Submitted By: T Wise
Editor’s Note: I managed to use The Google Image Search to scrounge up a few more pictures to put this kludge into perspective. Apparently this plane was the victim of a bear mauling! – Ms. Fix-It
Favorite Comment: Fixer Code says, “Yes, that’s a gun case. Which absolutely begs the question — Who was sleeping when they should have been guarding the plane from bears? And should answer the questions — Where are the pic-i-nic baskets, and why is Park Ranger Smith not moving? Damn you, Yogi Bear!”
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Copy & paste this:
“Your safety is our business”
First
Note: Duct tape is not airplane grade. Use speedtape
Speedtape, that stuff that NASCAR uses, is rated at somewhere over 200 MPH, and sometimes it can’t even handle that. There are different grades of duct tape. Some are rated as high as 500 MPH.
maybe its an easy access emergency door
i can just imagine getting your parachute pack stuck when you cut the door open and jump out.
20% duct tape
80% death trap
or
maximum load
normal : around 2000lbs
now: around 10lbs
Ever since watching the Mythbusters episode where they make the boat out of duct tape, I will believe anything when it comes to that magic material…
This has been floating around the pilot community for a few days. The story is that the plane is owned by a hunter in Alaska. He left some food in the airplane and it was attack by a bear attempting to get the tasty stuff inside.
The choice was to be stuck in the bush, or attempt a repair. The story goes that the fram of the aircraft was OK, so he used duct tape to patch the fabric, which has no structural value on the fuselage.
Makes sense to me. I didn’t figure the kludged area had any structural significance, but being nothing near an expert, I wasn’t going to say anything myself.
When it comes to survival, you gotta do what you gotta do. Kudos to this pilot!
You can bearly notice it after it has been taped up.
now i know why airplanes make me uneasy…
On top of everything else, I see no sign of the registration number. The FAA will squish that owner like a bug.
Note: despite what it seems, this is NOT duct tape – this is normal aircraft fabric covering, which is then covered with a dope finish. In this case the finish has an aluminum pigment, this is quite usual. On top of this layer the plane is then painted in the desired color.
Oh, and the thingy in the plane’s belly is just a removable external baggage pod. The only thing I dont understand is that thing attached to the left wing strut, like a leaf blower or something. Maybe it’s being used to stretch the fabric?
true enough … but that takes the fun out of it.
The plastic thing is the front half of a rifle-size gun case.
Yes, that’s a gun case. Which absolutely begs the question — Who was sleeping when they should have been guarding the plane from bears? And should answer the questions — Where are the pic-i-nic baskets, and why is Park Ranger Smith not moving? Damn you, Yogi Bear!
That certainly *is* duct tape. The case on the side is a Kolpin gun case (he’s a hunter).
The “leaf blower” is a hard shell rifle case.
Sorry to disagree, but after talking with Mr. Miller (the pilot in question who’s a friend of the family.) I can verify that it was clear visqueen and duck tape. Oh and a new set of tires his friend flew in for him.
Just what I thought, and might I say, job well done!
That’s a rifle case. apparently it protects rifles from bear attacks.
Duct tape heat-shield 66.6% complete … Liftoff in T – 45 minutes
well, judging by the caribou antlers on the ground behind the plane, and the type of terrain and vegitation, it seems highly probable that the Alaskan hunter explanation is legitimate. And if applied carefully, duct tape would be potentially stronger that the original canvas shell of the plane.
Sorry, but no gaffer tape is as strong as the fabric on a ragwing. It’s actually a composite material with a synthetic fabric impregnated with “dope” that seals the fabric and protects it from UV damage (that’s why it looks silver before it’s painted). It actually does add to the structural stiffness of the structures it covers – in fact, if you apply it worn you can twist the airframe.
Dear Chopper Doc,
I do not doubt that a single thickness of modern synthetic composite fabric designed for this purpose possesses a higher strength to weight ratio than a single thickness of duct tape (which is not the same as Gaff tape, by the way). I still stand behind my statement, that if applied correctly (in cross-laminating layers) it could *potentially* be stronger(notice I stated this as a possibility and not a certainty). Also, on older craft the shell is not necessarily composite synthetic, but nothing more than doped canvas. I have ridden in one of these planes, and can assure you, its shell did not posses the tensile or resilient strength of layered quality duct tape.
ok, did a little research. Yes, the alaskan hunter story is true, follow the link below to see the pictures of the damaged plane, the repair in progress, and the final result. In the last image you can see that he has actually written the registartion on the side after the “fix”.
I say this is one kickass repair!
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/download/file.php?id=69889&sid=0b2a428b1da5e9974845fcb32aa0ecfd&mode=view
The pilot had flown in for a hunting trip. He had not cleaned out the plane and the smell attracted a bear. Including the damage you see, the bear also attacked the tires. The pilot ordered two new tires, a roll of mylar sheeting, and two cases of duct tape. The repair was enough to get him to the nearest repair facility.
The thing strapped to the wing strut is a rifle case.
note to self: don’t fly with bear(s); specially drunk bears
not good
reminds me of this one: http://www.slipperybrick.com/2007/09/airline-seatbelt-engine-straps/
Haven’t they ever told him ducks can’t fly?
Maybe those kooks from Colorado could figure out a way to get their kid to fly that plane and report him missing? There’s a reality show for ya.
Oh yes, the Cessna Altercation. A great plane.
Apropos name considering what the bear did to it.
This is a really good looking tail dragger. Heavy duty Saran Wrap will solve the aerodynamic questions. Duct tape weighs to much for this particular application.
If that really is duct tape, I bet it got the guy back home, instead of being stranded out there with the bear that did it!
Hey, this is a great kludge! Supercubs fly at under 100mph, they’re only a little more aerodynamic than a fridge, and they can land on short, rough strips when the tape starts to peel off.
As far as bush-fixes on ragwing aircraft go, this isn’t even a top-ten finisher. If it can be sewn, taped, or strapped over a hole, it’s been flown.
I believe this is the standard plane for Kludge Airlines.
Love it! This took real ingenuity *and* the guts to test fly the thing out of there! I’d like to know the person who came up with this one, because I bet he’s an interesting individual.
They call it 100mph tape for a reason. The only thing missing here is some zip ties. . .
If they could make a boat on Mythbusters with duct tape I suppose this might work. It doesn’t mean I would want to fly in it, though.
Reminds me of when MacGyver built an airplane with a lawnmower, bamboo, a tent, and duct tape.
Bear, I Fixed It.
SCORE!
I would totally fly in this plane.
Then again, I own my own parachute.
Yeah, I think you can still get that 12 inch wide duct tape, you might have to special order it but yeah.
If you can’t find 12 inch wide duct tape, just use some duct tape to stick lots of regular width duct tape together.
This plane is on a country-wide tour. It will be stopping on freeways, in car dealerships, and farm terrain near you.
I know that guy!
http://205.252.250.26/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1255576170/0
they BEARly made it back
Picking up a car with duct tape? Priceless.
Risking life & limb with duct tape? Is it possible to be more than priceless?
Entering the tail number into FlightAware suggests that it’s a Piper PA-18, also known as a “Super Cub” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-18). You would think that Mama Bear would be more careful around cubs
It does not beg the question. It raises or brings up the question. I hate it when people use that term wrong.
I never could get the hang of airfix models
Not unusual in Alaska. Brown/grizzly bears seem to like the taste of fabric “dope” used on fabric covered aircraft. You don’t see pictures of Cessnas or other metal clad aircraft that have been torn up. Personally I think that bears purposely target Piper aircraft because of the “Cub” name. That said I’ve also seen Stinsons, Citabrias and others that have been similarly torn up.
bear revenge
PS. It’s a Super Cub– Cessnas have metal and don’t have those struts supporting the wings.
It was speed tape btw- LOLOL Flying with ducttape
That is a good looking repair. It only proves that if it can’t be fixed with duct tape, cable ties or fencing wire, it can’t be fixed !
as my dad always says, duct tape and moulding fix a multitude of ills.
All aboard for Duct Lake!
wow, one step closer to the duct-rocket…
Is 12″ duct tape still available? If so where? My mother-in-law will be ready soon to come out of hibernation. It can get real ugly.
LOL. I would call Minnisota Mining and Manufacturing.