Kevlar Carl just ignore him look at his other posts to confirm his real name is wayne kerr.
Anyway engine blanks have to purchased. As Kevlar will not doubt tell us on B757 for example there is a safety case for fitting them on the ground to stop the fans turning, particularly when into the wind.
And he obviously doesn't know it all as I know 1 airline that fits them daily across Europe. :\

We had an engine blank go 'missing' a while ago.

The company had to buy, not just the missing rear blank, but a whole set, as they aren't sold individually :ugh:.

It was a couple of hundred pounds IIRC, for a Citation jet.

On another note, just ignore certain, idiotic people on this forum (a Bl**ddy SPOTTERS FORUM), as they are probably sad individuals who like to raise their own, sad, insignificant importance.

As a pilot, I always wave at the spotters and look out for said piccys on the various websites. A much better hobby than stamp collecting!

*Apoligys for any speling misteaks like those made by karl erlyer :ok:

Very little in aviation is free. Some aircraft have them as part of a kit when they are delivered and these remain on the aircraft in a box stored in various locations dependant on the aircraft type. Many are never used. The recent panic over ash fallout had the operators looking for engine and various other assorted blanks. Some could not be located hence the improvised use of whatever could be considered as suitable.
In discussion with a colleague last week when it became apaarent that there was a shortage of blanke we both wished we could be in the position to manufacture as we could have made loads of money. Now the panic is over for the moment, blanks will again be seen in various locations gathering dust or getting lost until the next need arises.
The use of the 'membrane' intake cover has increased over the years. The older typr tended to be a solid plastic blank which when not in use was difficult to store and often damaged when left lying around.
On the Court Line Tristars the engine intake blanks were simillar to kiddies paddling pools. Needless to say they soon went missing.
Let's give everyone a bit of space here shall we and not be so quick to jump on someone when they ask what they consider as a reasonable question.
Temps:ok:

I have known companies trying to pinch pennies by selling off their blanks, rig pins and fly away kits to save money. They always regret it at some point later down the line.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I just figured that covers for engines would always be sitting around somewhere, or would be on the aircraft itself, given that there always seems to be a set of chocks available to block the wheels.

Maybe I've been influenced by seeing military aircraft, which always seem to have all sorts of covers in place while they are parked.

Where I was born, dust storms are common, and I should think it would be a good idea to put covers on engines just to prevent dust from whistling through the engine, even if it's not volcanic ash.

I also recall reading that it's not a good idea to let jet engines windmill on the ground, since apparently that puts wear on the engine if there's no oil pressure to lubricate it. If this is true, it makes me wonder about what happens if you have to shut down an engine in flight, since it will be windmilling at a good speed for quite a while.

Windmilling engines
 

True, they don't like it for any extended period. We once had to send a jet back from Ascenscion Island on only 3 engines, and to stop the 4th windmilling all the way home, a big wooden pole was rammed down the engine and bolted into place.

There are several reasons for the above: Commercial aircraft have much higher ulitization than military, they don't sit around as much as military aircraft. The military has the manpower to install and remove those covers. Remember, the military doesn't have to make a profit.

Nothing in aviation is free nor cheap!

I used to deal with a UK company called Gerard Poly Moldings, they used to make shotpeening masks for me. They used to make engine blanks iirc. Can't find a website for them though.

Aren't engine covers free?
 

In the words of a former Chief of Defence Procurement, "British A******** is in business to make money, not aeroplanes". I cannot imagine that any of the other aircraft manufacturers are in any way different. As a previous poster said, nothing is free.

We carry covers and blanks. We have to use them whenever we park for an overnight. About the only time I didn't fit the covers was after landing in Reykjavic and the wind was so strong it was dangerous to try and fit them.

Fortunately, I was parked 90 deg to the wind so the snow and ice wasn't being blasted through the engines.

(Hawker 800)

The mighty Q400 also has engine blanks fitted each night (all our aircraft carry them). Helps keep out volcanic ash, snow, undesirables, nesting pigeons etc. :ok:

Engine blanks/covers are not free & are purchased like any spare for $.

from what i have seen, private jets generaly get put to bed after a days work. however commercial jets tend not to as unless they are parked in the middle of the airfield, they and protected by the terminal buildings etc. they dont realy spend that much time on the ground for someone to get the ladders out and get all the covers on. im cant remember where i heard it, but in the early part of my training one of my instructors told me that during the average aircraft spends about 70-80% of its lifespan in the air.

some airlines have a 25 minute turn around time, and others 4 hours. even if an aircraft is on the ground for the night, generaly it will be back in the air within say 6-10 hours. this is also the time that work is carried out by the tech guys as it causes less disruption the the flights the aircraft has to do the following day.