Maneuvering a RV-7A in a hangar

[Whiffletree]

I need to occasionally move a RV7A to get to the aircraft behind. Now when I used to fly a Cessna 152 it was permissable to push down on the rear fuselage just forward of the fin (or to push down on the front of the horizontal stabiliser where it meets the fuselage). Once the nosewheel was off the ground it was easy to swing the tail sideways and the aircraft would pivot sideways about the main gear. Can someone please tell me if this is an acceptable way to move a RV7A? The owner does not seem familiar with this method. If not it is not an easy aircraft to move with a castoring nosewheel and no towbar. Thank you to anyone who kindly responds.

[Paul 5r4]

I do it but am careful to place most of the downward pressure in front of the vertical fin. My 7A has an 0-320 which is lighter than the bigger engines so mine is easy to do this to. I've been told it's more difficult with the bigger engines.

[simpkinsona]

My friend with an 8A uses that method but he attaches a weight to the tail tie down ring first. IMO the amount of force required without weighting the tail first is too much to safely do with one person. I have lifted the nose of my 9A with two people pushing down on the front spar of the tail (one on each side of the plane). If you have a towbar, you can learn to maneuver the airplane pretty well.

-Andy

[Ron B.]

I would have the owner leave you a tow bar, should be common courtesy if some one is parked behind you.

[Plummit]

If you do push down on the tail, do so close to the fuse and on the spar where a rib intersects. I like the idea of weighting the tail tie-down first, but it's not necessary.

~Marc

[bhester]

If it where my plane, I would much prefer it was moved with a tow bar. I would leave it attached to the nose wheel. I would think most any RV owner would prefer this.

When I park somewhere in transit, I also prefer to park it where it will not have to be moved. If at all possible I do not let anyone move my plane. If it is going to be a chance of it getting damaged, it's going to be damaged by me. I do not like having to make repairs, and if I have to repair damage that someone else makes, it is going to cost them very much. My labor cost will not be cheap.

[zilik]

I've been swinging the tail around on my 6A since new. I sit on the main spar and swing it where it needs to go, sometimes while going backwards. I cannot imagine that doing this puts more force on the horizontal stab than flying in turbulent air.

[BillL]

Originally Posted by zilik

I've been swinging the tail around on my 6A since new. I sit on the main spar and swing it where it needs to go, sometimes while going backwards. I cannot imagine that doing this puts more force on the horizontal stab than flying in turbulent air.

Easy enough for the OP to look at the W&B to determine if the weight for hangar handling exceeds the load of the HS to balance at 3 G's. The weight (force) must be properly applied!

[RV7A Flyer]

Isn't this what tow bars are for? Towing planes around?

Let's see...Bogert tow bars are around $160.

How much is it going to cost to fix a HS spar (or worse) when it gets damaged by being pushed on? Even the cost of the skin + shipping has got to approach that price, not to mention labor, paint, etc.

Just do it right...use a tow bar. That people have "gotten away with" pushing down on aircraft tails means nothing (I seem to recall an issue with Cessnas many years ago due to this sort of thing...)

[BillSchlatterer]

I have a RV7a and can tell you that I would never want SOMEONE ELSE moving my airplane that way. If you apply pressure in front of the vertical stab which is where most folks have to start because of the height, it is very easy to put a dent in the upper section of the fuse if you don't apply the down pressure across a large area. If you mess up and use just palms in the wrong place .... you can easily et a big dent or depression or just some serious tin canning if you are lucky.

Once you start that process, any dent that appears there will be your fault by default and it's too easy just to use a Bogy Bar and do it right.

This is the classic example of something you might do to your own aircraft (RV7a) but should never do to someone else's.

Just my .02