Ceconite Wings Question

Hello. I'm considering purchasing a plane that has Ceconite wings.
They were recovered last year professionally, and according to an A&P
I asked to have a quick look, were done well and correctly, and have a
UV protectant. My question is the following: I don't have access to a
hanger. This plane would be exposed to the elements in the Midwest.
How long could I expect to fly this plane before the Ceconite would
need replacement? Is there an average 'lifespan' for this type of wing
covering if exposed to the elements?

Thanks,

Cap

On 13 Oct 2004 06:45:58 -0700, (Captain
Wubba) wrote:

Hello. I'm considering purchasing a plane that has Ceconite wings.
They were recovered last year professionally, and according to an A&P
I asked to have a quick look, were done well and correctly, and have a
UV protectant. My question is the following: I don't have access to a
hanger. This plane would be exposed to the elements in the Midwest.
How long could I expect to fly this plane before the Ceconite would
need replacement? Is there an average 'lifespan' for this type of wing
covering if exposed to the elements?

Thanks,

Cap

The fabric that is used to cover airplanes is all the same. What is
different is how it is "painted." If this was done with Nitrate and
Butyrate dopes with an aluminum coat as the UV protection you should
expect to get about 7 years out of it. If it was completed with the
Stits process, I've seen airplanes outside for 15+ years and they
still are in very good shape.

You may get more than 7 out of the dope as well, but it depends on
alot like how much shade, temps, etc...I'd like to say 10+, but I'm
staying conservative.

HTH.
z

My citabria was covered ten years ago with ceconite. The fabric is
perfect. The white paint is okay, the red has faded. It's now
hangered so I expect to get a lot more life out of it. Most people
I've spoke to prior to buying my plane said twenty years for a well done
fabric job that's taken care of. I've seen nearly new american
champion citabrias with cracked paint. A friend has a piper colt that
was covered with ceconite 25 years ago but always hangered. It's like
new.

You really have to get it checked by an A&P that works on fabric airplanes.

Dave
68 7ECA

Captain Wubba wrote:
Hello. I'm considering purchasing a plane that has Ceconite wings.
They were recovered last year professionally, and according to an A&P
I asked to have a quick look, were done well and correctly, and have a
UV protectant. My question is the following: I don't have access to a
hanger. This plane would be exposed to the elements in the Midwest.
How long could I expect to fly this plane before the Ceconite would
need replacement? Is there an average 'lifespan' for this type of wing
covering if exposed to the elements?

Thanks,

Cap

One theory is to not go more than ten years without recovering.
The theory being that after that much time exposed to the elements, you
would want to strip everything off to thoroughly inspect the airframe
for corrosion.

dave wrote:
My citabria was covered ten years ago with ceconite. The fabric is
perfect. The white paint is okay, the red has faded. It's now
hangered so I expect to get a lot more life out of it. Most people
I've spoke to prior to buying my plane said twenty years for a well done
fabric job that's taken care of. I've seen nearly new american
champion citabrias with cracked paint. A friend has a piper colt that
was covered with ceconite 25 years ago but always hangered. It's like new.

You really have to get it checked by an A&P that works on fabric airplanes.

Dave
68 7ECA

Captain Wubba wrote:

Hello. I'm considering purchasing a plane that has Ceconite wings.
They were recovered last year professionally, and according to an A&P
I asked to have a quick look, were done well and correctly, and have a
UV protectant. My question is the following: I don't have access to a
hanger. This plane would be exposed to the elements in the Midwest.
How long could I expect to fly this plane before the Ceconite would
need replacement? Is there an average 'lifespan' for this type of wing
covering if exposed to the elements?

Thanks,

Cap

"john smith" wrote in message
...
One theory is to not go more than ten years without recovering.
The theory being that after that much time exposed to the elements, you
would want to strip everything off to thoroughly inspect the airframe for
corrosion.


The 10 year replacement theory is a great "perfect world" idea, but most
folks who are not named Buffet, Gates, Kennedy, etc. simply can't afford the
cost. Cover jobs are expensive. Real expensive. As in 4 years of college
tuition expensive, or downpayment on a small house expensive. Since the
sky isn't raining old rag wings, the 15-20 year re-cover cycle appears to be
adequate...

KB

"Kyle Boatright" wrote
The 10 year replacement theory is a great "perfect world" idea, but most
folks who are not named Buffet, Gates, Kennedy, etc. simply can't afford the
cost. Cover jobs are expensive. Real expensive. As in 4 years of college
tuition expensive, or downpayment on a small house expensive. Since the
sky isn't raining old rag wings, the 15-20 year re-cover cycle appears to be
adequate.

Well, yes - but most old rag wings are hangared. I would have no
problem with a 20 year cycle for a hangared bird, but if it sits
outside for 10 years it probably needs recover.

Michael

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message ...
"john smith" wrote in message
...
One theory is to not go more than ten years without recovering.
The theory being that after that much time exposed to the elements, you
would want to strip everything off to thoroughly inspect the airframe for
corrosion.


The 10 year replacement theory is a great "perfect world" idea, but most
folks who are not named Buffet, Gates, Kennedy, etc. simply can't afford the
cost. Cover jobs are expensive. Real expensive. As in 4 years of college
tuition expensive, or downpayment on a small house expensive. Since the
sky isn't raining old rag wings, the 15-20 year re-cover cycle appears to be
adequate...

KB

There is no life limit on the new fabric material. UV is its only
weakness.
If the dope or paint has been put on properly, it will last as long as
the coatings last.
The coatings can get re-vitalized from time to time to keep them
plyable.
There is no reason why fabric can't last 20,30-40+ years if you don't
let the sun get to the fabric.

Like any airplane, the structure needs to be inspected whether it has
fabric or aluminum for covering.

Dave

I've heard that too but more like twenty years. If I needed to inspect
every little nook and crany of a fabric covered airplane every ten years
then why not a metal covered one?

john smith wrote:

One theory is to not go more than ten years without recovering.
The theory being that after that much time exposed to the elements, you
would want to strip everything off to thoroughly inspect the airframe
for corrosion.

dave wrote:

My citabria was covered ten years ago with ceconite. The fabric is
perfect. The white paint is okay, the red has faded. It's now
hangered so I expect to get a lot more life out of it. Most people
I've spoke to prior to buying my plane said twenty years for a well
done fabric job that's taken care of. I've seen nearly new american
champion citabrias with cracked paint. A friend has a piper colt
that was covered with ceconite 25 years ago but always hangered. It's
like new.

You really have to get it checked by an A&P that works on fabric
airplanes.

Dave
68 7ECA

Captain Wubba wrote:

Hello. I'm considering purchasing a plane that has Ceconite wings.
They were recovered last year professionally, and according to an A&P
I asked to have a quick look, were done well and correctly, and have a
UV protectant. My question is the following: I don't have access to a
hanger. This plane would be exposed to the elements in the Midwest.
How long could I expect to fly this plane before the Ceconite would
need replacement? Is there an average 'lifespan' for this type of wing
covering if exposed to the elements?

Thanks,

Cap

("dave" wrote)
I've heard that too but more like twenty years. If I needed to inspect
every little nook and crany of a fabric covered airplane every ten years
then why not a metal covered one?


I was thinking that too - I'm whimsically looking at a 1946 Ercoupe, which is
going up
for auction this Saturday (16th). There's a beaten up Cessna 140 there also.
Pole barn projects that are soon to be someone else's problem ... I mean
project. Both are planes that will need much time and much money thrown their
way before they get in the air again.

What Kyle was saying about costs - What's a guess on the material cost (only)
for redoing a fabric covered airplane? How much of that college tuition level
price tag is material vs. labor?


Montblack

Montblack wrote:

What Kyle was saying about costs - What's a guess on the material cost (only)
for redoing a fabric covered airplane? How much of that college tuition level
price tag is material vs. labor?

A pre-sewn Ceconite envelope for a Citrabia will set you back $487 at Aircraft
Spruce. You will also need tools, cement, and a silver coat dope sold by Randolph for
the Ceconite system. The dope and cement will set you back about $150. The final
finish can be either Butyrate dope or Polyurethane. Costs vary on that. The full
cost, not counting tools, will come in around $800 for that plane.

To give you an idea of the labor costs, Maule Flight quoted me a price of $12,000 to
recover and paint my aircraft. Only the fuselage and rudder are fabric-covered on
that. Aircraft Spruce does not sell an envelope for my plane (the fabric is glued on
in sections on the MX-7), but the envelope for an earlier model Maule is less than
$230.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.