My red Sterling shares hanger space with about a half dozen airplane projects that my dad and his friends are often working on. There is a kit built RV-6 (low-wing, 2 passenger), plus peices and parts of several old tail-draggers including an Aeronca Champ and a Taylorcraft), and last but not least, a nicely detailed Beechcraft Bonanza.
As a matter of practicality, I needed to figure out where the best spot in the hanger was for my car in terms of both working on it and getting it in and out easily. I was really hoping that I could avoid the hassel of having to shuffle the planes just to get the car out, but it wasn't lloking good at first. The Bonanza has a huge wingspan for a private plane...and is a low-wing aircraft...and so our early thoughts were that it would need to be moved out every time I wanted to drive the Sterling. Ugh.
But then we all stood back, took a good look, and started doing some careful measurements.
In case it it ever comes up, a Sterling drives very nicely under the wing tip of a Beechcraft Bonanza. *thumbs up* Admittedly, it's a tight squeeze. And I always triple check to make sure the tire and strut on that side of the plane are fully pressurized, because the clearances are that close that subtle changes make a difference. (The landing gear struts on planes are notorious for settling if left to sit for a long time, and 1/2 inch at the gear probably translates into 2 or 3 inches at the wingtip). And I always check to make sure the plane's ailerons are in a neutral position.
But once those factors are checked, I just confidently drive right on out under that wing.
It always gets a good crowd response if any of the airplane guys are around at the time. They get an absolutely paniced look as I go under it. But when you know the secret (that it fits,) it's very amusing.
The best response was probably from my "little" brother (who is about 6'4"). I gave him a quick drive in the Sterling when he was over to visit. The Sterling was already out of the hanger, so the issue didn't come up until we came back to park it. I lined it up with it's eventual destination and drove rather boldly, rather briskly into the hanger, under the wing, chirped to a stop, and popped the top. Tom looked totally freaked out, but also had a big, child-like grin on his face. Notoriously a man of few words, he just grinned and softly said, "...apparently it fits." We got a chuckle out of it at any rate.
Anyway, here is a video of one day when we were assesing the clearances. Again...when the plane is in the hanger, the clearances aren't QUITE as close. (If they were, I'd never take the chance of driving under it. I'm a little crazy, but I try not to be foolish.)
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNhjk_QLC3k[/ame]
As a matter of practicality, I needed to figure out where the best spot in the hanger was for my car in terms of both working on it and getting it in and out easily. I was really hoping that I could avoid the hassel of having to shuffle the planes just to get the car out, but it wasn't lloking good at first. The Bonanza has a huge wingspan for a private plane...and is a low-wing aircraft...and so our early thoughts were that it would need to be moved out every time I wanted to drive the Sterling. Ugh.
But then we all stood back, took a good look, and started doing some careful measurements.
In case it it ever comes up, a Sterling drives very nicely under the wing tip of a Beechcraft Bonanza. *thumbs up* Admittedly, it's a tight squeeze. And I always triple check to make sure the tire and strut on that side of the plane are fully pressurized, because the clearances are that close that subtle changes make a difference. (The landing gear struts on planes are notorious for settling if left to sit for a long time, and 1/2 inch at the gear probably translates into 2 or 3 inches at the wingtip). And I always check to make sure the plane's ailerons are in a neutral position.
But once those factors are checked, I just confidently drive right on out under that wing.
It always gets a good crowd response if any of the airplane guys are around at the time. They get an absolutely paniced look as I go under it. But when you know the secret (that it fits,) it's very amusing.The best response was probably from my "little" brother (who is about 6'4"). I gave him a quick drive in the Sterling when he was over to visit. The Sterling was already out of the hanger, so the issue didn't come up until we came back to park it. I lined it up with it's eventual destination and drove rather boldly, rather briskly into the hanger, under the wing, chirped to a stop, and popped the top. Tom looked totally freaked out, but also had a big, child-like grin on his face. Notoriously a man of few words, he just grinned and softly said, "...apparently it fits." We got a chuckle out of it at any rate.
Anyway, here is a video of one day when we were assesing the clearances. Again...when the plane is in the hanger, the clearances aren't QUITE as close. (If they were, I'd never take the chance of driving under it. I'm a little crazy, but I try not to be foolish.)
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNhjk_QLC3k[/ame]