Sport Pilot Talk

mcjon77 · Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 27 Location: Chicago

Hello All,

The thread about waiting for the snow to melt in order to access your hangar brought up a question for me. For guys that own or have owned aircraft, what was the longest you have hangared your plane without flying it, and were there any specific procedures you had to follow to insure that the engine, etc did not become damaged from lack of use?

I ask this because I will be purchasing an aircraft this year, however late next year there is a good chance that I will be out of the country for a few months and wanted to know if it was even possible to store a plane that long without damaging it. Hangar space wont be a problem, there will just be no one to fly it while I am gone.

Thanks,

Jon

Thanks

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 333

I would fill tires with nitrogen. (less likely to go flat) or if you can block the axles up so the tires are off the ground.

Depending on what climate your in and how your hangar is constructed you could do some different things.

If there are a lot of birds in your hangar. Wax with turtle wax but don't buff it off until after your trip. Then wash and buff.

plug all openings. I have seen people make rings of sheet metal to put around all three wheels to keep rodents out. Depends on your type of airplane.

Before leaving, fly the airplane and change the oil. Drain fuel from system and carb bowls/ gascolator if you use auto fuel.

Then put it away.

The cylinders with an open valve will be the one that might start corrosion. You could remove plugs and spray a fogging oil in the cylinders.

Remove battery and store somewhere above freezing and with constant temperature off a cement floor.

That's the main stuff. outside storage is a whole other set of problems.