Today's Message Index:
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1. 02:06 AM - TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield (Ordwood)
2. 02:20 AM - Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield (Steve Ivell)
3. 03:44 AM - Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield (JonathanMilbank)
4. 08:12 AM - Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield (budyerly@msn.com)
5. 09:12 AM - Re: Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield (Steven Pitt)
6. 03:44 PM - Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield (Ken Atkinson)
Message 1
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| Subject: | TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield |
Do we have any owners on the forum who keep their aircraft at home on a regular
basis.
Weve just bought a Tri-gear and are trying to make the final decision on where
to keep it.
Fully appreciate that it would involve rigging/de-rigging on every flight day but
the difference in cost is substantial.
Would be interested in personal experiences.
Many thanks
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=503286#503286
Message 2
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| Subject: | TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield |
Hi Peter
FWIW I used to fly a Rans S6 many years ago which had folding wings/tailplane.
It was the only way we could get hangarage.
It was a relatively simple rig/de-rig and it was a the airfield but it really took
a lot of the joy out of flying. It also meant that when you might go flying
locally for an hour on a nice summers evening the whole rigging issue clouded
that.
As Bud Yearley regularly reminds us flying aircraft isn't cheap and penny pinching
is a recipe for disaster.
All things considered I would never consider keeping an aircraft at home. If I
couldnt afford it I would buy a share in a syndicate machine or find another cheaper
way to fly such as paramotor, paraglider, hag glider.
Kind Regards
Steve Ivell
G-STES
Mob: 07971 128842
E-mail: steveivell@pestproof.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com>
On Behalf Of Ordwood
Sent: 27 September 2021 10:07
Subject: Europa-List: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield
Do we have any owners on the forum who keep their aircraft at home on a regular
basis.
Weve just bought a Tri-gear and are trying to make the final decision on where
to keep it.
Fully appreciate that it would involve rigging/de-rigging on every flight day but
the difference in cost is substantial.
Would be interested in personal experiences.
Many thanks
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=503286#503286
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield |
Peter, Having built my Europa Classic mono 25 years ago and converted it to trigear
about 8 years ago, I couldn't agree more with Steve. Rigging and de-rigging
not only take much of the fun out of the activity, but also bring attendant
risks.
On one occasion in the early days, a fellow group ownership member and I somehow
managed to rig one wing with the flap drive pin misaligned with the socket in
the cross tube and took off together with considerable flap assymetry. Fortunately
the landing, which was deliberately performed at higher speed to maintain
roll control authority, didn't result in wingtip damage, even though the outrigger
folded up.
On another occasion a different group member took off with the pitot tube disconnected,
however he used the GPS as a substitute ASI while facing into wind to
ensure that he didn't stall on the approach to landing.
On yet another occasion a group member was rigging a wing with hands not completely
dry, so the wing slipped from his grip and the wingtip was damaged.
There has been at least one fatal accident, which I believe was caused by frequent
rigging, to the extent that a bush inside a tailplane disbonded resulting
in the tailplane migrating off its drive pegs in flight, causing the aircraft
to pitch violently which broke an essential component in a wing root, all seen
by an eye witness. Other Europa people have a different take on this tragedy,
but I'm very sure that frequent rigging was the cause.
Please keep your Europa rigged in a hangar and perhaps find someone to share the
hangarage costs. Perhaps consider a full set of covers, which aren't the very
best solution, but better than constant rigging/de-rigging.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=503288#503288
Message 4
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| Subject: | Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield |
Peter,
I only store my aircraft at my shop. I find the trigear to be quite tall at the
tail and not unlike the mono, the trailer has to have special rigging to be
convenient.
With a very experienced rigger I can arrive at the airport, rig my plane within
30 minutes, or pay for hangar storage in a bulk hangar. I chose the latter.
Hauling the plane, on a flatbed trailer is possible, and I do pull the wings
and stabs to take it to my shop for annuals and upgrades/repairs. Otherwise I
find, the trip to the shop, the hookup and transport, then unload and configure,
preflight and log the reassembly (yes you should use the checklist and log
the plane was disassembled as it is considered major work and somebody should
acknowledge the aircraft was returned to service IAW the POH and all controls
verified) to be time consuming to the point of why fly.
The garage at home must have a door and ceiling high enough to clear the tail,
then there are wing racks, the trailer must be quite wide to fit the gear, and
an electric winch and wing racks are needed on the trailer. I hope you live
on a farm with a large barn and door as most residential garages do not have that
much clearance.
Not worth the effort personally to do for once a weekend flying. In a group that
is normally flying together, (Like Gliders) where all hands are available (as
they have to wait for a tow anyway) and are there to assist, I could see that
a possibility. However, alone or only with one friend to assist, he may feel
like required labor and soon become disenchanted.
Outside storage should only be done in a sheltered area with appropriate tie downs
and excellent covers for the aircraft to prevent birds, water and filth from
covering or damaging/nesting in/on the plane. Wash and polish often to protect
the finish. Covers help limit sun exposure to protect your glass that may
not have a thick, UV protection paint.
Just my thoughts,
Bud Yerly
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=503291#503291
Message 5
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| Subject: | Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield |
Peter,
May I add my pennyworth.
To preface, I am based in Southern England, ground fees at Fairoaks are 180 plus
per month (outside), hangar space is unavailable and exorbitant.
I agree with the comments that rigging and de-rigging does take some joy away from
an element of spontaneity in Europa flying even though with a second pair
of hands it is an easy and quick thing to do (10 to 20 minutes is about my average).
This is about the same time that it used to take me to remove the covers,
put them somewhere to dry, clean the parts that need cleaning, check that nothing
has been pinched or damaged, and generally checking over the aircraft ready
for flight (which you are doing when you rig the plane anyway).
My own experience was that I enjoyed having the plane at home over winter - it
meant not worrying about storms or vandals, or paying for a waterlogged airfield
when I could not fly anyway. Also it gave me the opportunity to fettle, alter,
service etc. in the comfort of my own garage, a double UK garage with a roll
up door which was designed with a Land Rover Discovery in mind, so high enough
for the tri-gear tail.
I was based at Popham for some years and though I loved it and it gave me some
great flight opportunities, I found that leaving it rigged for the summer months
was sufficient for me and worked out cost effective for me.
After 15 years I still have a beautiful looking aircraft, plus a fully equipped
covered trailer, with winch, mains electrics, and all that my Europa needs. I
am fortunate that I have space alongside the house for the trailer, and a big
enough garage to get the fuselage in for servicing.
At the end of the day you need to weigh up all of the facts that relate to you
- can you (do you want to) fly all year, can you store the trailer/aircraft, are
ground fees added to your flying costs affordable.
Hope this helps.
Steve Pitt
G-SMDH
> On 27 Sep 2021, at 16:12, budyerly@msn.com wrote:
>
>
> Peter,
> I only store my aircraft at my shop. I find the trigear to be quite tall at
the tail and not unlike the mono, the trailer has to have special rigging to be
convenient.
>
> With a very experienced rigger I can arrive at the airport, rig my plane within
30 minutes, or pay for hangar storage in a bulk hangar. I chose the latter.
Hauling the plane, on a flatbed trailer is possible, and I do pull the wings
and stabs to take it to my shop for annuals and upgrades/repairs. Otherwise
I find, the trip to the shop, the hookup and transport, then unload and configure,
preflight and log the reassembly (yes you should use the checklist and log
the plane was disassembled as it is considered major work and somebody should
acknowledge the aircraft was returned to service IAW the POH and all controls
verified) to be time consuming to the point of why fly.
>
> The garage at home must have a door and ceiling high enough to clear the tail,
then there are wing racks, the trailer must be quite wide to fit the gear, and
an electric winch and wing racks are needed on the trailer. I hope you live
on a farm with a large barn and door as most residential garages do not have
that much clearance.
>
> Not worth the effort personally to do for once a weekend flying. In a group
that is normally flying together, (Like Gliders) where all hands are available
(as they have to wait for a tow anyway) and are there to assist, I could see
that a possibility. However, alone or only with one friend to assist, he may
feel like required labor and soon become disenchanted.
>
> Outside storage should only be done in a sheltered area with appropriate tie
downs and excellent covers for the aircraft to prevent birds, water and filth
from covering or damaging/nesting in/on the plane. Wash and polish often to protect
the finish. Covers help limit sun exposure to protect your glass that
may not have a thick, UV protection paint.
>
> Just my thoughts,
> Bud Yerly
>
>
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=503291#503291
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Message 6
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| Subject: | Re: TriGear - storage at home vs on an airfield |
Peter, My mono is kept at home in an enclosed trailer and I rig by
myself. It was first flown in 2008 and now has 640 hours. Rigging,
derigging and transporting in its' purpose built, insulated trailer with
wing and stabilator cradles has not caused any obvious wear or problems.
I usually trail it about 8 miles to my local airfield.
Previously I did the same with my Rand KR2.This was designed to have
removable wings with automatic aileron connection and one man rigging
aids and a purpose built trailer. I flew this for 8 years and 300 hours
with no problems.
Previously I flew a Clutton Fred for 13 years and 300+ hrs. I initially
used an open trailer to transport this folding wing aircraft but
eventually built an enclosed trailer for improved protection and to
simplify storage at home.
All these trailers were towed behind a campervan. An enclosed trigear
europa trailer can end up too heavy to legally pull behind a smaller
vehicle? My trailer and van are just legal ie less than 3500kg train
weight!
All the above aircraft and trailers were designed to be rigged and
derigged! Eric Clutton designed the Fred to be folded,Ivan Shaw
designed the Europa to be deriggable and kept at home and Geoff
Bailey-Woods designed our KR2s to be deriggable.
If you have a handy airfield with good hangarage use it and don't worry
about the cost! One possibility may be to derig at the airfield and
store in a container or purpose built hangar.This avoids the regular
trailering.
Cheers Ken.
On 27/09/2021 10:06, Ordwood wrote:
>
> Do we have any owners on the forum who keep their aircraft at home on a regular
basis.
> Weve just bought a Tri-gear and are trying to make the final decision on where
to keep it.
> Fully appreciate that it would involve rigging/de-rigging on every flight day
but the difference in cost is substantial.
> Would be interested in personal experiences.
> Many thanks
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=503286#503286
>
>
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