AIRCRAFT COVERS FAQs
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about our Aircraft Covers that we are often asked. If you require further information please contact us.
An aircraft cover can do many things for an airframe
- keeping heat out of a cockpit, keeping the UV off your seats and panel, Stopping your paint from fading – especially red colours.
- Keeping your airframe free of ice, rain and hail, simply remove and stow the covers to go flying, no need to de-ice.
- Keeping the airframe clean from birds excrement, insects and spider mess.
- Keeping dust and dirt off the surfaces – less cleaning equals more flying!
This depends on what your airframe is made from
- Fabric covered aircraft (Ceconite, Diatex, Irish linen, Egyptian Cloth) and wooden airframes all would benefit from a breathable material such as our Stratus Pro fabrics that are 100% breathable.
- All composite and metal airframes are less susceptible from the effects of moisture build up so can use the Stratus Plus range and SoftTouch Odyssey.
- Stratus Touring and Protect 90 hangar covers are breathable and can be fitted to any type of airframe.
Broadly speaking you will fall into one of the following categories
- If you are intending to be stored outside the hangar all year round or most of the year we recommend an outdoor cover such as Stratus Plus, Pro and SoftTouch Odyssey.
- If you want to go touring then our Stratus Touring or Stratus Pro lightweight covers are the solutions for you. Stratus Touring is so light and compact – ideal for those weekends away. The Stratus Pro lightweight option is heavier but more suitable for more extended periods of touring – weeks and months away.
- I need the cheapest light weight covers for keeping my aircraft clean and protected in the Hangar. Protect 90 is designed specifically for this, to be affordable, minimum weight and bulk and the minimum of straps for quick removal and installation.
Up-to a point yes!
Certain colours absorb more energy from the light spectrum that the sun radiates. Reds fade eventually, dark colours absorb heat and light colours absorb very little. So whites and ‘off whites’, light grey/blue/green and sandy colours keep an airframe cool. Which is a problem if you operate in a dryer climate, if like us in the UK you live in a temperate climate they have less effect and you can fit darker colours such as blacks and navy blues.
NO.
If our website is listing in stock it means we have your pattern in stock.
All covers are made to order specifically for your aircraft as most aircraft vary in one form or another, with over 2000 pattern parts in stock multiplied out by the colour variations there would be too much investment to carry stock.
In quieter periods it can take as little as 2 weeks, when we are in busy periods 6 weeks lead time is not unusual.
The main aerials that your aircraft came with are generally in a standard position. Many however have had additional avionics and ELT’s added. The way we deal with these is to plot them on the airframe by measuring always from the back of the spinner on a single, over the surface until you reach the aerial or probe. The span measurement is always taken from the centreline of the fuselage. For a wing we measure from the root and from the leading edge or trailing edge.
Yes you can: but we do need at least 3 days notice. Fitting has the added advantage if anything don’t quite fit we can tweak it here at the airfield before you fly off.
If you send it back to us with photographs and measurements we will alter or amend any areas that are causing a problem, then post them back to you.
Yes we have a courier service that covers just about everywhere in the world. You will have to pay any duties and your local rate of VAT prior to the courier delivering to your door. We no longer offer a PPD service.
Scale and fabric specification play a large part in this answer, but as a guide a typical small 2 seater outdoor Cockpit & Engine cover will weigh at 4kg, a larger single 6kg and large singles and twins are generally no more than 8kg. Small Stratus Touring covers can weigh as little as 800grams and go up-to 1500grams for a large aircraft.
Most aircraft are best fitted from the spinner backwards, but if you have aerial slots cut in you need to slide the cover over these first. For hook and loop fastened aerials you can generally fit them from the front as usual.
There is no definitive answer, we have Outdoor Odyssey covers still performing after 18 years, we also have PA28 outdoor Stratus Pro covers still going after 14 years. However if they are treated poorly and heavily soiled with oil and mud they simply cannot be expected to each these figures.
Yes if you want to get the most from it. We sell a cleaning product that when used in conjunction with a soft brush will lift the soil from the fabric.
Generally keeping them clean really helps to keep the waterproofing coatings in the fabrics, there are re-proofers available on the market and can recommend certain brands for this purpose
Yes, often clips can be brocken by standing on and straps eventually can chafe, contact us and we will send out replacements for a small fee plus postage.
If you are outside all year round and especially if you have a variable pitch propellor a cover can be very useful at protecting the seals and gearing on a prop. If you have a carbon fibre propellor a cover is great for keeping the UV off the resin finish and discolouring it.
Registering your cover will put your aircraft type, registration, cover specification and date onto our database. This helps when aircraft change hands to new owners or in the event of theft where replacement specifications can be replaced
