Tdeman
Well Known Member
These things are about 1/10 the price of an Aero Lift and seem like it would be pretty straightforward to modify one. The one drawback I see offhand is needing 240V. My hangar has 120V 20A, which I bet is pretty typical.
So, I'd like to revive this old thread and hear from anyone that knows of one of these things being adapted to lift an airplane?
Steve,
Cheap 110V hydraulic power units are easy to come by, ($259 with prime shipping!) and would nearly bolt right on in place of the existing system. Most of these lifts have mechanical locking features as they go up, so even if your cheap hydraulic unit takes a dive you're plane won't drop.
It'd likely be slower than the original setup, but isn't there some saying about "time to spare, go by air"
FYI, the RV-5 is currently suspended high in the demo aircraft hangar at Vans, lifted by a harbor freight hoist. Granted it weighs less, but they do offer configurations that would lift a cub in the couple hundred dollar price range.