Sport Pilot Talk

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 593

My friendly permit officer, zoning enforcement guy just said I can build whatever I want as long as it's under 1000 sq ft.

With all the little airplanes around needing hangars has anyone designed a cheap prefabricated wood frame T hangar this size?

There are tons of carports, and sheds out there.

What I envision is a four section (wing, center, tail, other wing) prebuilt cells that lag bolt together with a wood floor. Truss across the front opening. Flat roof sloping towards the tail. The whole works could come by flatbed and be assembled with no foundation on a gravel base.

Anyone design in wood or have connections with a modular place. Seems like there would be a market for these.

Murrell · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 58

For what it's worth;
Go to your Lowes, HomeDepo, or were ever these prefabs are sold . Look inside and see if they have local builders name tag.

These around here are all built locally by a couple of local 2-3 man shops, they may be able to help you.

Oh, be sure your ground touching lumber is treated.

Murrell

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 593

Thanks. I'll take a look.

seastar · Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 63

I am considering designing and building a "pole barn" hanger.
I have two pole barns and they work well with minimal cost.
They can have wood or metal skins and just about any kind of floor.
One of my buildings in northern Minnesota has a "no footing" floating concrete slab inside that has withstood 50 below zero without damage.
Most localities have builders that specalize in pole barns and will build anything you want..

Murrell · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 58

I understood the post as requesting a portable building.
Around here pole barns are considered permanet fixtures.
If not located on farm land and used for agriculture, then they come under building codes.

Course I have been wrong before ! :roll:

Murrell

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 593

From what the inspector told me under 1000 sq ft does not need permits locally. We have a commercial building inspection also which would not be needed.

But you still have to pay taxes on it each year.

I'd like to build something semi movable so as the airport evolves I can shift things around. Just a gravel pad for a foundation.

I saw photos where someone took a carport and hinged the front posts. put the roof peak spanwise. Then another smaller carport over the tail to make the T hangar.

then I'd only need a car port 15 wide by 40 long. and another small one for the tail.

Jim Stewart · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 259

I know this is not what you asked for, so just ignore me if you want...

I think the door will be the big issue. You'll have to design or find a design that will work with the huge clear span that the door will need. Then you need the door.

I would absolutely pour a proper concrete pad and put up a prefab metal building. The buildings are not that expensive. You will then have an investment that will likely double in value in just a few years.

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 593

I'm not going to worry about a door. Just something to keep the major rain, sun and snow off.

With all the private strips around and lack of hangars seems like somebody would have come up with plans for a small T hangar.

It gives me some ideas though.

I just spent $153,000 on a set of finished wood framed Stockade T hangars (10 bays). The are really nice with sliding doors but I still need to cement floors, install wiring and install partitions.

The trouble is by the time they are finished the local market won't support the rent needed to make payments, taxes, insurance and utilities. I need a cheaper solution for the next 10 bays. I compete with federal funded airports who get their money at 5% local share and charge less than my payments on wood hangars for steel framed bays.

So I'm looking at any and all alternatives to get the cost down.

I saw some really interesting shade hangars at Joliet Illinois this summer.

KSCessnaDriver · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 159 Location: KOJC

You could try something like the recently found EAA Pole Hangar plans, which they posted on their new forum. Looks fairly easy to build, with no door, but some decent enclosure.

http://www.oshkosh365.org/uploadedFiles/Temp_OshKosh365/EAAHangar.PDF

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 593

Thats great. Just what I'm looking for. Thanks