16 year old steals a plane

But a prop lock does not secure the aircraft. It gives the illusion of
security.

Okay Jose, how does a prop lock not secure the airplane? Did I miss
something here?

wrote in message
oups.com...
But a prop lock does not secure the aircraft. It gives the illusion of
security.

Okay Jose, how does a prop lock not secure the airplane? Did I miss
something here?

Same as the Club does not slow down a car thief. They are so much window
dressing and an insignificant delay to the serious thief.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Okay Jose, how does a prop lock not secure the airplane? Did I miss
something here?

Locks keep honest people honest... They might make a less determined crook
go to a easier target... A crook that is determined to steal a particular
plane will find a way to do it... All you can hope for is to make it a
lengthy and noisy enough process that he either goes elsewhere or someone
discovers him prior to him completing the act...

Bolt cutters are probably the quickest and quietest tools... They might not
work for some of the harder metals in the cables / chains...

Diamond blade / abrasive disk cutters tend to be noisy, but they can be
rather effective...

Oxy-acetylene torches tend to be quieter than abrasive disk cutters, but are
not completely stealthy... Their speed is dependent upon the type and
thickness of the metal that is to be cut...

With prop locks, you also have to factor in the time that it might take for
someone to remove the spinner, prop, and lock and then reinstall the prop
and spinner... I'm not sure how long this might take, but it is more likely
that anyone driving by would just think that the individual was working on
his own plane than with the other lock defeating methods...

Locks keep honest people honest... They might make a less determined crook
go to a easier target... A crook that is determined to steal a
particular
plane will find a way to do it... All you can hope for is to make it a
lengthy and noisy enough process that he either goes elsewhere or
someone
discovers him prior to him completing the act...

Okay, maybe a stinky week-old tuna & swiss hidden in a map pocket might
be a better deterrent?

wrote:
Okay Jose, how does a prop lock not secure the airplane? Did I miss
something here?

It will slow a thief down, but like any other device it can be
defeated. Bolt cutters, torches, or prop removal will defeat a prop
lock. Of course it's a bit harder than defeating the door locks on a
150, but it is hardly secure. (I have no firsthand knowledge but I am
told that on some aircraft the prop can be removed and reattached in
less time than it takes to preflight)

We won't count the fact that every lock has a key, and every key can be
copied. (in fact, it is likely that maintanance has a copy of the key
on some rack in the shop)

As for causing the would-be thief to go elsewhere, this won't apply if
every plane is prop-locked, which is the proposal. And although it may
stop a casual joy-rider with no connections, it won't stop a terrorist,
drug lord, or aviation insider.

Now, just what are we trying to protect, against whom, at what total
cost?

Jose

"Grumman-581" wrote in message
news
wrote in message
oups.com...

With prop locks, you also have to factor in the time that it might take
for
someone to remove the spinner, prop, and lock and then reinstall the prop
and spinner... I'm not sure how long this might take, but it is more
likely
that anyone driving by would just think that the individual was working on
his own plane than with the other lock defeating methods...


Is there any reason to belive that it would take any longer than the
steering wheel locks on automobiles?

--
Geoff
the sea hawk at wow way d0t com
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