Simple & Cheap Tricks for your plane

"Dale" wrote in message
...
I made some cheap light wheel-chocks from PVC pipe.

I used about 1.25 OD PVC glued together to make a |__| shape. The
distance between the uprights being enough to slide around the main
tires. They are a little bulky but light. I had them for 8 years and
never had the airplane move. G

They are great for tailwheels.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

I've been looking for a cargo net that will hold down the stuff that's
stored in the baggage area (two quarts of oil, small tool box, tiedown kit,
etc. I have this image of having to remove the tool box from someone's head
after landing out somewhere. Anyone seen one that will work well in an
Archer?

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:hCCUb.101328$U%5.507652@attbi_s03...
This thread was actually started on the Cherokee 235/236 owner's group a
couple of days ago, and it was quite interesting and informative.
However,
that group is quite small by comparison to rec.aviation -- so I thought
I'd
open this topic up for everyone here.

The challenge is this: Post all the cheap and simple little "tricks" that
you've come up with to make your aircraft or your flying easier, cheaper,
and more comfortable! I'll bet we come up with quite a list of ideas.

Here are mine:

1. The shoulder harnesses in our plane were a constant pain in the butt to
stow and reach. We were always fishing them off the floor before each
flight. One day I noticed there were snaps installed in the webbing of
the
harness, so I went to a sewing shop and bought the "male" mates to those
snaps. I then installed the co-pilot's male snap in the ceiling, using an
existing screw, and the pilot's male snap in the plastic above the left
window, also using an existing screw.

Voila! We now just snap our shoulder harnesses up and out of the way
after
each flight, and the harnesses are always within easy reach.

2. Hand-held radios are very handy things to have on board (I used a
hand-held to get into Minneapolis International one night, after a com
failure), but where to put them? They've got to be within easy reach, but
also out of the way. But I didn't like keeping one in the seat backs,
since
those always seem to be over-loaded.

So, using left-over leather from our recent interior job, I hand-tooled a
pouch for our little ICOM unit. On our Cherokee there is a little space
just
ahead of the door on the co-pilot's side that is perfectly sized for this
pouch. Again, using an existing screw I installed a snap, and we now have
our hand-held (and the headphone adaptor, which is crucial in a noisy
airplane) right by the co-pilot's knee -- handy, but not in the way!

3. When we had the interior re-done, I had the upholstery shop install an
extra pocket on the pilot's side, down by your left ankle. This cost
practically nothing, and essentially doubles the storage space on the
pilot's side -- a real God-send for stowing flashlights, checklists,
leatherman tools, etc.

4. The Kool Scoop is the best thing ever invented for a Cherokee. It
swings
out into the slip stream on a hot summer day, and literally pipes the prop
wash directly into the cabin. It's cheap, and very effective.

5. For the luggage compartment, we bought one of those wheeled
under-the-bed
plastic storage containers at WalMart. It fits perfectly, is easily
removed,
and solves the never-ending fight against clutter.

6. Also for the shoulder harnesses we bought a couple of those cheap
velcro-on fleece pads, available at any automotive shop. They make the
shoulder harnesses MUCH more comfortable, especially for Mary. Those
harnesses catch her right in the neck!

Those are mine -- what have you done to make life easier in the cockpit?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:hrOUb.105938$U%5.547068@attbi_s03...
I had to replace the side window after it cracked starting from the rivets
attaching the Kool-Skoop. I won't have another one.

Rivets? Both of mine have been installed with (extremely strong)
double-backed tape.

I would NEVER drill holes in the side window to install a Kool Scoop.

Mine uses the same kind of tape. It's been there for over 10 yrs.
and still works great. On a 115F day in Arizona, the Kool Scoop is
the diference between being uncomfortable and melting.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

(Ross Oliver) wrote in message ...

Substitute pitot tube cover: 35mm film cannister with "X" cut into top.
Be sure to remove before flight!


For Pipers with the blade type pitot/static, a tennis ball with a 2
inch slit cut into the top works great. A can of tennis balls is
about 1/10th the cost of what Sporty would charge you for a blade
pitot cover.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

I made some cheap light wheel-chocks from PVC pipe.

Jim Weir made a pair for us last year -- with Atlas' "N" number on them and
everything!

They are very cool, and work very well -- but (as Jim warned us up front)
you DO have to be careful using them on grass with wheel pants. Park your
plane at Sun N Fun for a few days, and it WILL sink so that the wheel pants
are setting on top of the chocks!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Warning -- the adhesive only lasts about a season. Hardware store
for that 3M double sided sticky foam tape.

Another data point: The adhesive has lasted since '98 on the Warrior (now
owned by friends of ours), and since '02 on our Pathfinder.

Guess I'm tough on LightSpeed headsets, but easy on Kool Scoops!? :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message ...
I've been looking for a cargo net that will hold down the stuff that's
stored in the baggage area (two quarts of oil, small tool box, tiedown kit,
etc. I have this image of having to remove the tool box from someone's head
after landing out somewhere. Anyone seen one that will work well in an
Archer?

You can get elastic nets at most auto parts places. Just a matter of finding a
few relatively hard points to hook it to. The Navion isn't a problem as the
hat shelf behind the rear seat covers up the baggage compartment when the
canopy is closed (you could fold down the rear seat). To secure our scooters
in the back seat, I just run straps around the rear seat.

On 6 Feb 2004 09:27:07 -0700, Blanche
wrote:

James M. Knox wrote:
I wish everyone would make up their minds. I've been thinking about buying
one (wonderful Texas summers and all), as I frequently find myself taxiing
with my hand stuck out the vent window to "scoop" a little air.

James:
I've got one for use in the summer (Denver). Absolutely wonderful.
Open the side door and it's fantastic.

Warning -- the adhesive only lasts about a season. Hardware store
for that 3M double sided sticky foam tape.


Our group has a Warrior shared by 16 members. We fitted a scoop about
7 years ago (stuck on). Nobody has complained, it hasn't fallen off
(yet!) and it works really well. It's based in Scotland so the weather
is cooler and probably has less effect on the sticky stuff it's held
on with.

Wouldn't be without it.

David


E-mail (Remove Space after pilot): pilot

In article , Bob Chilcoat
wrote:

I've been looking for a cargo net that will hold down the stuff that's
stored in the baggage area (two quarts of oil, small tool box, tiedown kit,
etc. I have this image of having to remove the tool box from someone's head
after landing out somewhere. Anyone seen one that will work well in an
Archer?

I purchased one from the manufacturer of roof racks sold in outdoor
stores (Yakima?). It cost me $25, but is made of heavy bungie cord (red
or black) with nylon hooks. I attached smaller, steel S-hooks to attach
to the eyes in the baggage area of the C182 I fly. I bought it for last
year's AirVenture trip and have used it other times as well.

In article fpTUb.108019$U%5.554166@attbi_s03, Jay Honeck
wrote:

I made some cheap light wheel-chocks from PVC pipe.

Jim Weir made a pair for us last year -- with Atlas' "N" number on them and
everything!
They are very cool, and work very well -- but (as Jim warned us up front)
you DO have to be careful using them on grass with wheel pants. Park your
plane at Sun N Fun for a few days, and it WILL sink so that the wheel pants
are setting on top of the chocks!

Here is one I learned at Sun N Fun last year.
As I was directing a friend, who had just arrived, to a parking spot in
the Vintage Area, he stopped short of the line and shut down.
After climbing out, he rummaged through the area behind the front seat.
Not finding what he was looking for there, he then opened the baggage
door and pulled out two pieces of 12"x12"x0.75" plywood.
Placing them in front of the wheels, we then pulled the airplane
forward so that the wheels sat atop the pieces of wood.
The weight of the airplane is distributed over a larger surface area
and even when settling does occur, it is easier to pull the airplane
forward and pick up the wood pieces prior to starting.