Engine Covers.... again

[flylow]

I'm ordering a new engine cover. I know I want the less bulky one. I'm ordering new covers from Alaska Wing Covers --- so maybe we'll get snow. Linda said her engine covers aren't bulky like the old days. I've used Alaska Tent and Tarp and a Kennon cover in the past, but I really want to go less bulk this time (seem to run out of room real quick in the winter).

I saw the thin cover at Stoddard's, but I don't know who makes them and I'm not in ANC. I think from reading on the forum it's Fine Line making the thin engine covers.... Anybody able to verify? I hate ordering without seeing first!

Thanks.

 

[cubdriver2]

I have the same problem with room. I have a big bulky one I use at home to keep it warm in my open hangar. But I wanted something less bulky while flying around and only stopping for a few hours. My wife sewed this up from HD space blankets. Works great





Fits in a Ziploc bag



Maybe I should set her up to make these?

Glenn

 

[stewartb]

Anyone can make an engine cover with less bulky insulation. Fine line made a custom one for my 180 a few years ago (love it) and I’m meeting Doug tomorrow to measure the new Cub for one. I’ll never have a fluffy cover again. Well, I will until my olf fluffy cover wears out, which it never will because I never use it!

http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthread.php?45794-Engine-Cover

 

[cubdriver2]

Very easy to do at home, I made the first one but she made one that looked a lot better. Use a zig zag stitch or a wide spaced stitch or it will tear like a check from your checkbook if the stitches are too close

Glenn

 

[cruiser]

Aviation Covers. Fits in a bag 16” long by 10” in diameter. Secures with tennis balls. Not particularly impressed by that but maybe they have moved on to something better. It is a very warm cover.

 

[jmkota]

Aviation Covers in Arlington. This is the old insulation and the new. She claims the new, thinner one has more insulating qualities than the old. Hard to quantify, but the thinner one seems effective and definitely easier to pack.

 

[mvivion]

Aviation Covers in Arlington. This is the old insulation and the new. She claims the new, thinner one has more insulating qualities than the old. Hard to quantify, but the thinner one seems effective and definitely easier to pack.

View attachment 39395

i used one of their compact covers for years on Huskys. Didn’t need a bag, just folded it in half, then again, rolled it really tight and used the bungees to secure it. Worked great, out and on the plane in nothing flat and wrapped and back in baggage as quick.

MTV

 

[cubdriver2]

i used one of their compact covers for years on Huskys. Didn’t need a bag, just folded it in half, then again, rolled it really tight and used the bungees to secure it. Worked great, out and on the plane in nothing flat and wrapped and back in baggage as quick.

MTV

That was when you were a truck driver, what would you want to carry in your old Pa11?

Glenn

 

[stewartb]

I want the engine cover to be thin and packable but it still needs to be a useful piece of survival gear that I can wrap up in to get warm. One more thing to consider when choosing an insulated cover.

 

[1piece@atime]

I’ve been going back and forth about which to get. I’m thinking of going with the Alaska wing cover brand after reading multiple post here on this site. Last year I attempted making one out of a survival blanket and then realized sewing wasn’t as easy as it looked. I ended up bagging the idea and purchased 2 sleeping bags. When zipped together they fit perfect over the prop and cowling. While in the hanger it worked great but outside they would soak up water and the wind would blow through.


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[mvivion]

That was when you were a truck driver, what would you want to carry in your old Pa11?

Glenn

That engine cover would have been perfect for the 11. That’s the point: it was compact enough that it rolled up into a bundle about ten or twelve inches in diameter and two feet long. Nice and compact.

MTV

 

[mghallen]

Stewartb rings up an important point. An engine cover is also part of a effective emergency kit. If I spend the night out in winter(happened). I am done giving a **** about an airplane and am worried about me. The engine cover needs to help keep me alive too if things go bad.

 

[mvivion]

Stewartb rings up an important point. An engine cover is also part of a effective emergency kit. If I spend the night out in winter(happened). I am done giving a **** about an airplane and am worried about me. The engine cover needs to help keep me alive too if things go bad.

Which is why I certainly hope you carry adequate sleeping bags and other gear, and possess the knowledge and skills to construct a good cold weather shelter. If I really needed my engine cover to survive, I must have screwed up my preparations pretty bad.

Shelter is your friend, and there are lots better things to make shelter out of than an engine cover.

MTV

 

[stewartb]

BS. I make lots of flights without a sleeping bag and government issue survival gear. An engine cover and a couple of wing covers would make a fine camp. I've never had to do it but a friend has. Friend's pirep vs internet. Easy math.

 

[mghallen]

I do/was carding a sleeping bag, But winter time is a good time to have more resources than less, extra insulation is good and not to be dismissed. And if some one is in shock a little extra “comfort” can help snap them around and get them mentally prepared to achieve the next goal of staying alive/productive. Stay warm and maybe a quick cup of tea/snack may do wonders to calm me or someone else to keep tracking on getting ready to wait for help.

 

[mvivion]

Well, Stewart, I’ve slept out at -40. I’ve had to sleep out on more than one occasion in some milder conditions as well. That’s personal experience. In that coldest case, Engine cover stayed on engine, though pointless (plane was broke), and my “winter” sleeping bag was actually too warm in my nice, tight shelter that took all of a half hour to construct.

Im not denying that an engine cover MIGHT be useful for survival purposes in some unusual case, and I’m not saying don’t carry an engine cover, but I’d suggest going out into your back yard and try sleeping in one, in lieu of a sleeping bag before you opt not to carry proper survival gear.

Carry proper survival gear, including good sleeping bags for each occupant, and that engine cover can function in its intended role, except in an extreme case.

From actual experiences, not “a friend said”.

MTV

 

[stewartb]

I get it. My survival gear is minimized. It’s far more comprehensive than state law requires but it’s far less than what I’d take for a weekend campout. Part of the rationale for being able to minimize the sleeping bag and shelter is because engine and wing covers serve the purpose. My survival pack contains two full size zip-up survival bags made out of material similar to Glenn’s engine cover. They’re surprisingly effective if you’re properly clothed for the conditions and dry. Add a couple of layers with the engine cover and wing covers, on top of a couple of layers of tail covers to serve as ground mats? Toasty. Could a guy use a cover like Glenn’s and carry a -40* sleeping bag? Sure. Or any combo in between that suits the conditions. I may carry my Wiggy bag and a tent if space permits, too. Depends on where I’m going and what I’m doing.

Check this out. Exempt from survival gear requirements based on 406 and/or satellite tracking. Living in the Last Frontier ain’t what it used to be.
http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/28?Hsid=SB0053A

 

[mvivion]

I get it. My survival gear is minimized. It’s far more comprehensive than state law requires but it’s far less than what I’d take for a weekend campout. Part of the rationale for being able to minimize the sleeping bag and shelter is because engine and wing covers serve the purpose. My survival pack contains two full size zip-up survival bags made out of material similar to Glenn’s engine cover. They’re surprisingly effective if you’re properly clothed for the conditions and dry. Add a couple of layers with the engine cover and wing covers, on top of a couple of layers of tail covers to serve as ground mats? Toasty. Could a guy use a cover like Glenn’s and carry a -40* sleeping bag? Sure. Or any combo in between that suits the conditions. I may carry my Wiggy bag and a tent if space permits, too. Depends on where I’m going and what I’m doing.

Check this out. Exempt from survival gear requirements based on 406 and/or satellite tracking. Living in the Last Frontier ain’t what it used to be.
http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/28?Hsid=SB0053A

That reg has needed to be updated for decades, but that’s not the part that needs updated.

Apparently, someone in the legislature has never heard of a phenomenon called “weather”.

Good grief.

MTV

 

[55-PA18A]

Check this out. Exempt from survival gear requirements based on 406 and/or satellite tracking. Living in the Last Frontier ain’t what it used to be.
http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/28?Hsid=SB0053A

Considering the weather that accidents/incidents requiring rescue typically occur in, I'm not sure that would give me a warm fuzzy feeling if I were a passenger in a winter charter or air taxi ride. Maybe they should also require a screen saver on the GPS showing a campfire you could huddle over in the snow storm until the battery went dead.

Sounds like something dreamed up to save money for commercial operators. Some young, newly imported pilot might be dumb enough to fall for it. No thanks.

Jim

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Here’s alaska wing covers cowl cover in the bag they send it with. Glad I put extended baggage’s in my cub

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[jrussl]

I have a cowl cover that keeps everything toasty for quite a while after shutting down. It also packs pretty small in a backpacking compression sack that I bought.

And I'm not sure you can beat the price at $219.99 (It was under $200 a few year ago when I got mine) Made right here in the UP of Michigan.

https://www.airplane-covers.com/cowlingblanket.htm

Jeff

 

[WYflyer]

Yup, just got one of those from MACs myself. It was for an LSA (Savage Cub) so it was sort of custom made. They send an email with a pic with the dimensions they need and they get to making it. Even though it was custom, they didn't charge any more than the base price they charge for all small planes (the $219). It is not super thick. It looks well made and durable and it will pack small enough for my smallish baggage area. Oh yeah, keeps the heat in pretty good as well. Worth every penny.