Shipping an airplane

[Kyle Boatright]

Originally Posted by Robin8er

I'm in the military in Hawaii, and I can expect to be here for about another 2.5 years. Initially I thought I'd only build the wings and tail, then box it up and ship it home and finish the airplane later. I completed the tail in less than 2 months and the wings are going together very quickly, there's really nothing to it.

I was anticipating taking about 2 years, but I think I'll be done with the wings and tail in 8 months this is all well and good, but it makes me want to keep going and build the fuselage. Only issue is it become a lot harder to ship.

Anyone have experience shipping a plane? I have no idea what it would cost to ship. I don't want to stop building, but I also don't want to pay like $10k for a Shipping container to ship it to the mainland.

Any advice or experience is welcomed and appreciate.

My employer ships full sized (40') containers to China all the time. About $3,000/trip. With a shorter trip and (maybe) a 20' container, shipping an airplane shouldn't be extremely expensive. The key would be to pack it very securely. Containers are occasionally subject to a ridiculous amount of abuse.

You might just call a shipping company and get a quote on moving a 20' (or whatever) container to your desired location. Then add in a few hundred bucks for bracing and padding.

[Alex Edwards]

I am surprised no one has suggested fitting ferry tanks. It's what, only 2000nm, so about 12 hours in an RV-8?...

[Robin8er]

Originally Posted by Alex Edwards

I am surprised no one has suggested fitting ferry tanks. It's what, only 2000nm, so about 12 hours in an RV-8?...

I've thought about it, but somehow the thought of a single engine experimental aircraft over the Pacific Ocean didn't sit too long in my head.

I appreciate the input. I figured about 4000 to 8000 to box it up and ship it, I was just curious if anyone has done it. Shipping is weird, prices change quickly. Vans originally quoted 1200 to ship the wings, and 3 months later the price dropped to 550.


The comments about calling it art or a planter might work, but realistically I don't see how I could get away with it.

[TS Flightlines]

Robby---Several years ago---more like 10 -----I looked into hangar space at Kalaeloa (Barber's Point ). That was just before most of the GA planes were moved there from HNL. Airport manager was VERY RECEPTIVE to the idea of a hose shop at his airport. I still havent done it yet

I'll bet Craig can get you a great rate.
Seems to me that C17's fly there all the time----just saying.
Tom

[craigvince]

Originally Posted by Kyle Boatright

My employer ships full sized (40') containers to China all the time. About $3,000/trip. With a shorter trip and (maybe) a 20' container, shipping an airplane shouldn't be extremely expensive.

Unfortunately, this is not the case at all. The container rates have to do with supply and demand, not distance traveled. It is very cheap to ship to China because they ship so many loaded containers out of China. Hawaii has almost no export, therefore it is very expensive to import to ship to/from Hawaii. Also, there is a monopoly on Hawaii freight so the prices are very high.

[Stitch462]

Originally Posted by Robin8er

I've thought about it, but somehow the thought of a single engine experimental aircraft over the Pacific Ocean didn't sit too long in my head.

I appreciate the input. I figured about 4000 to 8000 to box it up and ship it, I was just curious if anyone has done it. Shipping is weird, prices change quickly. Vans originally quoted 1200 to ship the wings, and 3 months later the price dropped to 550.


The comments about calling it art or a planter might work, but realistically I don't see how I could get away with it.

Seriously, check with Smokey. I remember reading something to the effect of he built his -4 (or at least major parts of it) in a backyard shed in base housing at Misawa [Air Base, Japan] then shipped the whole thing home with his household goods. Times and regs change but might be worth checking out.

Hey since its an airplane, and if your a military pilot, call it "professional gear" and ship it with your household goods with no weight penalty. LOL

[drdestructo]

I built my Rocket mostly on Maui and shipped it to Utah just before it was finished. My cost was around 4000. If it's only going to The west coast it's cheaper as I needed train transport to Utah.

I used a 20 foot container. They may offer a 24 at the same rate, but you can't put a 24 on a train, only 20 or 40.

My plane was on the gear, engine installed, prop off. It just barely fit diagonally. I secured tied down rings to the floor and lashed the gear to those. I also screwed 2x4's around each gear to keep it from trying to slide. Then I built crates for the tail pieces and each wing. The wings were packed with expanding foam around the leading edge and pillows for packing material. These were shipped leading edge down along one side of the container.

The tail pieces were shipped in one crate and again used pillows for packing. The prop was in the box MT shipped it in. These were stacked and tied down to the floor.

I bought about 60 pillows (all they had) from the local thrift store on a package price of something like $25.

To load it, I used a roll back tow truck. Worked slick. For insurance I bought a policy from a third party and that was about $300. I think I insured it for $100k.

It arrived in Utah in perfect condition. Just be sure to pack it with the assumption that they might tip the container on its side!

My move was a company paid move that had a no airplane restriction. With a little more time I would have created the fuse and called all of it parts.

Hope that helps. Prices are 2003.

Russ
HRII N29268