Hangaring a CT via a Trailer

[D. Sprague]

I've been forced to hangar my 2006 CT in a 24 ft. enclosed trailer (no available nearby hangars to rent) & also, as a part of this reality event, I've placed my CT into the "Experimental Light Sport" category so that I can self-accomplish my assembly & disassembly inspections. Augmenting this CT-use pathway, I've installed wing tank fuel line quick-connects & drilled the aileron bolts to accommodate either safety pins or safety wire to speed-up the assembly & disassembly process. Presently, I'm finishing up my trailer fixturing for the CT via single 2 ft. long wing saddles with the spars resting on rests with clamping. I've acquired a 30 gal. gas caddy with a manual pump & flow meter to inform me when it is time to stop pumping. The manual pump will also reverse pump the remaining gas in the tanks before loading the CT back into the trailer. I think that I can carry the gas caddy at the rear of the trailer where I can fill it on the way to the airport. The additional pluses to this effort are: No hangar rent, having my CT home when not flying & choice of airports. I would like to hear from any others that are trailer hangaring their CT!

[Roger H]

Wow, interesting! Just curious can you "take apart", "put together", load and unload by yourself or is it a minimum two person process?

Roger H

[D. Sprague]

Since my flying background has been largely sailplanes, which typically have considerably heavier wings with aircraft empty wts. approx. equal to a CT's for single seaters, whereby the assemblies & disassemblies are more arduous because of the increased wt. of the wings, in comparison, the assembly & disassembly of the CT, is a pure snap for two. Therefore, it seems that with some refinement of the assembly tools/props (like used for sailplanes), one could handle the together & apart task. Presently, my frail wife is able to handle the wing tips in conjunction with the use of 2 sailplane wing stands.

I plan to sneak up on the project of single person assembly/disassembly over a period of time.