TomVal
Well Known Member
Our airport, Summerville, SC (KDYB), is located adjacent to a swamp thus we are subjected to a variety of flying and crawling visitors during the year. Here is the cast of usual characters:
Mud Daubers: So far, I’ve been lucky keeping them out of the aircraft.
Cockroaches: Try to kill them on first sight but they can scurry up to 20 mph (17 kts) so not so easily caught.
Spiders: They seem to like living on or near the bi-fold door. I have learned to live with them. I rarely see them and don’t appear to be particularly aggressive plus they help catch bugs.
Snakes: After pushing the aircraft into the hangar I leave the tow bar attached with the handle resting on the floor. One morning, as I lifted the handle to pull the -12 out, a baby copperhead angrily peered back at me, which immediately sent my feet flying upward and my nuts lodging in my throat! After that experience I now approach that tow bar handle a bit more cautiously.
Mice: For some reason, not much of a problem…maybe thanks to the snakes! Occasionally I’ll find a few droppings but not often.
Hummingbirds: Did you know if a hummingbird flies into your hangar they will not fly out. They will attempt to fly up but not out even with a fully open door. I tried for several hours attempting to shoo one out but to no avail. Sadly, I had to eventually close the door and found him toes up the following morning.
Frogs: I recently discovered two baby frogs living inside the protective cover of my nosewheel fairing. Every time I started to move the -12 they would exit the nosewheel fairing and scurry across the ramp. The other day I made a fatal mistake, I lost track of them and accidentally squashed one while pulling the aircraft out.
So far, no baby alligators or feral hogs.
Mud Daubers: So far, I’ve been lucky keeping them out of the aircraft.
Cockroaches: Try to kill them on first sight but they can scurry up to 20 mph (17 kts) so not so easily caught.
Spiders: They seem to like living on or near the bi-fold door. I have learned to live with them. I rarely see them and don’t appear to be particularly aggressive plus they help catch bugs.
Snakes: After pushing the aircraft into the hangar I leave the tow bar attached with the handle resting on the floor. One morning, as I lifted the handle to pull the -12 out, a baby copperhead angrily peered back at me, which immediately sent my feet flying upward and my nuts lodging in my throat! After that experience I now approach that tow bar handle a bit more cautiously.
Mice: For some reason, not much of a problem…maybe thanks to the snakes! Occasionally I’ll find a few droppings but not often.
Hummingbirds: Did you know if a hummingbird flies into your hangar they will not fly out. They will attempt to fly up but not out even with a fully open door. I tried for several hours attempting to shoo one out but to no avail. Sadly, I had to eventually close the door and found him toes up the following morning.
Frogs: I recently discovered two baby frogs living inside the protective cover of my nosewheel fairing. Every time I started to move the -12 they would exit the nosewheel fairing and scurry across the ramp. The other day I made a fatal mistake, I lost track of them and accidentally squashed one while pulling the aircraft out.
So far, no baby alligators or feral hogs.
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