Cub storage on trips

[PA-12 Super Cruiser]

I just recently purchased a PA-12 and am curious about storage while on trips. It is hangared at home, but when I travel with it and hangar space isn't available what should I do. Are there any tricks or suggestions?

Jeff

[StewartB]

Hangar? What's a hangar? Lock it up and tie it down.
SB

[Ken Grindlay]

Lock? Yours locks? Mine doesn't have any keys, starter button and no lock.
Ken

[StewartB]

Okay, remove what you don't want stolen, and tie it down.
SB

[BritishCubBloke]

I know some of these Alaskan folks leave theirs tied down outside all year, but I get a bit twitchy when mine is left outside. I try to find a hangar, especially when storms are forecast. It just seems to make sense to try and protect it from being pelted with rain, hail, wind and debris.

BCB

I was told that water and fabric planes don't get along well. I guess I will always look for a hangar, but I won't let the lack of a hangar stop me. Thanks

Jeff

[PA-12 Super Cruiser]

Ok here's another question. If you leave your plane outside are there any special precautions you take. Lube this or cover that. Do you have a problem with water in your tanks with the vented tank system?

Thanks for the reply's

Jeff

[StewartB]

Jeff,
Your plane will be fine parked outside. You should do the same preflight as if it was inside. As for water, it won't hurt a thing unless you sink it in a lake. All fuel systems are vented. Your paint is waterproof. Your wings have condensation drains. Your mechanic will lube the important stuff at annual. Your plane would last 25 years parked outside. Probably more. Almost all planes in Alaska are parked outside. We have some harsh weather. We also have more planes than anywhere else. We get along just fine. The only thing to really avoid is hail, which we rarely get. If it's windy, park nose to the wind. If you're in hot, sunny weather, get some sun shields. Other than that, enjoy the trip.
SB

[T.J.]

delete

[mvivion]

The worst enemy of fabric and dope is sunlight, not water and rain. Unfortunately, as several have noted, us Alaskans don't have much available in the way of hangars. As a consequence, most airplanes reside outdoors. Fortunately for us, UV isn't a big problem, as compared to Phoenix, for example.

If your plane is going to be out in a lot of sunshine, you might want to get some sort of sun covers, like wing covers, but designed to protect from UV.

As noted previously, tie it down faced into the wind. LOWER THE FLAPS, and leave them down, so they won't bang in the wind. Check it frequently if the wind blows. Take along your own good ropes.

It'll be fine.

Mike Vivion

[SuperCub MD]

If you 12 is going to sit out a lot, make sure the windows and door, expecially the rear windows are sealed real well. This is where a 12 will rot the most if moisture gets in.

[K.S.]

It amazes me to think how different things are in the rest of the world. Our planes sit out in all the weather alaska can throw at them. Sun/UV I'm sure is the worst thing for them (except the occasional heavy winds). A few nights out won't hurt your plane, probably the fresh air will do it some good. Lot's of post can be found on proper tie down techniques. Buy some good rope, quit worrying and enjoy your travels.

[don d]

Hail is hell. Marglel size and larger are not common to Alaska but quite common in parts of the lower 48. Can destroy most any light aircraft.

[don d]

marglel is short for marble

Whew! Thought Marglel might be some sort of French curio, that the classical tastes of the site may have upped a notch and I was left to toil in ignorance with the proletariat.

:D

[Ken Grindlay]

Of course, when one must toil in ignorance with the proletariat, one should bring something to read.
Ken

[Cubus Maximus]

But Ken,

How can one toil and read at the same time? Images of some scion (to the manor born) with a cudgel marching about and knocking sense into any peasant found leaning on his hoe come to mind. One could hardly expect to sit down 'neath a Linden tree and leaf through Sports Illustrated, The Star or Weekly World News without painful interruption ('lessen you work for the gov'mint and it's Friday). It would interfere with learning that Wayne Newton had dealings with space aliens (how else do you explain Vegas?).

Brad

:roll:

[JMBreitinger]

Here in Minneapolis, we have the luxury of abundant heated hangars. They are the best deal around -- tree forts for big guys -- but that is another story. Actually, our weather is likely as bad as it gets anywhere -- minus 45 in the dead of winter and plus 100 in the summer.

Our bird sits out overnight less than eight nights a year. Of course, that means that those invariably the nights when it hails. In 1998, my partner and I bought a run-out Mooney. It took us a year to rebuild it with a new engine, interior, paint and panel. One month after we finished it, it was outside overnight in Atlanta and got hit badly with hail. Not much you can do about that.

If you are going to use your plane to travel, it will eventually sit outside.

We have a canopy cover that protects the glass and keep the interior cool. Cowl plugs and pitot covers are good too. The big thing is to learn to tie it down right.