Clear (of flies) prop
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Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
Clear (of flies) prop
Somebody suggested something the other day to me, which I think falls into the category of "somebody once heard of somebody else doing this".
Anyhow, the idea is that you spray your prop (and presumably leading edges, spats, etc) with the very fine cooking oil - one-cal is the brand name in my kitchen cupboard - after you've cleaned them. The idea is that this then tends to stop dead flies sticking too hard and makes them easy to clean off next time.
Whilst I'm sure this won't do any damage, has anybody tried it - and does it do any good?
G
Anyhow, the idea is that you spray your prop (and presumably leading edges, spats, etc) with the very fine cooking oil - one-cal is the brand name in my kitchen cupboard - after you've cleaned them. The idea is that this then tends to stop dead flies sticking too hard and makes them easy to clean off next time.
Whilst I'm sure this won't do any damage, has anybody tried it - and does it do any good?
G
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 605
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From: Midlands
Bugs
I carry a bucket, leather and bug-buster cloth in my flying machines. If I am touring I carry a couple of litres of water too.
If you wash the prop and leading edges etc. after every flight, the bugs come off easily.
Leave them on, especially in the sun, and you spend hours doing what would otherwise have taken you minutes if you could have been @rsed at the time.
I get my bug busters from Rise and Shine or Mick Allen Resprays at Turweston. I think Halfords may do a similar product?
For those who have never seen one, the Bug Buster is a material with the texture of felt. They are terrific for removing bugs without risk of damage to paint (use only a squeaky clean leather on transparencies.....).
Anybody know of a bulk supplier for Bug Busters?
Leathers? My local garage sells full skin leathers for seven quid! I cant imagine a bulk supplier beating that!
Seasons greetings to all.
HP
If you wash the prop and leading edges etc. after every flight, the bugs come off easily.
Leave them on, especially in the sun, and you spend hours doing what would otherwise have taken you minutes if you could have been @rsed at the time.
I get my bug busters from Rise and Shine or Mick Allen Resprays at Turweston. I think Halfords may do a similar product?
For those who have never seen one, the Bug Buster is a material with the texture of felt. They are terrific for removing bugs without risk of damage to paint (use only a squeaky clean leather on transparencies.....).
Anybody know of a bulk supplier for Bug Busters?
Leathers? My local garage sells full skin leathers for seven quid! I cant imagine a bulk supplier beating that!
Seasons greetings to all.
HP
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
From: Old Sarum ish
I carry a ...
I wonder if any glue manufacturers have analysed the chemical composition of squashed flies.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 126
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From: UK
For those of you who can't be @rsed to clean the bugs off at the time. Put a small amout on of Zipwax in a bucket of warm water, soak the area affected with flies and let it soak for 2-3 minutes, then just simply wipe them off with a sponge soaked in the solution. If you're doing it on a dacron/fabric wing make sure you rinse the soap solution off properly.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
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From: Earth
I religiously wipe a damp cloth over:
Prop
Leading edges of wings
Spats
Wing struts
Front of cowling
Windscreen
as soon as I return drom flying in the spring/summer and then run around the same areas with a chamois.
It takes 5 minutes and makes going flying in a clean plane the next time that much more of a pleasure.
Perhaps I am a sad git but it pleases me.....
Prop
Leading edges of wings
Spats
Wing struts
Front of cowling
Windscreen
as soon as I return drom flying in the spring/summer and then run around the same areas with a chamois.
It takes 5 minutes and makes going flying in a clean plane the next time that much more of a pleasure.
Perhaps I am a sad git but it pleases me.....
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: West Wales UK.
Passed through a swarm of small flies in France a while back. Arrived at Le Touquet with my ATL looking like a fly-paper!
Coudn't find a bucket, so bought a packet of baby wipes and the flies came off like magic. I keep a spare packet in the aeroplane for use after each flight. Season's greetings.
MG
Coudn't find a bucket, so bought a packet of baby wipes and the flies came off like magic. I keep a spare packet in the aeroplane for use after each flight. Season's greetings.
MG
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bletchley
Dead flies
Diluted MER - works wonders on glider wings, the more you apply over a period of time the easier they become to clean at the end of the day - can't see why it won't work on props but Istand to be corrected.
bletchleytugie
Diluted MER - works wonders on glider wings, the more you apply over a period of time the easier they become to clean at the end of the day - can't see why it won't work on props but Istand to be corrected.
bletchleytugie
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 10
From: Just South of the last ice sheet
I've never tried the cooking oil trick but I do follow Monocock's regime of a wipe down of all the bug and mud splattered areas after flight. I usually use a proprietry household polish with kitchen towel on the solid bits and a soft cloth with Plexus for the perspex.
