birds would get inside. Lots of ties and Velcro, but not hard at all to get on and off.
I'm pretty sure his plane survived a hail storm that tore up some other planes too. Maybe we need to see if he kept any photos or patterns that could be posted.
Hank

[mhorowit]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Hank - can we still see his set-up? - Mike

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

He sold his T several years ago (with the covers to someone on the group) and bought a Cesspool taildragger. Painted it like a Taylorcraft and it really looks like one in the air. Kind of a 4 seat Taylorcraft with a sheet metal fuselage. Really IS a nice plane, but I like tube and rag and I'm not sure I could find 3 other people who would fly with me at the same time.
Hank

Whoever has Earnie's old plane, how is it doing? It sure was a great Taylorcraft!

[midniteflyer52]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Steve,

If you tie outside as I did here in CT, make some spoilers to go on the wings. Years ago, in a bad windstorm one night, the Tcraft next to me broke the ropes and did a half loop over the fence. Mine was rock steady with the spoilers. Peace of mind is priceless.

Regards,

Glen Brodeur
Putnam, CT
TF #42

[Robert Peasley]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Denmar Sports Co. Inc.
1862 Union St.
Bangor, Me. 04401

I bought full set of covering for my 41 taylorcraft in 2004 for $330.74.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Hank's comment bears repeating... IMHO the time and effort put into making a tail stand is well worth it if you have to tie outside. It will indeed save your airplane.

A tall enough 4 legged table, at least 3 feet on a side, anchored firmly to the ground, is a good start. Cut a hole in the table for the tailwheel to sit in, and some kind of anchor for the tailwheel spring to be shackled to. Start with a tall table and cut the legs down until the airplane is either level or slightly tail-high.Put in cross braces or shear panels to stabilize the table against collapse to one side or another.

If you want to get cute, make a ramp that allows the tailwheel to be rolled off the table, and perhaps even a little hand crank winch to pull the tail back up on the table for tiedown. If you want to add some fail-safe to this, bolt in a pair of angles to form a channel to keep the tailwheel from coming off the ramp in a crosswind.

[mhorowit]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Hank's comment bears repeating... IMHO the time and effort put into making a tail stand is well worth it if you have to tie outside. It will indeed save your airplane.

Up early I see

Is lifting the tail to cut down lift? - Mike

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

It reduces the wings angle of attack. Combined with the sewn in tubes on top of the wing for the foam pool float or hot water pipe foam insulation tubes as spoilers and a cover on the tail that makes the tail a big diamond shape box instead of flat surfaces really stabilizes the plane in winds.
Hank

NOT tying to the tie down rings helps a lot too. Remember, TIE TO THE TOP OF THE STRUT, NOT THE RING!!! The ring is just there to keep the rope from sliding down the strut, NO to carry the tie down loads!

[NY86]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

It reduces the wings angle of attack.

If you do it right, it keeps the mice out, too...

I had a Cessna 140 with rag wings tied down at Nashua NH for 15 years. Not ideal, but it worked. 10 years later (in a hangar) the Ceconite is still good.

[jim cooper]

Re: Tying-out Year-round in New England??

Tying out year round is like going to Las Vegas. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. A pal had his 46 T Craft tied down outside last winter here in Maryland. Heavy snow collapsed the wings. (He could not get to it to clean the wings as the roads were almost impassable.) Mine was in a hangar. However, the hangar was old with rotten posts. It collapsed and totaled my just rebuilt T-Craft. (it was insured, his was not.) Outside is never good for any airplane and especially bad for little ones like T-Crafts. UV and rain are tough on them and water usually finds a way in. If I lose my hangar, I will sell my airplane. Others seem to get along ok outside. JC