Warbird Information Exchange

I might be buying a 1979 Varga Kachina, but the airplane hasn't been flying for a while, and needs some work to get her back into the air. I don't have the cash flow at this time to get it flyable. So I need ideas as of where to store an airplane that 22 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 7-8 feet high. These are with out the wings attached. I was planning on taking off the wings until I can start working on it. So what are the ideas? I can't afford a hangar at an airport for an airplane that can't fly.

1. Rent space in the back of someone's hangar. Lots of time you can get a corner in the back fairly reasonably.

2. Put it in your garage/carport,

3. Put it in your parent's backyard. Buy one of those car storage tents if you need to.

4. My recommendation is to start saving your money until you have the means to buy a flyable airplane. It won't cost you any rent until you buy and you'll probably pay way less for a flyer in the long run. You'll also earn interest on your money as well making it that much easier to buy when the time is right. You just need discipline (I'm the pot calling the kettle black here by the way). There is no such thing as a good deal on a project like this...

if you can't store it at home, tarp it or shrink wrap it & put it in an rv or boat storage place with protective security. shrink wrap would be most cost affective & practical.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

You might try a local air museum.
If it looks halfway decent they might be interested in it as a display on loan until you were ready for restoration.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

If you have the room at home, do what I did...In 3 days, I put up a 10X20 pole barn...7' ceiling...cost...under $800...I had a single sloped tin roof on originally, but wind blew it (tin) off...so I built 11 trusses and put up a new shingled roof..vented at the top...1/2" plywood under the shingles


I built this about 6 yrs ago, put the new roof on last year, and total cost was under $800...
Last week I added on a lean-to behind this building....10X16..simple sloped tin roof...and closed it in with 7/16ths ..4X8 particle board, heavily coated with exterior latex...by myself...took three days of on and off work, I'm lazy....spent about $100-125 on the project...By the way, I also ran a 100amp service/fuse box on the first building for lights and compressor, and was a first time project....you can build about anything to suit your needs...

Varga.....way cool airplane! I had a lot of fun chasing speed boats a few years back at Lake Grapevine, Tx!!

I just had this situation happen to me, only I had a 10K sq. ft. hanger full of airplanes and equipment to store. The best solution is to buy either a 40 ft. trailer ( as in tractor-trailer, 18 wheeler, etc.) or a steel 40 ft. shipping container.I searched "shipping containers for sale" on the net. The trailer will obviously always ready to be towed to wherever you need it. The 40 ft (or 20ft length ) shipping containers are steel, with wood floors and are wind, weather and BUG proof. I got my 40 ft trailer including hauling costs for @2300.00 in January. the container company picks up and delivers , the trailer slides on and off. Most companies also can store it for you if needed for a fee. The best part is that you can sell your container back for almost what you paid for it when you are done.

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All I did was press this red button here...

A local U-store It place will usually have a 10x20 ft. locker available- rates in NJ run around $179/month. May be less where you are. Anyway, an 10x20 has a diagonal length which should be about 22 feet- if you remove the rudder and horizontal stab, you should be able to fit it in there..

Robbie

Gary, What are the 18cyl and the cowlings from? And those RR signs on the barn sure look like ex. AT&SF stuff....

Doug Ratchford 'Canso42'
(ex. AT&SF hogger)