Storing an RV8 Outside

[RV6_flyer]

Others have already said control gust locks (including rudder).

I find with the tail wheel straight, the full swivel breakaway lined up and tailwheeel straight, that the rudder tail springs will hold the rudder locked in almost any wind.

With the airplane stored outside and me being away from it for a week at a time, some sort of additional rudder lock may be nice.

[yarddart]

You can plan on 20 to 30% and less value depending on how long you leave it out

[Carl Froehlich]

Originally Posted by yarddart

You can plan on 20 to 30% and less value depending on how long you leave it out

Exactly!! No RV deserves to be on the ramp. Do what you can to get it in a hangar as soon as possible.

It is troubling that hangar space is so hard to come by. I?m spoiled living at an airpark - but find myself looking for hangar space to support a possible move. FBOs just laugh at me when I call looking for a hangar.

But - never discount the value of the RV community. Find the local EAA chapter and ask people to find someone to share a hangar with a high wing Cessna (both fit in most T hangars). I did that for three years before moving to VA42.

Carl

[Captain Avgas]

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

Exactly!! No RV deserves to be on the ramp. Do what you can to get it in a hangar as soon as possible.
Carl

+1. Exactly. Certainly if the aircraft doesn’t have a good primer I wouldn’t be leaving it outside for any length of time. My personal observation is that RVs left outside tend to look very sad after a few years.

PS. Why is this thread in the Classified section ????

[Moved to General Discussion; S.Buchanan]

[philip_g]

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

Exactly!! No RV deserves to be on the ramp. Do what you can to get it in a hangar as soon as possible.

It is troubling that hangar space is so hard to come by. I?m spoiled living at an airpark - but find myself looking for hangar space to support a possible move. FBOs just laugh at me when I call looking for a hangar.

But - never discount the value of the RV community. Find the local EAA chapter and ask people to find someone to share a hangar with a high wing Cessna (both fit in most T hangars). I did that for three years before moving to VA42.

Carl

Where I'm moving a t hangar is over 800 a month. I'm following this thread because I simply cannot afford one

[humptybump]

For control surface gust locks, I've been a big fan of the simple design Pierre posted many years back:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...09&postcount=1

On a tail wheel airplane, the rudder, elevator, and aileron are all easily reachable.

[Northernliving]

Originally Posted by Pilot135pd

Make your own cowling plugs with pool noodles foam and duct tape. It cost me a whole $10 to do my 4 plugs (two cylinder areas, carb intake, fresh air on the left fuselage).

If you make them, make sure you make them from material that can be installed when the cylinders are hot and put flags on them so you can see them when sitting in the front seat if you forget to pull them before flight.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/199984

I purchased mine from Bruce?s covers and they can be installed hot and have nice flags. They run specials from time to time and you can get the plugs with a cover. They are very nice.

[Pilot135pd]

Mine are covered in ORANGE duct tape and all of them are interconnected with RED bailing twine and have a red REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT streamer attached also. If you miss that then you didn't do a pre-flight.

[RV8JD]

Using a canopy cover may cloud the canopy over time due to micro-scratches. To minimize this, get a deep, tight, form-fitting cover so grit can't get under it; and with multiple straps which minimizes movement of the cover in the wind so it doesn't sandpaper the canopy. Like this one made by Aviation Covers located at Arlington Airport (KAWO). Note also how this one covers the forward baggage compartment to keep water out.



Keep the inside of the cover very clean.

I would highly recommend using chocks, for both mains and the tailwheel. Even though tied down, the airplane will "walk" over time in strong winds without chocks.

Chocks for the mains and the TW can be made from PVC pipe, like the one shown below.



As others have said, have good gust locks on all control surfaces.

[Leopold]

Thanks to all who weighed in. Much appreciated!

Looking forward to continuing to learn from all of you.

Warmest regards,

Seth Leopold