Are RV's indoor-only planes?

[BobTurner]

For the hangar-tie down cost difference

Originally Posted by RONSIM

you can do a new paint job every two years! IF I had to keep my airplane outside (and the day may come), I would use appropriate cabin covers, plug the obvious holes, and keep it cleaned and waxed frequently ---- I have had to do the outside storage several times in the past and much prefer the hangar for security, maintenance, and a place to "hang".

Ron

+1
In our area it?s every 4 years. For me the ?tie-breaker? is if you do your own maintenance. Working out on a ramp is brutal (and not allowed at some airports).
But another big factor: Many owners treat their airplane as if it were their child! They wouldn?t leave their kid alone outside, they treat their plane the same way.

[bkilby]

In Georgia, we have tornadoes, hail, nasty thunderstorms once or twice a week, 95 degrees, high humidity, bugs, etc... a hanger doesn't guarantee protection against any of those, but my stomach would have holes burned it every time a thunderstorm rolled through the area if I wasn't in a hanger.

[F1R]

Find me one a single solitary example of an aircraft that is NOT an indoor airplane? No avionics like to be roasted in 140 deg solar heated cockpits.


Even Airforce one, is hangared.

You can keep any aircraft outside if you want to constantly care for sun, heat, rain and wind wear and tear. The question is how much time and energy and money do you want to put into looking after it?

Even indoors , you still need to keep the mice and birds out in some cases.

All aircraft are a labour of love. Neglect them and they will kill you.

If you fly more days in a week than it is tied down outside, you can probably look after and enjoy a safe RV with minimal extra hassle- like Vlad has done for years. The oil in his machine rarely cools down to ambient temps.

[NewbRVator]

My wife did make me move it from the bedroom to the living room. But I am okay with that.

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by F1R

Find me one a single solitary example of an aircraft that is NOT an indoor airplane?


Even Airforce one, is hangared.
it?

The majority of airline aircraft rarely see the inside of a hangar. So they?ve figured out how to deal with these wx issues. Mostly regular, recurring maintenance. So again, it?s a question of what costs more: more maintenance, or an expensive hangar.
For AF1, there?s a security concern...

[rvmv]

I looked for but couldn't find a hangar during my build. A very nice RV owner let me use his hangar for final assembly but then I had to move it outside.

I made a cover for it that goes from before the oil dipstick access door to 2 feet behind the canopy. The cockpit stays dry. I poured water into the fuselage at the tail and drilled drain holes where it collected.

I expected the worst but have been pleasantly surprised. I'd love a hangar especially when some maintenance needs to be done but it ain't bad. BTW if you know of a hangar available at KVPC of KRYY please let me know.

[Dantilla]

Without a hangar, where am I going to plug in the refrigerator?
Gotta have toolboxes, work benches, storage shelves, yada yada....

I've been spoiled with a hangar with a garage door in the back. Drive right in behind the airplane.
Lotsa room for oil changes, brake jobs, other car maintenance where other airport bums can stop by, knowing there are ice cream bars in the freezer.

While I've never owned an airplane that wasn't hangared, for me it's more than just keeping the airplane out of the elements.

[Capt]

At the end of the day circumstances out of the owners control often dictate whether a plane is left outside or not. To me my RV is an investment, an expensive investment. I wouldn't leave a car of the same value outside in the elements.
Often insurance premiums are more if left outside. Security/theft, securing the plane to the ground continuously, damage by others, ability to work on your plane out of the elements, lots of things to consider other than the obvious, the WX!

[pa38112]

There are many RV's outside, and they do fine. I think the biggest issue is if you have a slider The way the top slopes down before meeting-up with the windscreen cause water to want to run into that joint a seep into the cabin. I have tried many types of waterproofing spray on my Bruce's cover, but water still seems to work it's way in.

[Aluminum]

If you topcoat with this your paint won't fade much in your lifetime.