Your plane is ruined cuz it ain’t flown it in ____ .

[455 Bravo Uniform]

I put this in hangar talk, because it’s only a semi-serious question/poll. Opinions don’t vary too much on this, I don’t think.

Forget the climate, and forget the manufacturers’ bulletins on storage, it’s a 100% opinion based poll based on what you believe about planes.

No arguing. Facts don’t matter, lol.

Pretend you’re looking at a log book of a plane you don’t know.

 

[eman1200]

if there was a 'none of the above' option I'd prob select that.

 

[Timbeck2]

I can't give an answer because "ruined" isn't really defined.

 

[Ravioli]

"flown" or "maintained." If it's been out of annual for 5 years means one thing. Never out of annual but near zero flight time for 5 years means another.

 

[bflynn]

It depends.

This cylinder from a 152 that didn't fly for less than 11 months. But not assured.

Your call.

 

[Pascal Forget]

Plane is ruined only when the cost of a full engine rebuild, interior and avionics complete replacement exceeds the value of the aircraft. I believe most airplanes at the Smithsonian could be put back in service if the need arose.

I can see a Hollywood movie in which the lone hero would borrow an SR-71 from the Smithsonian to save humanity.

 

[James331]

 

[Chip Sylverne]

It depends.

This cylinder from a 152 that didn't fly for less than 11 months. But not assured.

Your call.

View attachment 70408

Yabut, the valves look good...

 

[Lindberg]

It depends.

This cylinder from a 152 that didn't fly for less than 11 months. But not assured.

Your call.

View attachment 70408

Is that good or bad?

 

[bflynn]

Rusty and making metal.

One valve doesn't look too bad. The other one had a layer of rust on it.

 

[CC268]

6 hours

 

[RyanB]

If the cowling isn’t warm to the touch at all times, there’s a big problem!

 

[GRG55]

It depends.

This cylinder from a 152 that didn't fly for less than 11 months. But not assured.

Your call.

View attachment 70408

It'll buff out...

 

[JCranford]

It’s GOT 3 more cylinders ya know!

 

[Ravioli]

Plane is ruined only when the cost of a full engine rebuild, interior and avionics complete replacement exceeds the value of the aircraft.

There goes every GA plane priced under, what, $90k?

Oopps.. forgot you wanted interior. $110k?

 

[GRG55]

I can't give an answer because "ruined" isn't really defined.

ru·in
/ˈro͞oin/
verb
past tense: ruined; past participle: ruined

1. reduce (a building or place) to a state of decay, collapse, or disintegration.
   "a ruined castle"
   synonyms: destroy, devastate, lay waste, ravage;
2. LITERARY
   fall headlong or with a crash.
   "carriages go ruining over the brink from time to time"
3. Any airplane or decision regarding an airplane that does not meet with overwhelming approval from PoA Members:

"Buying the Mooney has ruined his appreciation of Bonanzas. Fool."​

 

[Ted]

None of the above.

10 years is pushing it, but the 414 hadn't flown in 6 years or so when I purchased it, and hadn't flown 100 years this millennium. It wasn't ruined by any stretch, in fact I've seen actively flying planes in worse shape.

 

[Clip4]

It depends.

This cylinder from a 152 that didn't fly for less than 11 months. But not assured.

Your call.

View attachment 70408

And the cam photo?

 

[bflynn]

Cam hole was covered with rags, but I suspect looks similar. Maybe next week

 

[SkyDog58]

I haven’t flown my club planes since last year. Should I be worried?

 

[Kelvin]

I haven’t flown my club planes since last year. Should I be worried?

You should be. Have it borescoped before you get back in it...

 

[alfadog]

None of the above for me also. "ain’t flown" alone ain't gonna ruin anything except your skills as a pilot. And they ain't ruined, just decayed.

 

[Grum.Man]

It depends.

This cylinder from a 152 that didn't fly for less than 11 months. But not assured.

Your call.

View attachment 70408

Wings of Carolina plane?

As for the question, it’s a total crapshoot. My airplane sat for 17 years and has been fine. On the other hand I’ve known airplanes to sit less than a year and need a total engine rebuild.

 

[Mtns2Skies]

Depends on the engine too. I know @hindsight2020 hates conti's but generally they do much better with corrosion and sitting for long periods. My plane hadn't flown more than 80 hours since 2000 and was pickled for 5 of those years. Borescope, compressions and oil analysis came back amazing (knock on wood) and everything is running great. The same can't be said for the avionics I bought... But I definitely wouldn't be scared off by lack of flying.

 

[Zeldman]

I flew a C-206 that sat upside down for two years on the tundra a few miles from the village formerly known as Barrow.

It had been rescued and rebuilt a few years before I flew it...

 

[Tom-D]

This is a 0-300-D cylinder that sat from 1980 to 2013, at AWO in a hangar less than 5 miles from the salt water. 99% of the rust wiped right out with a rag. it would have ran great, I didn't trust it.