How Long Can An Airplane Sit?

"C J Campbell" wrote in message ...
"Dan Thomas" wrote in message
om...

The trace of ozone in the air will attack the rubber and make
it brittle, and it cracks and the moisture can get into the cords and
weaken them. Covering the tires helps, and keeping them out of the sun
also reduces the reaction.

The bearing in the tach tends to dry out and seize up over time,
breaking the cable. Cockpit heat really kills the radios, and also
cooks the upholstery. Both take considerable time, but it's a shame to
see a 500-hour airplane in need of a complete refurbishing.


These things all happen to an airplane whether it flies or not, don't they?
They are not a consequence of letting the plane sit, but just consequences
of age?

Yes. But too many owners/buyers look only at flight time, and get
fooled into believing that it must be a good airplane if the time is
so low. Some parts can dry out and crack or fail when they're not used
(some seals and gaskets), and engines that are flown little can have a
short life both in hours and years. I have seen tires that have rotted
on the side against the ground where they've sat for too long. Seen
damage caused by pests that had time to start a whole extended family
in the airplane; regular flight would have prevented their getting so
comfortable. Seen fuel systems with crud formed from old gasoline.

Dan