Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why does my aircraft need a cover?

A. 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!

Q. What is the best fabric for my aircraft?

A. 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.

Q. What cover do I need?

A. 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.

Q. Does it matter what colour I chose?

A. 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.

Q. Is my aircraft cover in stock?

A. 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

Q. How long does it take for me to receive my cover?

A. In quieter periods it can take as little as 2 weeks, when we are in busy periods 6 weeks lead time is not unusual.

Q. What about my aerials, shark fins and Probes?

A. 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.

Q. Can I fly in to pick up my covers and get them fitted?

A. 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 at a local airfield before you fly off. Boston Aero Club, East Kirkby or Fenland are our closest and most usable airfields.

Q. What if my new cover doesn’t quite fit and needs altering?

A. 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.

Q. Do you ship Internationally?

A. 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.

Q. How much does a cover weigh?

A. 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 8-10kg. Small Stratus Touring covers can weigh as little as 800grams and go up-to 1500grams for a large aircraft.

Q. What is the best way to fit my cover?

A. 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.

Q. How long can I expect an aircraft cover to last?

A. 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 achieve these figures.

Q. Do I need to clean my cover?

A. Yes if you want to get the most from it. We recommend reading the guide which will take you through the process cleaning guide. What ever you do please DO NOT machine wash your covers as they will shrink and never go back on properly. DO NOT JET WASH or aggressively scrub your covers as this will harm the coatings within the fabric.

Q. Do I need to reproof the cover?

A. You can re-proof using normal sprays on non breathable fabrics but not on our Stratus -Pro fabrics. It can be as beneficial to give a new cover a light protection as rejuvenating an old one. We feel it is important to use a re proofing product that does not affect the original technical characteristics of the cover and awning fabric. It is essential that a fabric designed to offer excellent breathability is not re-proofed with a "waterproof coating" thus negating all the original benefits of the fabric. Products like Holmenkol HighTecProof work with the breathable membrane, standard re-proofers will simply block the breathability of the fabric.

Q. Can I buy replacement straps and clips for my cover?

A. Yes, often clips can be broken by standing on and straps eventually can chafe, contact us and we will send out replacements for a small fee plus postage.

Q. Do I need a propellor cover?

A. 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.