Tires Slashed in Alaska

Should probably start the investigation at the nearest place that sells tires.
 
"A pair of small airplane tires can run between $3500 and $4000, he noted."

Huh?? :confused: Don't think I've ever paid more than $300-$400.
 
One of my FB buddies sent me pictures of his Citabria - not tundra tires, but still big. He said every plane tied down on that ramp got hit.
 
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87 airplanes. All inside relatively new FAA fences with keypad access gates. Lots of Bushwheels. Airframes Alaska is giving a 20% discount on new AK Bushwheels to guys who had tires slashed. They sold out very quickly this morning, though. Some of these planes will be sitting for a while waiting for new shoes. Nobody around here is amused.
 
Hopefully someone will soon find out that they are facing several charges of a crime that can get 20 years for each offense.
 
Need to drop the guilty party off on Kodiak Island and let the grizzlies take care of it. Totally senseless.
 
Wow. YGTBSM. Whoever did it better turn themselves into the police before one of the owners finds them.
 
Right across the street from Merrill Field is one of the parts of Anchorage I avoid like a mad skunk.
 
I'm in shock.....unbelievable someone would do that. I'd be putting together a hunting expedition right about now....
 
Yeah but the bears are real hungry this time of the year!
 
Will insurance take care of the owners?
 
Will insurance take care of the owners?
I hope. But does it cover lost revenue for the guys that charter out for fishing/hunting/camping trips? How long for that many tires to get shipped out there?
 
At least they stuck to tires and left the fabric alone.
 
I hope. But does it cover lost revenue for the guys that charter out for fishing/hunting/camping trips? How long for that many tires to get shipped out there?
It does if their business insurance has a loss-of-use clause, which many do. However, the deductible may not be worth paying for a few days of lost revenue, depending on what they had scheduled.


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I hope. But does it cover lost revenue for the guys that charter out for fishing/hunting/camping trips? How long for that many tires to get shipped out there?
Lots of air freight capacity through Anchorage so paying the toll is the limit.
 
Well as long as we have all these fake laws, might as well charge whoever it was with "Domestic Terrorism" when they figure out who it was.
 
So much for the tight security fences,could be a long wait for tires,if yours isn't in stock.
 
So, who around the airport ******* about airplane noise the most... ? However, since it sounds like it was multiple people participating, it might suggest animal rights activists since many airplanes there might be used for hunting.

Is a hangar really worth it? Yes.
 
So, who around the airport ******* about airplane noise the most... ? However, since it sounds like it was multiple people participating, it might suggest animal rights activists since many airplanes there might be used for hunting.

Is a hangar really worth it? Yes.
There is an awful lot of supposition there with absolutely no supporting evidence.

People vandalize for a whole lot of reasons. One you didn't think of would be to sell airplane tires. Another might just be excessive alcohol. Maybe someone had a bad discovery flight, or got "buzzed" by some ***hole far from the airport. Or someone just thinks every airplane is for surveillance and the evil government is watching.

The only fact known to this board is that a lot of airplane tires were slashed. That's IT. Conclusions about who did it say a lot more about the person making the assumptions than they do about anything real.
 
87 airplanes. Not one was missed between the first and last. Cubs, Citabrias, Cessnas, tail draggers, nose draggers, big tires, little tires.... even the 4 mains under a 185 amphi, and that took some effort. You guys and your cracks about bears, *******, and animal activists are off base. The hangar comment? 850 planes at Merrill. How many hangars did you count last time you were there? The last hangar I had a chance to buy there was $559K cash. It wasn't a wise investment so I passed. A tire dealer doing it? Are you guys really that stupid? AK Bushwheels is one of the most liked and respected companies in Alaskan aviation. This isn't their doing. Somebody had an agenda and they knew how to avoid the security camera coverage. I'm certain that's not lost on the investigators who are working this case.
 
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I'm sure lots of the damaged tires are Bushwheels, and they ain't cheap. 29" Alaskan Bushwheel tires are $1,635 -- each. 31" is $1,795 and 35" is $2,350.
Wow. Remind me never to buy an airplane in Alaska. Why exactly are they so expensive?
 
Wow. Remind me never to buy an airplane in Alaska. Why exactly are they so expensive?



There is the "This is Alaska so that's why everything is expensive," attitude that adds at least 20% to the price.

Plus these are not the tiny tires that most people can use in the lower 48, but specialized low pressure tundra tires designed for off airport work.
 
Wow. Remind me never to buy an airplane in Alaska. Why exactly are they so expensive?

Those tires are just as expensive down here. It's just that there aren't a ton of places where big tires are really necessary (at least in my opinion) in the lower 48.

Edit: looks like Zeldman beat me to it!
 
So, who around the airport ******* about airplane noise the most... ? However, since it sounds like it was multiple people participating, it might suggest animal rights activists since many airplanes there might be used for hunting.

Is a hangar really worth it? Yes.

Certainly someone with some sort of ax to grind.
 
At least they stuck to tires and left the fabric alone.

A few years ago a friend of mine got into a tiff at a bar with some Hells Angels. They came out that night with baseball bats and knives to the grass strip where his 182 was parked and had at it. They busted out most of the windows and knocked a couple of pretty good sized holes in the fuselage and slashed all the tires. Bottom line however is that he was able to fix it fairly quickly and it didn't cost all that much. If those guys had known anything about airplanes and gone after say, the leading edges of the wings, tail, prop, instrument panel - that airplane would have been totaled.
 
There is the "This is Alaska so that's why everything is expensive," attitude that adds at least 20% to the price.

Plus these are not the tiny tires that most people can use in the lower 48, but specialized low pressure tundra tires designed for off airport work.
Gotta remember that Bush Wheel is an Alaskan company right there in the Anchorage area. it costs more to ship down here. Also, CubCrafters are a Washington company and have more customers in the lower 48 than in Alaska.
 
Certainly someone with some sort of ax to grind.
Ever notice how close Merrill Field is to housing in Anchorage? Just remember, they have their Ghetto Dwellers just like every where else.
 
There is the "This is Alaska so that's why everything is expensive," attitude that adds at least 20% to the price.

Plus these are not the tiny tires that most people can use in the lower 48, but specialized low pressure tundra tires designed for off airport work.
I figured they were designed for the bush, just wasn't clear what was different about them other than being heavy-duty design. Thanks.
 
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