jaydenchow
I'm New Here
Flaps up or down when you are tied down outside? I have seen both, is there a right or a wrong? Thoughts?
I hope I didn't just start a fight
I hope I didn't just start a fight
I usually park flaps down, to discourage passengers (and me!) from stepping on them when de-planing or boarding. But if there were any chance of high winds (or prop blasts) I sometimes re-enter the cockpit and raise the flaps before walking away.Flaps up or down when you are tied down outside? I have seen both, is there a right or a wrong? Thoughts?
I hope I didn't just start a fight
You could put a chain-link fence and flashing warning lights around a plane, and some people would still screw around and mess with it. The stories are legion.On the way home with my RV-4 the first week I bought it, I made a quick fuel stop. It was windy so I raised its manual flaps. Coming out of the office after paying for the fuel, I found the flaps down. Some student pilots had put enough weight on the flaps while trying to sneak a look in the cockpit, that the lever slipped out of the detent and down they went. Since then, even with my newer RV-6, I leave the flaps down unless I'm stopped long enough to put the canopy cover on. Seems there's much less incentive for strangers to climb on the wing if the canopy cover is on.
I was at a fly-in once and, while standing in front of SuzieQ talking to some folks, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the wings suddenly started rocking. I looked over to see an older kid walking away and I said 'DON'T TOUCH THE AIRPLANES!!' He said: Well, it said NO PUSH and I wanted to see what happened when you did.' Good thing I don't carry.....You could put a chain-link fence and flashing warning lights around a plane, and some people would still screw around and mess with it. The stories are legion.
Don't forget babies. I was at OSH one year and there were two parents changing their kids diaper ON THE HORIZONTAL OF A C-185!! I politely said. Hey, is this your airplane? Of course they said No. I said 'Well, it isn't a diaper-changing station and you should get your things and baby off of there before the owner comes back. I hear he's not nice to people who touch his pride and joy!' They gave me the 'Who do you think you are?' look and continued on changing. I said: 'well, let's see if EAA security will be as nice as I am.' THEN they moved.....Why some people think it's okay to put their hands, feet, purses, bags, food, kids, etc., on someone else's property continues to mystify me. I have a classic car, and they do the same thing.
I need to remember that. I'm old enough I don't care what they think anymore.........I've always wanted to ask them if it'd be okay if I felt up their wife or girlfriend. No? Not okay? Then don't touch *MY* things.
I'm approaching that age as well.I need to remember that. I'm old enough I don't care what they think anymore.........
Parked outside on some random airport - Up. Requires a higher wind to lift the plane
with them up, and you avoid the risk of a passer-by leaning on the lowered flap and popping the leading edge out from behind the wing upper skin.
Parked short term while I go in for lunch, or parked in my hangar - Down, so nobody stands on one getting in and out.