gordsh wrote:Just picked up a hanger which is also a scarce resource at my local airport. Its only 46 feet wide but I also invested in a BestTug so it makes a one man job of parking and removing the airplane easier...as long as I remember to keep the nose wheel on the center line marking the center of the hanger.
Here is a quick video using the BestTug to get the plane out of the 46 foot wide hanger after doing a walk around. https://youtu.be/DgAtoNbtTqE
Parking the plane is just as easy as long as I stay on the center line with the tug/nose wheel.
With so little clearance, you will also need lines for the mains. It is possible to have the nose wheel on the center line and still hit the hanger if the mains begin to stray.
Not positive, but it looks like you had to hop in to take off the brakes. My ferry pilot told me never to use the "parking brake" except for short periods (hop out to check the fuel caps or write down a clearance). He said that he's seen cases where the brake fluid leaked out under pressure and cases where the brakes froze against the discs. Neither sounded good. Chocks.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
With under 6" of clearance each side on my DA-42 into a 46' opening all three wheels on lines are manditory. If you have 3' each side for a DA-40 in a 45' door then I can see why you consider the nose wheel on the line quite sufficient.
Colin wrote:Not positive, but it looks like you had to hop in to take off the brakes. My ferry pilot told me never to use the "parking brake" except for short periods (hop out to check the fuel caps or write down a clearance). He said that he's seen cases where the brake fluid leaked out under pressure and cases where the brakes froze against the discs. Neither sounded good. Chocks.
Colin, you are correct. I keep the brakes on all the time that it is parked and I will heed your advise. I won’t leave it on anymore and I can see how the pressure build up could a leak. Thanks for that.