T-hangar and aircraft dimensions

[Nathan Young]

I have rented space in a 40x40 hangar for the last few years, and am
planning on purchasing a t-hangar in the near future.

I would appreciate comments on desireable things to look for in a
hangar.

My thoughts:
1. Overall hangar condition, structurally sound. All the T-hangars
at my airport are by the same mfg, so there's not much flexibility
there...
2. Concrete floor. Epoxy painted would be nice.
3. Water-tight. If it leaks - what's the point of having one?
4. Insulated and heated (I live in Chicago). My current hangar is
heated and it is really nice during the winter.
5. Heating source. What are the options? I'm not sure what it is
called, but my current hangar has a gas blower connected to a ~5"
diameter black pipe that makes a large U around the hangar. I think
it is radiated heat solution. It works well.
6. Electricity (a must), but multiple outlets would be nice.
7. Overhead lighting. incandescent vs. fluorescent
8. Property lease. This is a public airport. The Village owns the
airport and its land, so the hangar owner is required to pay a fee to
the village each month. Any gotchas I should watch out for? What
about improvements to the airport? Do these get 'reflected' back to
the hangar owners? I'd hate to buy a hangar only to get a bill a few
months later when a taxiway is improved.
9. How much does it cost to insure a T-hangar? Hangars at my airport
cost about $40k. Is it worthwhile to insure?

Last, are there any websites that list dimensions of GA aircraft? I
know the T-hangar will fit my short-winged PA28, but I am curious
about bigger singles and light twins.

Thanks,
Nathan

[Newps]

Nathan Young wrote:

> My thoughts:
> 1. Overall hangar condition, structurally sound. All the T-hangars
> at my airport are by the same mfg, so there's not much flexibility
> there...
> 2. Concrete floor. Epoxy painted would be nice.
> 3. Water-tight. If it leaks - what's the point of having one?
> 4. Insulated and heated (I live in Chicago). My current hangar is
> heated and it is really nice during the winter.
> 5. Heating source. What are the options? I'm not sure what it is
> called, but my current hangar has a gas blower connected to a ~5"
> diameter black pipe that makes a large U around the hangar. I think
> it is radiated heat solution. It works well.

First off, is the hangar insulated? My T Hangar wasn't so I did it
myself. Most of the hangar is sheetrocked, some I haven't got to yet.
As for heat you are limited by what is run to the hangars. Is there a
gas line run near the hangars that you can access? I don't have a gas
line at my hangar so I have no source of set it and forget it heat.
Electric is way too expensive. I use the torpedo type heater. You can
get one that runs on either propane or the oil type. Mine is the oil
type that runs on #1 or 2 diesel, heating oil, kerosene or jet fuel. I
use jet fuel because I can get it free. I have used off road diesel.
No real difference.


> 6. Electricity (a must), but multiple outlets would be nice.

I only had a few outlets and one circuit. I have 50 amp service. I
added two more 20 amp circuits and about 12 more outlets. I put in
fluorescent lights overhead as well as a ceiling fan that runs
continuously from October to May.


> 7. Overhead lighting. incandescent vs. fluorescent

Fluorescent bulbs last a lot longer. That is a factor if the lights are
high overhead.


> 8. Property lease. This is a public airport. The Village owns the
> airport and its land, so the hangar owner is required to pay a fee to
> the village each month. Any gotchas I should watch out for? What
> about improvements to the airport? Do these get 'reflected' back to
> the hangar owners? I'd hate to buy a hangar only to get a bill a few
> months later when a taxiway is improved.

I am in a building with 16 T's. We formed a corporation because the
city will not deal with individual hangar owners. To them it is one
hangar. We pay one yearly fee in November that covers all taxes and
insurance. Last years bill was $750. There are no assesments for new
taxiways, that's covered in the assesment.


> 9. How much does it cost to insure a T-hangar? Hangars at my airport
> cost about $40k. Is it worthwhile to insure?

The insurance comes out of the yearly assesment, last years insurance
portion was $180. I paid $22K for my hangar on 9/1/2001. The last
hangar to sell last month was uninsulated and sold for $25K. I should
be able to get about $28K today. Mine is a desirable south facing unit.


>
> Last, are there any websites that list dimensions of GA aircraft? I
> know the T-hangar will fit my short-winged PA28, but I am curious
> about bigger singles and light twins.

A standard T hangar is 40 feet wide. A guy at the end has his 310 in
his. He has about 3 inches to spare nose to tail. He had to make small
cutouts for the tuna tip tanks in the back wall. Most GA singles have a
wingspan of 36 feet.

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
(Nathan Young) wrote:

> I have rented space in a 40x40 hangar for the last few years, and am
> planning on purchasing a t-hangar in the near future.
>
> I would appreciate comments on desireable things to look for in a
> hangar.

> 3. Water-tight. If it leaks - what's the point of having one?

Also note if water can drain into the hangar under the door.
If the tarmac isn't lower than the threshold, melting snow can
get under the door and then freeze. This can be very hard to see
and also very slippery. The guy next to me had it happen to him.
It took him several months to recover from the back injury.


> 6. Electricity (a must), but multiple outlets would be nice.

yeah. Having more than 1 15 amp circuit would be nice.


> Last, are there any websites that list dimensions of GA aircraft? I
> know the T-hangar will fit my short-winged PA28, but I am curious
> about bigger singles and light twins.

40' is big enough, but it's still a bit tight. I had my cherokee 140
in a 40' hangar and it was a bit tight getting around the wing.
My current hangar is 42' or 44'. Much roomier.

be aware of how far back to push the aircraft. Some people put
block/chocks on the floor to prevent the aircraft from going too
far back. Some have suspended a tennis ball to give a mark.

good luck

--
Bob Noel

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
(PaulaJay1) wrote:

> I have heard of powering antifreeze in the door track to keep the door
> from
> freezing.

which leads to a different consideration: Electric bi-fold doors
have an advantage wrt ice over sliding doors.

--
Bob Noel

[Newps]

Bob Noel wrote:
> In article >,
> (PaulaJay1) wrote:
>
>
>>I have heard of powering antifreeze in the door track to keep the door
>>from
>>freezing.
>
>
> which leads to a different consideration: Electric bi-fold doors
> have an advantage wrt ice over sliding doors.
>

That's true, but bifolds can be a pain in the ass to seal up. The best
door is the Hydroswing.

[Craig]

Bob Noel > wrote in message >...
> In article >,
> (PaulaJay1) wrote:
>
> > I have heard of powering antifreeze in the door track to keep the door
> > from
> > freezing.
>
> which leads to a different consideration: Electric bi-fold doors
> have an advantage wrt ice over sliding doors.

Yeah, but those bifolds get to be a huge pain and expense when your
tail is over 14 feet high and you need at least 60' of door width.

Craig C.