Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

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deeohgee
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Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by deeohgee »

Afternoon! This is my first new plane and I am babying it, in a hangar, cleaning windows, and wiping it down after each flight. I will want to start doing some cross-country flights and possibly stay the night. I know people do it all the time, but does anyone have tips/tricks/experiences with leaving your plane overnight at an airport? Anything I should put on the plane, covers, inlet covers? Any suggestions would be great so I can rest easy knowing it's safe and secure while I'm not there! BTW, could be in the summer and winter times.
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yl472401
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by yl472401 »

Get a total set of spruce aircraft cover to protect the aircraft. Usually a full canopy would be just fine. There are some impingement and wing covers too.


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Steve
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by Steve »

Bruces canopy cover, for sure. Pitot cover and stall warning plug. Use the gust lock as well - you never can tell when the wind will pick up...

Steve
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Rich
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by Rich »

Steve wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 8:48 pm Use the gust lock as well - you never can tell when the wind will pick up...

Steve
... Or a helicopter taxi behind your plane :tap:

When parked at a lax-security airport I will typically lock the gas caps, which I don't otherwise.

Leave your mobile number at the FBO so they can contact you if they need to. It might be worth stitching it onto the canopy cover.
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by pietromarx »

Bruce's Covers. Seriously. Do. Not. Hesitate.

Literally cannot imagine having an airplane without them. They are friendly, fix things for free, and know what they are doing. Their products last forever and work well.

Use the gust lock, of course.
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by yl472401 »

Also, a set of tie down kit. It doesn’t hurt to carry your own set of tie down in case there’re no ropes immediately available.


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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by Rich »

yl472401 wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:27 pm Also, a set of tie down kit. It doesn’t hurt to carry your own set of tie down in case there’re no ropes immediately available.


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Agreed. Even if there are tiedowns I occasionally find that the facilities they have are incompatible with the needs of a DA40.
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by waynemcc999 »

Michael, first and foremost, congrats on your new baby girl!

Remember: Just like outside, hangars have bugs/birds/mice/whatever... so even at home I'd always use the pitot cover, stall warning plug, and the air inlet plugs.

Ramp storage: I fully agree with Bruce's covers. Since you're in a hangar at home, you might well be able to get by with the travel-weight canopy cover.

Enjoy!
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by Boatguy »

As others have said, Bruce's cover, engine plugs, stall warning plug, pitot cover, gust lock and travel chocks. And of course the plane needs to be tied down.

Spend some time with the gust lock at home, don't try it the first time when you're in a hurry.

My first choice when traveling is to find an FBO where I can be in a hangar. I did this in Louisiana and kept her safe from a horrendous thunderstorm. Most recently I did this in Palm Springs (for a week) and kept her out of a two day dust storm. Even in the hangar she ended up with a thick layer of dust, but still better than being outside pounded with grit and sand.

I've also learned to pack my tow bar on top of other supplies under the baggage deck as I've encountered a couple of FBOs whose tugs didn't have an adapter for the DA40, or where I had to push the plane back into a slot. With that in mind, check out either plastic protection (there is a thread) or the metal protection rings that David Seastead at Premiere in Dallas has made for the tow bar socket on the nose wheel.

And when traveling it's good to have a spare quart of oil as the synthetic oil for diesels is not that common. Also good to have some Plexus and towels to clean the canopy.

Enjoy your new DA40NG. I really enjoy mine!
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Re: Tips/Tricks for Storing Outside Overnight

Post by danno2000 »

deeohgee wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 6:05 pm Does anyone have tips/tricks/experiences with leaving your plane overnight at an airport?
If you're using full-serve fuel from the FBO, try to be there when they fuel you up.

I learned that one the hard way after rushing out to get my daughter to the hotel after a long day just as the fuel truck was coming. The next morning, I sumped the fuel and found the sample from the left tank was 100% pure water. Another sample, same thing.

Turned out the line guy had gotten the fuelcap wire twisted up wrong putting the cap back on, preventing a full seal and allowing rainwater from a thunderstorm downpour to get into the tank. We ended up drawing out around 2 quarts of water in the end. A couple-hour delay and a lot of anxiety over what would've been five minutes waiting to check the fueling myself.

best,
dan
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