Just plane necessary

The airplane is just the beginning. The list of necessary stuff is as long as your imagination, but some of it really is necessary. While your mileage may vary, this is my experience, and is to date, my recommended list. Keep in mind that this list does not contain any basic pilot supplies like headsets, an ADS­-B receiver, portable radio, et cetera. This is simply stuff to make piloting life as an owner a bit easier.

Hangar. This is a part of the airplane buying decision as far as I’m concerned. In much of the country, hangar space is at a premium, so the choice of a hangar versus a tiedown may not be a choice at all, but if it is, and if you can afford it, a hangar is clearly the optimal solution. Hangars offer protection from precipitation, if not necessarily from temperature swings. You won’t have to worry about ice covering your airplane (and straining your control cables). You will have less worry about birds, rodents, and bugs using your airplane for refuge (although this is not an absolute). You can store stuff in a hangar, and you can use it as a place to park your car while you fly. If the weather is untenable for flying, you can at least visit your airplane and whisper sweet nothings to its spinner.

I started looking for a hangar months before I bought my airplane, and I wound up paying rent for one for close to a year before my airplane took up residence.

Tug. My airplane is in a hangar that has an ever-so-slight slope from the taxiway to the hangar floor, but when you’re pushing a half-ton airplane, that slope can feel like a mountain. There are numerous tug options on the market, and some pilots repurpose old lawn tractors or rig up a golf cart to do the trick. There are also gas-powered tugs that can hook up to an airplane, some of which even use 100LL gas. I went with a Redline Sidewinder, which is a foldable unit powered by a Milwaukee drill. I keep the battery at home to charge it, but the tug stays in the hangar. My airplane is a Piper Arrow, so it has a piece that fits into the nosewheel where the tow bar goes, and a squeezy gizmo pulls the unit taut with the nosewheel. The drill—which is variable speed—is then used to move the airplane in and out of the hangar. Best of all, it’s portable, so I can put it in the cargo bin and carry it with me just in case. No strain on my back, knees, or anything else.

Pro tip: To get the airplane into the hangar without hangar rash, I lay an extension cord on the ground to center up the nose wheel. I use that to guide me in, and voila! Straight in, every time.

Chocks. The airplane came with a small set that I keep in the airplane, but I cut some scrap four-by-four wood to make chocks for the hangar.

The airplane is just the beginning. The list of necessary stuff is as long as your imagination.Tie-down straps. Not every airport has tie-down ropes. They don’t take up any space, and when needed, they come in very handy.

Oil filters. Thanks to the pandemic, oil filters were as scarce as hen’s teeth. I bought a dozen that I can keep in the hangar. They have no expiration date, and are out of the way, and if push comes to shove, I can sell them for at least as much as I paid for them.

First aid kit. I bought a first-aid kit from FL220 that comes in a small Pelican case. In addition to the space blanket that was in it, I bought four extras. I keep the first-aid kit in the cargo area. It has the bare essentials: bandages, a splint, scissors, pain relievers, ointments, etc, and weighs 3.5 pounds. I figure that every three years or so I can replace the contents.

Personal locator beacon. This was part of a small kit that included the beacon, a signaling mirror, a flashlight/strobe combo, and a whistle, all in a waterproof carrying bag. Registering the beacon with NOAA took only a few minutes, and it allows you to enter alternate contact information for an emergency. The unit is about the size of an X-acto knife, and while I store it at home between flights, I put it in the chart pocket when I fly. That way, it is convenient to activate by myself or by a passenger before an off-field landing. It is a GPS satellite unit, so my location within 100 meters is broadcast to the nearest rescue agency. You can even get a unit that allows for rudimentary texting. However, I just want someone to find me.

Crash axe. I found a great multi-tool axe on Amazon. The head is both an axe and a hammer, and the seven parts also include a fire-starter, a compass, a knife, and a saw. The total weight is less than 2.5 pounds, and I leave it in the cargo area.

GPU/jumper cables/battery charger. While I obviously hope I will never need the jumper cables or the battery charger, it would be silly to be caught without them. The GPU is great for powering up the airplane to work with the avionics or even to program the Garmin 430 GPS without worrying about burning gas or battery power. I don’t expect to use it much, but I’ve never met an owner that has regretted buying one.

Cleaning supplies. I bought a package of microfiber towels, along with recommended window cleaner and a cleaning solution that is safe for the paint, which I keep in a bucket in the hangar. I also keep some shop towels handy for checking the oil and cleaning up any unexpected mess.

Small shop vac. This is ideal for cleaning out the cabin as necessary. I have no idea how my white German Shepherd is going to take to flying, but if she does, a dog that sheds more than a Shepherd hasn’t been invented yet, so this could come very much in handy.

Step stool. I use this for easy access to the oil door on the cowling, and it also lets me get a better view/access to the rudder and upper antennae.

Extension cords. In addition to using it as a guide to putting the airplane away, my airplane has a Tanis pre-heater on the engine, so the cord is primarily for that, but I can also use it for the shop vac or any other power tools I might need.

Shelving. I bought a set of rugged plastic shelves to hold everything and to keep my hangar more or less organized. It’s out of the way of the airplane, and I’ve gotten to where I can tell by looking at it if something is out of place or missing. I tried to keep my gotta have stuff to a minimum, as my goal is to make sure that I don’t need to buy another set of shelves, so right now there is a place for everything, and everything has its place.

Welcome mat. I keep this by the step for getting on the wing. It’s a great way to minimize getting any dirt, water, or mud in the airplane, and because my Arrow is a low-wing airplane, it gives me a chance to make sure that my feet are dry so that I minimize the risk of slipping. Furthermore, for passengers that have no general aviation experience, it’s a way to show the obvious path to getting into the airplane, which to them may not beso obvious. Hangar floors can also be slippery, so when I’m getting in and out of the airplane while it’s in the hangar, this helps prevent a nasty fall on slick concrete.

There are a few other odds and ends I have as well, and this list is by no means comprehensive, but if you’re buying or considering buying an airplane, these are some ideas worth considering, and some you may deem to be more critical than others. Most would be easy to sell (and easier to give away), and all give a measurable peace of mind.