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taildragon(at)msn.com
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 Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 4:43 pm Post subject: Aero lift |
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<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->
Have any multiple airplane owners out there considered the Aero-Lift that Van's recently started using? Any comments? What was the price? What options would you recommend?
Roger Standley
#40291 - Engine Cowling and beginning to think beyond the garage....about hangar space
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Tim(at)MyRV10.com
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject: Aero lift |
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I think Anh Vu might have just installed one.
Tim
do not archive
| Quote: |
Have any multiple airplane owners out there considered the Aero-Lift that
Van's recently started using? Any comments? What was the price? What
options would you recommend?
Roger Standley
#40291 - Engine Cowling and beginning to think beyond the garage....about
hangar space
|
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cjhukill(at)cox.net
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:31 am Post subject: Aero Lift |
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I have an Aerolift that the RV8 is on, while I build my 10. First let me say the lift works as advertised. The only complaint I have is the crappy customer support that you get, in that when I arranged the shipping, I was very, very adamant that I receive the lift when promised. This is important because you need at least two helpers (all day), and a rented fork lift with an extension. This is after you have previously prepared the hangar (several days for mine). After repeated assurances that mine will ship as promised, I was told at the last minute that I won't receive it until the following week, because basically I was de-prioritized by a multiple FBO order. The FBO I would assume have employees and a forklift available during any business day, unlike a one man show like mine. This really irritated me, and if you buy one, be sure and remind them of my displeasure. By the way I have never heard back from them since they have been paid. Lousy customer support for a $14,000 specialty purchase.
As for the lift, I would not recommend the $500 castor option, as once the lift is installed you don't need the wheels, and you can rent them for initial positioning. I had visions of wheeling this thing around the airport to another hangar if I ever needed too, but the reality is you would have to dis-assemble it to move it anyway, as it barely moves around on my perfectly flat, smooth, concrete floor. My vision of rolling out the hangar, and down the asphalt ramp without tweeking the lift is a pipe dream.
I bought both the nose and tailwheel hardware, and either the 8 or 10 can go on the lift.
The 8 is difficult to get on single handed, as the tailwheel needs to go up the ramp, be secured to the dolly, and rolled back before you can determine if the mains are in the exact position they need to be in, so as not to damage the wheelpants, as there is only 1 inch clearance on each side of the pant. I have the painted lines, etc., but getting it exactly right usually takes several tries. With a helper pushing, and pulling on the prop, it's not bad going back and forth up the ramp until you get it just right, but solo it's exhausting, and potentially dangerous, as the tailwheel can jump the sides of the ramp, and fall, which would cause major damage to the tailcone. I won't even try it solo anymore, as I have had a couple of close calls. Get a helper! If you think I'm directionally challenged, mark a spot on a ramp, and pull your taildragger back by the tail and try to get the mains on exactly the mark, and you'll see what I'm talking about. I think wider wheel cradles may be an option now, if so, buy them!
Pushing a nosewheel back on the rig should be much easier, as you can just drive the mains right into the slots, but you will need to come in at angle with the 10, as the horizontal stab will hit the vertical column if you came strait back.
The 8 has since been moved into another hangar, as it was not getting flown regularly because I'm too lazy to roll the 10 fuselage, all the tables, etc. outside, lower the 8, replace the 10 stuff, go fly, and repeat the process to put it all away. Just a parked airplane under the lift would be easy to move, however it can't be a taildragger, unless you had enough room in front of the lift, as the tailwheel has to go over the horizontal support leg of the lift.
The lift has proved very handy as a lifting devise for the 10 project. I use it to lift, and flip the 10 fuselage which is mounted to a steel rack I made. This way I work on the 10 in a comfortable position. I just installed tunnel parts while sitting in a chair, with the tunnel at eye level. Sweet!
Chris Hukill
milking the QB fuselage
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ed(at)muellerartcover.com
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| Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:37 am Post subject: Aero Lift |
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Hi Chris,
I'm interested in the rack you made for the fuselage. I've considered
mounting the fuse on a couple of engine stands so I could rotate it just
as you've described. Can you show a picture or better explain how you
accomplished this?
Thank You
Ed Mueller
# 40525
Chris Hukill wrote:
| Quote: | I have an Aerolift that the RV8 is on, while I build my 10. First let
me say the lift works as advertised. The only complaint I have is the
crappy customer support that you get, in that when I arranged the
shipping, I was *_very, very _*adamant that I receive the lift when
promised. This is important because you need at least two helpers (all
day), and a rented fork lift with an extension. This is after you have
previously prepared the hangar (several days for mine). After repeated
assurances that mine will ship as promised, I was told at the last
minute that I won't receive it until the following week, because
basically I was de-prioritized by a multiple FBO order. The FBO I
would assume have employees and a forklift available during any
business day, unlike a one man show like mine. This really irritated
me, and if you buy one, be sure and remind them of my displeasure. By
the way I have never heard back from them since they have been paid.
Lousy customer support for a $14,000 specialty purchase.
As for the lift, I would not recommend the $500 castor option, as once
the lift is installed you don't need the wheels, and you can rent them
for initial positioning. I had visions of wheeling this thing around
the airport to another hangar if I ever needed too, but the reality is
you would have to dis-assemble it to move it anyway, as it barely
moves around on my perfectly flat, smooth, concrete floor. My vision
of rolling out the hangar, and down the asphalt ramp without tweeking
the lift is a pipe dream.
I bought both the nose and tailwheel hardware, and either the 8 or 10
can go on the lift.
The 8 is difficult to get on single handed, as the tailwheel needs to
go up the ramp, be secured to the dolly, and rolled back before you
can determine if the mains are in the exact position they need to be
in, so as not to damage the wheelpants, as there is only 1 inch
clearance on each side of the pant. I have the painted lines, etc.,
but getting it exactly right usually takes several tries. With a
helper pushing, and pulling on the prop, it's not bad going back and
forth up the ramp until you get it just right, but solo it's
exhausting, and potentially dangerous, as the tailwheel can jump the
sides of the ramp, and fall, which would cause major damage to the
tailcone. I won't even try it solo anymore, as I have had a couple of
close calls. Get a helper! If you think I'm directionally challenged,
mark a spot on a ramp, and pull your taildragger back by the tail and
try to get the mains on exactly the mark, and you'll see what I'm
talking about. I think wider wheel cradles may be an option now, if
so, buy them!
Pushing a nosewheel back on the rig should be much easier, as you can
just drive the mains right into the slots, but you will need to come
in at angle with the 10, as the horizontal stab will hit the vertical
column if you came strait back.
The 8 has since been moved into another hangar, as it was not getting
flown regularly because I'm too lazy to roll the 10 fuselage, all the
tables, etc. outside, lower the 8, replace the 10 stuff, go fly, and
repeat the process to put it all away. Just a parked airplane under
the lift would be easy to move, however it can't be a taildragger,
unless you had enough room in front of the lift, as the tailwheel has
to go over the horizontal support leg of the lift.
The lift has proved very handy as a lifting devise for the 10 project.
I use it to lift, and flip the 10 fuselage which is mounted to a steel
rack I made. This way I work on the 10 in a comfortable position. I
just installed tunnel parts while sitting in a chair, with the tunnel
at eye level. Sweet!
Chris Hukill
milking the QB fuselage
|
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wvu(at)ameritel.net
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:48 am Post subject: Aero Lift |
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Chris,
My experience with AeroLift folks have been great. I had the same issue
with shipping but I think it was more a problem with the shipping folks (as
with shipping anything at all). The contraption made it to within 50 miles
of me in two days and took another 6 days to get to me. Luckily the folk
lift was available on my field and could flex. AeroLift tracked the
shipment and informed me of its whereabouts everyday. I feel that they did
the best possible.
Anh
---
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