Glider Cover Recommendations

[Javelin 77]

Who likes what brands for glider covers? The choices seem to be Clouddancer, Vertigo, Jaxida and generic Kerry/chinese. They would be used several weeks per season, generally for a week at a time. Both humid and dry climates. Thanks

[Curt Lewis]

I can recommend Bruce's Covers:

https://aircraftcovers.com/general-aviation/gliders-sailplanes

Curt Lewis - 95

On Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:35:12 AM CST, Javelin 77 <jave...@gmail.com> wrote:

Who likes what brands for glider covers? The choices seem to be Clouddancer, Vertigo, Jaxida and generic Kerry/chinese. They would be used several weeks per season, generally for a week at a time. Both humid and dry climates. Thanks

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[John DeRosa]

I also bought Bruce's covers for my ASW-27.    I like them as they seem to be the easiest to put onto our long glider wings.  

Most (all?) other covers need to slide onto/off the wing starting at the tip accordion style and you probably have to remove your winglets too.  Bruce's covers come with a tip to root zipper on the underside.  Just lay the cover onto the top of the wing and then pull the zipper.  Reverse for removal.  

- John (OHM)

[Rob Cluxton]

I'm really happy with the Kerry chinese made covers. High quality for only occasional use (4-5 times a season for me) and especially the price!

[Uli N]

I bought the British Vertigo covers for my Aluminum-Overcast but only because they had the only Calif flying in the UK in the hangar next door and Jaxida gave me a 'Go Away' price! The covers are heavy-duty and I used them since 2018 a few weeks each year in the heat and UV exposure of Moriarty, NM. The only point of criticism was that the two-piece fuselage cover shrunk, so the ends didn't meet anymore. I convinced Vertigo that the glider at it's age was done growing, so they sent me a 'splice piece' to bridge the gap. 

Uli

'AS'

[Soartech]

I am also happy with the Kerry covers from China. My first ones lasted 10 years and I keep them on for 2 to 3 months in summer.

I tested them with a UV light and they really do block the UV Last year I ordered another set and they were still $800 and seem even better

made with stronger fabric. Had them on all summer too.

[John DeRosa]

For price comparison's sake I looked up the 2022 invoice from Bruces Covers

https://aircraftcovers.com) I bought for my '27.   $825 all in.

From purchase to receiving was 2 weeks.

The covers have held up well for the two years that I have had them 

and I like that they are labeled LEFT & RIGHT!  

Full disclosure: I *think* this price was after a Sun&Fun or Airventure show discount.   

I don't remember which.

- John (OHM)

[SS]

I like my DIY covers.  A full set costs about $175 in tarp, fleece, nylon cloth, and nylon straps.  Cutting/sewing is needed.  A high-quality tarp is the key component.  In the picture, the same tarp material has been used on the fence for two years, three in some other sections.  It's holding up well in sunny and windy conditions.  The cover's top side is tarp and fleece; the bottom is nylon fabric.  Excellent protection from the sunlight, wind, rain, snow, hail, dust, bugs, etc.  With the straps fastened, practically nothing gets to the glider's skin.  I’ll probably keep the covers on even when the glider is inside a full hangar.

[Dennis Vreeken]

John , Bruce’s just quoted me for a Dg 808 .  Almost $3000 . Just an fyi            Dennis 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 18, 2025, at 11:37 AM, SS <01sky...@gmail.com> wrote:

I like my DIY covers.  A full set costs about $175 in tarp, fleece, nylon cloth, and nylon straps.  Cutting/sewing is needed.  A high-quality tarp is the key component.  In the picture, the same tarp material has been used on the fence for two years, three in some other sections.  It's holding up well in sunny and windy conditions.  The cover's top side is tarp and fleece; the bottom is nylon fabric.  Excellent protection from the sunlight, wind, rain, snow, hail, dust, bugs, etc.  With the straps fastened, practically nothing gets to the glider's skin.  I’ll probably keep the covers on even when the glider is inside a full hangar.

<Tarp and nylon cover.jpg>

On Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 10:35:08 AM UTC-7 Javelin 77 wrote:

Who likes what brands for glider covers? The choices seem to be Clouddancer, Vertigo, Jaxida and generic Kerry/chinese. They would be used several weeks per season, generally for a week at a time. Both humid and dry climates. Thanks

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<Tarp and nylon cover.jpg>

[Tom Seim]

I have had a set of Clouddancers for five years for my ASH31Mi and have been very happy with them. I bet that I can put them on faster than a set of Bruce's, and I don't remove the winglets. The trick is the wing covers are bundled with a strap that allows me lift on or off the winglets. I use a wing stand while doing this. I have the stand partially inboard when putting the covers on, and move it to the wingtip once the covers are on the wing. I do the reverse when taking the covers off. The covers are split into two sections, but I can do put them on and take them off w/o separating these sections. I typically use the covers 3-4 months a year. The covers save me from rigging and derigging the glider each time I fly, which would take at least two hours.

Tom

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rasprime/555A5757-B930-44FD-8427-17EDAF2A45AE%40shaw.ca.

[Tom Seim]

BTW, the Clouddancers have a mesh undersides for the wings that allows the wings to breath and evaporate any moisture. This is vital for long term protection of the finish and and skin.

Tom 2G

[Charles Mampe]

Not sure the brand for UH's ASG-29, but we use a about 2.5' strap through the wing cover for handling and install. The middle of the bundle goes over the winglet and onto the wing, strap comes off, stretch the cover to the root.

The strap has a plastic buckle that you squeeze the sides to disconnect.

The strap makes it easy to cart the wing cover around.

Cover removal is, slide to tip, feed strap through cover, buckle, lift whole thing up and off the winglet.

[Eric Greenwell]

Where do you get your tarp material, and what is the part number or description? They don't appear to have the usual mesh netting on the bottom for air circulation. Do you have any moisture/condensation getting inside?

What is the purpose of the fence?

[Tom Watson]

Could you provide more detail as to the materials (including sources) and methods of construction?

Thanks,

Tom

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[SS]

I used “Heavy Duty Reversible Tarps”, blue/silver or brown/silver, Costco Business Center item # 1600091.  Brown/silver seems to be only color combo lately.  Sam's Club sells tarps that look and feel similar when new.  But Costco's tarp is much more durable.
 
The two wing covers are kept together by two cross straps sewn to the tarp.  Same with the horizontal stabilizer covers.   The only time water gets between the cover and the glider is when a nylon strap at an opening (e.g., wing root) is loose and lets in precipitation.  The bottom nylon fabric keeps out the wind, bugs, dust, and sundry other windblown things.   Water penetration and condensation haven't been problems in a full year of use in a mostly dry climate.  Regular flying helps.  Every flight is an opportunity to inspect the covers along with everything else.
 
Cover-making tips:  After a year of semi-sunny exposure, the tarp shrinks and stabilizes at almost 97% of its original dimensions.  So make it slightly big.  The wing’s topside tarp/fleece panels should be bigger chord-wise anyway for the airfoil’s bigger upper camber.  It should wrap slightly around the leading, trailing, and tip edges so water drips off better.  Second, even with the silver side up, the tarp and the underlying aircraft skin get hot in bright sunlight, which could be a problem depending on your aircraft.
 
That’s where my fencing immediately south of the wings comes in.  Shade and wind mitigation for five cents per square foot of tarp (plus wood, wire, hardware).  Same Costco tarp.  The brown panels have lasted two years so far.  Three years and counting for the blue panels.  The fence can be built out as desired, for example, to enclose the aft half of the glider, as seen in the picture.  That worked so well, I also built out the other bays for storage, long enough to garage trailers and tow vehicles.
 
The next step is provide more shade over the glider's front half.  The fence isn’t tall enough for the higher summertime sun angles. 
 
As for sewing, it’s best to be married to someone with some sewing skills.  But once the sewing machine is threaded and ready, any conscientious person can run through two or three layers (tarp, fleece, nylon).  Each wing cover is just a long sleeve with the opening at the root that slips on like a pillow case.  Optionally, make a 2-piece cover that joins at the removable wing tip joint, as I did.  Each cover is sewn inside-out so the stitching is hidden when it’s all done.  During sewing, the materials tend to slide past each other because of the presser foot’s action.  I used Elmer’s Glue Stick glue and/or little sewing clips to keep the edges together. 
 
For measuring and cutting the first panel, sew enough tarp together, drape it over a wing on a calm day, and mark the planform shape.  Then lay it on a clean floor and fine tune the shape, leaving room as need for tarp shrinkage and some wrap-over at the leading, trailing, tip edges.  The fleece layer is the same shape and size as the tarp.  The nylon could be the same size or preferably a little smaller so there’s less excess nylon fabric hanging down.  Less flutter is definitely better for fabric covers, fences, etc.

The chord-wise nylon straps are NOT sewn to the cover.  That would make for complicated sewing and unnecessarily perforate the cover.   If very windy weather is expected, just put on a few more straps.  After sewing together a wing cover or two, sewing nylon webbing to plastic buckles is trivial. 

 
These are the key points I remember from learning by trial and error.

[SoaringXX]

Have you heard about outdoor covers sold by Soaringxx?

Wingcovers – SoaringXX

Over the past few years, we’ve sold at least 10 of them in the US, and the feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. While they are not hail-protective, they are the best for dust and rain. Their super-elastic material makes them very easy to put on and take off.

On the other hand, DIY tarp covers might look like a good option, but I’m unsure about their breathability and how safe they are for your gelcoat or PU paint.

All the best,

Toni

[Mitch Deutsch]

I bought a set from Toni in the summer of 2023 for my ASW27. I use them several times a year at week-long contests and soaring camps. They fit well and seem to have to held up well.  Fed Ex shipping was prompt, from ordering to delivery was about two weeks.

A few nice features are they are light, fold up pretty compactly and store readily n the provided storage bag.