Hangar planning - any advice?

pilot · Post by **pilot** » Thu May 15, 2014 12:29 pm

I finally decided to rebuild the hangar here on my farm. I have an old shop that is 42' x 90' inside, with the back half dedicated to hangar space and the rear opening opens onto my grass runway (horse pasture). I have a blank slate, including the hangar door (or lack thereof). I already see a need to put a winch on the back wall since there is a decent slope up to the rear opening. Also thinking about a hydroswing-type door rather than bifold.

For all of you who have thought about it, what would you say makes for a nice hangar setup?

Danws · Post by **Danws** » Thu May 15, 2014 8:51 pm

I built a 80x80 7 years ago. Used a hydroswing 60ft door.works great. 7 other hangers were built at the same time with bifold doors and all 7 have had to have maintanance done to them. Cables broke, lathces not working ect. The hydro gives more shade and more roof space .
Dan

Hottshot · Post by **Hottshot** » Thu May 15, 2014 10:24 pm

Start with the size you are thinking about ..... Then double it. from there you should go around the airports and check out the things you like and don't and plan accordingly

LT4247 · Post by **LT4247** » Fri May 16, 2014 7:02 am

Blank slate you say? For starters:

Hydroswing!! Worth every penny.
add plumbing with water heater.
lots of lights.

Duane · Post by **Duane** » Fri May 16, 2014 7:53 am

I would make it high enough you can hang stuff from the rafters. Also, times being what they are, internet hook-up can be nice for flight planning, trolling Maulepilots.org, vids. etc...

robc · Post by **robc** » Thu May 29, 2014 12:02 pm

I've got a hangar in Madison GA. I bought my hangar from oylmpia steel buildings and the hydraulic hangar door from aerodoor out of florida. AeroDoor made a nice bifold door for the guy next door at the same time. They came and installed them for both of us. Both companies were very good.

I would visit some hangars and look for things you like and dislike, i definitely advice insulation!

http://www.hangardoors.aero
http://www.olympiabuildings.com

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Thu May 29, 2014 3:28 pm

On the doors, if you have the room the most simple solution might be to extend the tracks to either side or one side and use sliding doors on rollers.

No power needed, no overhead space consumed. Will look funky but low tech.

Just a thought.

TD

pilot · Post by **pilot** » Thu May 29, 2014 7:25 pm

I'm pretty well decided on a "hydro-swing" type door. It looks pretty easy to build and I like the pushbutton opening. Duane I do have internet so I will be able to check on my parts order from the hangar! Does have water and lots of metal halide lighting. I do plan to get a water heater for those greasy hands in the winter....... It is a steel frame building, trusses every 25' with 13' height floor to truss lower chord. There would be no problem lifting something from the truss - I do have a big rolling A-frame with a 2 ton electric hoist but it is always in the way and may need a new home.

Anybody with some door pics and hydraulic cylinder specs would be very welcome to post the info here! I do plan to go look at dome hangars in the next month or so.

51598Rob · Post by **51598Rob** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:55 am

We have wind in our area, so I installed a bifold door on my hanger. Was I wrong to worry? I liked the door so much that I'm going to put one in my new farm shop. The hydroswing would allow the building to be shortened by 2 feet
and still maintain same clearance? Of course, clearance to open would have to be more for the hydroswing.

pilot · Post by **pilot** » Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:48 pm

Progress!

Horizontal bifold copied from a bedroom closet door

I used 6" galvanized purlins skinned with 26 ga roofing sheets. I ripped a 10" I-beam with my plasma cutter to make the overhead rails, the hinges are bullet hinges with 3/4" pins. I fabbed the floor bolts out of some 3/4" cold roll and same for gust locks on top of middle sections. I built it to open in so I can pin it in the open position without dealing with the slope outside the building. opens about 9' into the sides of the building but I have over 40' of depth for the plane.

Hangar door from inside:

https://youtu.be/to3Ngpl_iY8

From outside:

https://youtu.be/IfNR4U7O4j0

gbarrier · Post by **gbarrier** » Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:15 am

Quite nice doors. Thanks for the show and tell.

chris erasmus · Post by **chris erasmus** » Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:28 am

I would consider a bathroom and a kitchenette with a fridge full of beer for bad weather days

Rezrider · Post by **Rezrider** » Sat Oct 03, 2015 7:06 am

wow....those doors look pro. You sir are an expert.
Good job

captnkirk · Post by **captnkirk** » Sat Oct 03, 2015 10:20 pm

I think I have a case of hanger door envy

gbarrier · Post by **gbarrier** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:56 am

I'm thinking just plain old hangar envy. Nice dog too.

Kind of makes you feel bad about what you might have called a guy.

Hangar planning - any advice?

Hangar planning - any advice?

Hanger

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