Hanging wings from hangar wall

[Zzz]

I'm looking for ideas on hanging my quick-build wings in my hangar until I bring them home to begin on the wing work. I currently have a renter in my hangar and would like to get the wings up off the floor and out of his way (and also out of the kick and dent zone.)

My first idea is to use some wide tubular webbing like one would find on a tow strap, and hoist them up the wall, using the bolted gusset arm between the truss and purlin as an anchor point, and just tie them off.

I wish I had a Hyster or something to just lift them up in to place, but I'll probably have to do some winching of some sort. Curious to see how others have done this.

Thanks.

[Battson]

I have to say, the wings weigh about 1 metric tonne each in those protective crates!!! I would stack them on their edge in a corner against the wall, and leave them in their crates with the protective polystyrene around them, myself. Much safer that way, than than hanging then up high where they could fall. Maybe even slap some plywood around them on any side someone might kick or bang something near them, etc

[Zzz]

I have to say, the wings weigh about 1 metric tonne each in those protective crates!!! I would stack them on their edge in a corner against the wall, and leave them in their crates with the protective polystyrene around them, myself. Much safer that way, than than hanging then up high where they could fall. Maybe even slap some plywood around them on any side someone might kick or bang something near them, etc

I thought about that option too. Mark mentioned that in order to turn them on end, I should add some foam or something to protect the edges. This might be the easiest method, although wrangling that crate in-tact is a bear, even with 2 guys.

[Mark Goldberg]

A lot of builders make a stand for their wings where each wing is hung on either side of a vertical 4x4. I used carpet remnant strips. I don't have apicture of what I made but will in a week or two. If you can secure carpet strips to the wall you could certainly do that with the flatter bottom side of the wings against the walls. Mark

[Zzz]

Maybe something like this? With carpet applied at contact points for protection. It's not the 4x4 "tree" I think you described, but it gets them flush to the wall and up and off the floor.

[alaskabearhawk]

I hung mine using pulleys and secondary safety slings. I wanted to be able to raise and lower them myself and Rob Taylor came up with this. Used scrap cable ends to swage cable loops on the rear spar fitting and aileron bracket. Wings are supported fine and I used stretch packing wrap on the tops so shop dust wouldn't fill up inside...basically saran-wrap for the wings.

[Mark Goldberg]

What Paul did in his pictures is more or less what I was recommending although a little more elaborate. Zane - your sketch is fine with one exception. The leading edge of the wing would be down and the carpet strips would go around the nose section rather than the trailing edge.Also, try and put the carpet strips RIGHT ON a nose rib rather than in the middle of the bay. Mark

[X'N]

I wonder if 2 of these per wing would work? http://www.target.com/p/m-wave-bicyc...Fcw7MgodzxgANg

or one of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heavy-Duty-G...ht_4970wt_1120

[Zzz]

I actually have a couple sets of those pulley hoists from when I used to hang my canoe in my garage. The nice thing about them is that they lift both sides equally. Once in position, put the safety slings on snuggly(with some carpet bumpers) and call it good. Will report back. Thanks everyone.

[alaskabearhawk]

Mark makes a good point. My wings are mainly supported by the swaged cables. The ropes around the wings that are padded with pipe insulation are there as a safety in case a rope gets cut or damaged. The wings are just resting on them, but not bearing much weight. They aren't aligned with a wing rib. You have a lot invested in these and it makes sense to get them out of harm's way. Use the best hardware you can!

[Zzz]

Paul, what are your swaged cables looped around? It's hard to see from your pic and my wings are at the hangar currently and I'm at home, so hard to inspect.

[alaskabearhawk]

I'll try to get some close-up pics posted today.

[tailwind]

I would remove all of the foam packing. I did leave mine in the packing crates. I did not remove the foam and had a little water damage from condensation. It was light and easy to clean up but I would not leave anything against the metal. After mine were assembled I again put them into the packing crate for storage.

[alaskabearhawk]

Here are the pictures. One is swaged at the rear spar, the other around the outboard aileron mount. There is a piece of clear tubing around the cable that protects the mount. The rear spar hole needs to be reamed to size anyway, so chances of having any damage there are nil.

[Enewton57]

I like the fact that you have covered the openings with plastic. I didn't and ended up with mud dauber nests throughout my wings. Hard to get to some of them and hard to clean off. I have also heard of people getting skunks and rats in their wings. Cover them well.

[DRLPatrol]

Alaskabearhawk,
Just wondering if you should be hanging from the spar attach fitting? That sideways load is not the direction it was designed for. Might be fine.
Doug