REFLECTOR: Aircraft Covers

[Stockman, Bill]

This is probably an OBE question, but why don't you just buy the one
Velocity sells?   I've had mine for six years and its still in great
shape.

 

Bill Stockman, Senior Associate

Dayton Aerospace

 

(937) 369-4799 cell

(937) 426-4300 work

bill.stockman at daytonaero.com

________________________________

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Terry Miles
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 4:24 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: REFLECTOR: Aircraft Covers

 

	ON AIRCRAFT COVERS

	 

	I am trying to work on my interior.  (Read: fix my door leaks
before I can do much else.)  I am looking into aircraft covers for a
simple door leak fix, or sewing a cover myself.  Here's what I have been
able to learn so far.  If you google "aircraft covers,"  there are two
makers.  One (Kennon) won't do any experimental aircraft covers and
refers you to Bruce.  The other (Bruce's Aircraft covers) lists a cover
for the Velocity models but will not do ours anymore citing too much
variance between builders and models to make it worth his while.  The
fabric he uses is not real chafe tolerant so any protrusions like door
handles or inlet scoops need to be custom re-inforced or the cover life
is seriously compromised.  

	 

	To do this myself, it is going to take pattern making
time/materials and an equipment investment.  I think I could make
several and it would drop the set up costs to me which I think will run
$1100 or so in a sewing machine + work table, seaming accessories, and
some sample material to experiment with.  If you are interested in a
cover, read on.  Otherwise you can delete this post.

	 

	The first choice is material.  The longer lasting material is
heavier and bulkier.  The light weight stuff rolls up into a much
smaller ball, but won't wear quite as long as the horse blanket stuff.
Third choice is light weight, longer wearing, high tech for more money.
If you were parked outside all the time, the heavier stuff might make
sense.  If you wanted a dust cover inside a hangar and a weekend trip
rain cover, then the later would make more sense.  

	 

	A run of the mill spam can cover is table cloth size pc fitted
nicely and with belly straps fore and aft of the wing.  (Canards can do
that).  These spam can covers sell for $375 to $425 or so depending on
size.  Canards can't do the tablecloth routine.
http://www.aircraftcovers.com/index.php?cPath=1_15_615_618&tplDir=fallba
ck 

	 

	The cover I envision is going to look a lot like this.  It will
be fitted to encase the nose, the upper fuselage and stretch back to
include the cooling air exits, but not the prop or any of the strake.
For now the anticipated price is $600 which is no more than copy catting
his price for now too. I would hope to beat it by some, but not enough
to impact anybody's buying decision based on cost.   I don't know yet.
I am not out to skin anybody, or get rich at this.  

	 

	I don't want to advertise on our forum beyond this question to
the group.   I am not saying I will even do it.  I just want to know
what the interest is, and some sense of marine dingy cover material
versus space age synthetics.  Contact me off line at
terrence_miles at hotmail.com  if you want to know more.  ...or you know
somebody with a commercial sewing machine for sale.

	 

	Terry

	 

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