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  #1  
Old 09-12-2012, 09:36 PM
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NavyIBNFE NavyIBNFE is offline
 
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Good Afternoon (Japan Time) RVers-

I would like to bring up an interesting topic/ question for your guidance.

In a few months I will be back home in WA state from Deployment and am planning to purchase an RV-4 (In time plan to build an 8 or 10 closer to retirement).

So heres the question- I am finding it incredibly difficult to find a hanger in northwest Washington. I will live in Coupeville on Whidbey Island.
I have searched and emailed many airports and the only hangars I can find are about a hour away (not a huge deal) and are listed at $250 month.
That alone may put me right outside my budgeted spending for an airplane and I really do not want to choose an Old 172 or something instead of an RV. I am wondering how terrible it would be to Tie Down an RV-4 long term. Not only that, but its near the Puget Sound inland water (semi salty environment about as bad as coastal florida).

I intend to keep my invested airplane in good shape, washing and waxing often, but is it an OK idea to Leave my plane outside in the elements (with a material cover) for possibly a couple years while on waiting lists for a more reasonable hangar? The $250 hangar is nice, way too big for me, but it would keep my plane safe. At $15,000 for 5 years tho thats a hard bill to take...

Any and ALL advice will be taken into consideration.
Thank-You in advance,
Jake
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2012, 10:55 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
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Annual misting with ACF-50 will help protect the airframe, and regular flying will help protect the engine. But don't forget, you're buying a used airplane. It will need brakes, plugs, oil changes, not to mention an annual condition inspection. Where will you do this work? The cost difference between hangar and tie down is at least partially justified by the cost savings of doing your own maintance. Of course if that isn't in your plans, then your numbers are different.
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  #3  
Old 09-12-2012, 11:15 PM
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NavyIBNFE NavyIBNFE is offline
 
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Thanks for your input,

I am pretty savvy with airframe and powerplant maint (4.5 years Aviation Electrician and Flight Engineer) so I would like to do as much of the work as I can by myself, or with a friend who knows the plane. I guess that is a good point, most tiedowns are $50 bucks in my area, so upon further thinking the difference is $200 a month. Doable, just seems like an investment that wont return all that much. I would feel guilty leaving such a nice plane outside. Also, I could start building in a hanger that I store my flying airplane in.
Thanks
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  #4  
Old 09-12-2012, 11:17 PM
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NavyIBNFE NavyIBNFE is offline
 
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I will invest in some ACF-50 solution, and flying wont be an issue as long as Im home, however, I will deploy anywhere from 2-8 months at a time. What is the best plan if I were to leave my airplane in the Hanger? Can I have a friend pull it out and start the engine and let it idle then do a few run ups? Or should I try to preserve the engine while Im away?
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  #5  
Old 09-12-2012, 11:31 PM
xblueh2o xblueh2o is offline
 
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Starting and just running up is almost worse than doing nothing.
If you are going to deploy for extended periods I would preserve the engine. There is a bulletin from Lycoming I believe that gives guidance on how to preserve an engine for long term storage.
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  #6  
Old 09-12-2012, 11:32 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
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The runups are a bad idea. The oil won't get hot enough to boil off the water, unless the runups are long. But then because of poor cooling the cylinders may be stressed. I'd preserve the engine.
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  #7  
Old 09-13-2012, 04:47 AM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
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Perhaps you could find a reliable friend to fly the airplane once or twice a month and get the oil temps up to boil off water, the brake discs would be self-cleaned and the tires kept round as well.

Best,
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  #8  
Old 09-13-2012, 06:52 AM
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mannanj mannanj is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pierre smith View Post
Perhaps you could find a reliable friend to fly the airplane once or twice a month and get the oil temps up to boil off water, the brake discs would be self-cleaned and the tires kept round as well.

Best,
Have to use caution on that "friend" thing. I once made arrangements for a friend to fly mine once a week or so. Had to put a stop to that! In 5 months, he had put 60 hrs on it. I figurured that if I didn't change something, I'd come back to a runout engine!!!!

Oh well, RV's ARE FUN to fly!
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  #9  
Old 09-13-2012, 07:11 AM
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Mel Mel is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyIBNFE View Post
The $250 hangar is nice, way too big for me, but it would keep my plane safe. At $15,000 for 5 years tho thats a hard bill to take...
Any and ALL advice will be taken into consideration.
Thank-You in advance,
Jake
How about the possibility of rent the rest of the hangar out to another airplane? If the waiting list is that long, surely there are others waiting. This would lessen the cost burden considerably. I just hate to see a nice home-built sit outside anywhere.
And others are right. If the airplane is not flown, don't turn the prop at all per Lycoming Service Bulletin L180B.
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  #10  
Old 09-13-2012, 07:44 AM
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NavyIBNFE NavyIBNFE is offline
 
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Thanks guys for all your help,
I may be able to find a "friend" and name him on my insurance.. However, I would ask him to noly fly a specific number of hours- possibly even let him pay for a portion of gas... All things to think about.

I have considered hanger sharing when I was thinking about building an Eze a while back (not an airplane that fits my mission so much) anyways- Depending on the airplane and the hangar I actually get, assuming the available one will be gone by the time I buy, but another may become available- that would determine the type of plane i could share with. The RV-4 isnt too big, but I wouldnt want to chance damaging both planes if we overexerted the hanger space!
Does anyone know RVers up in Northern WA? I know theres a few guys at Fairview or something- there is a builder assist shop there too.
Another item to consider is- perhaps I could rent hangar space from someone on a private airstrip? Im not sure how that would work out- but i have time to exercise all my options!
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Waiting to pull the trigger on an RV-14
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