Hail damage

gmcjetpilot · #1 06-20-2006, 10:59 AM

Occasionally I look at salvage airplanes out of curiosity and partly possibly of finding a deal.

http://www.aigaviation.com/salvage/N...ageN156MM.aspx

This one a hail damaged RV-6 caught my imagination but not for purchase. Clearly a nightmare to any plane owner. Also a good argument for insurance, which fortunately this owner apparently had.

Wounder how big the frozen boulders from the sky where to do this damage?

Besides a hanger is there anything you can due. Would covers alone give enough protection. Also it brings up insurance. If you don't have in-flight insurance, ground insurance (ground not in motion) can be a worthwhile purchase and really a bargain, especially if tied down outside a lot.

This being thunderstorm session, this has always worried me when flying X-C, leaving the plane out side unprotected. Any ideas, comments? I guess if hail storm is forcast and the plane is outside, there's not a lot you can do? I guess you can hop in and fly in the opposite direction of find a hanger.

I would love to hear of any strategies for protecting your plane while parking outside, for weather, theft or other damage.

pierre smith · #2 06-20-2006, 11:07 AM

George,
A friend of mine bought a hail-damaged Skyhawk and owned another one as well. The damage seems to be close to this RV. Amazingly, the hail damaged airplane was a few MPH faster! Stalls weren't affected, nor slow flight or any other maneuver,

ptrotter · #3 06-20-2006, 11:15 AM

Think about a golf ball. The dimples make it fly faster and straighter. The trick is getting the hail to create an even pattern over the entire surface:-)

Captain_John · #4 06-20-2006, 11:15 AM

That's why they dimple golf balls!

I just wouldn't want my airplane dimpled.

CJ

pierre smith · #5 06-20-2006, 12:02 PM

I wonder what it would take to buy that airplane? If it took 5lbs of Bondo and some spare time, would it not be worth, say $14,995.00? You could disclose the hidden damage and still sell for a profit!

As it appears, the airplane LOOKS flyable. I may just have to throw in a bid........HHHMMMMMMMMM.

txaviator · #6 06-20-2006, 12:23 PM

I honestly believe I would fly it. Heck, you should see some of the planes on the flight line where I did my first solo

On another note, there could also be another 'perk' to this plane: a deer hunt. You've gotta love the fact that there is a deer feeder located about 10-feet from the plane. Ever felt corn slinging out of a deer feeder with a strong battery? I'm not too sure that does the plane any good either, not to mention the hail

pierre smith · #7 06-20-2006, 12:32 PM

Hi Gary,
How far are you from Johnson City, Tx? I'm looking for someone to go and look at the airplane because the workmanship doesn't seem too kosher from what I can see. How 'bout that funky intake scoop?

CraigH@KRPH · #8 06-20-2006, 12:58 PM

I took a mini tour of the Shepard AFB flightline a few years back. It was the height of the hail season in North Texas, and all of the T-37s / T-38s had thick padded blanket wing envelopes to protect against hail. They must work, because we sure get some nasty stuff up this way on occasion.

286JC · #9 06-20-2006, 01:06 PM

What would you bid for that ship?

jus10stephens · #10 06-20-2006, 02:16 PM

I went this weekend and looked at this 6. It seems to have lived its entire life or at least the last few years with out a hangar. I think it would fly just fine. The only major problem was the hail. Other than that it just needed a LOT of TLC all over, inside and out.