Many of us are unable to fly our planes the entire year round. As such we need to have a plan for maintaining and storing our aircraft, especially during the winter months. Do you have a plan for ensuring that your aircraft is properly maintained and stored over the winter? The following are some things that should be considered with the objective of reducing the amount of corrosion and other damage to your aeroplane.
Tip 1: Protect the aircraft against insects. Mice as well as other animals will take up residence in your hangar as well as in your aeroplane. Make sure that there is no foodstuff of any type left there since this might attract unwanted bugs. Despite taking all of the necessary precautions, if your plane is still suffering damage in the hangar, you should get airport liability insurance. Make use of static vent covers and pitot tube covers so that insects and debris, which might potentially cause a blockage in the future, are kept out. By plugging all of the holes, you would also prevent moisture from entering your engine, which would otherwise cause rust.
Tip 2: Make sure that you change the oil. It probably sounds counter-intuitive to replace the oil during winter months rather than wait until spring, but keep in mind that the lubricant in your engine is old and contains dirt and impurities that can create rust and corrosion if they are not removed. Not only should the oil be changed, but it should also be replaced with a blend of preservative oil. After that, give your plane a few flights with fresh oil to ensure that it is properly circulated throughout the whole machine.
Tip 3: Make sure your spark plugs are preserved. After removing the spark plugs, coat the resulting holes in a preservative oil mixture using a spray bottle. Then you need to make sure that the previous spark plugs are replaced, and they will be ready for the winter. You have to most likely take into consideration the aircraft’s battery as well. After being dormant for a few months, it probably won’t be able to maintain a charge that is high enough to start the motor in the spring. It is a good idea to bring the battery home with you and store it somewhere that is not too cold. Alternatively, a trickle charger can be utilized every few weeks while the battery is in the aircraft to retain its charge and extend its life of the battery.
Tip 4: Cover the aircraftas much as you possibly can. You need to make sure that the windows, canopy, propeller blades, and tail of your aeroplane are covered. This not only helps prevent damage to all those surfaces, but it also helps prevent damage to the panels and upholstery that can be caused by prolonged exposure to the sun as well as moisture from precipitation such as rain, ice, as well as snow.
Tip 5: Ensure that the gasoline tanks are always full. When you store your aeroplane with plenty of fuel in the tanks, you may cut down on the moisture that could potentially condense in a tank that is only partly full. If your aircraft uses a fuel bladder made of rubber or another flexible material, keeping the tank full will help prevent splitting.
