Wing Storage Rack

Being almost done with my left wing, I started looking into options to store it that would take up minimal space in my workshop. I am glad that I decided to build the wings before moving on to the forward fuselage, as working on the wings has taken up most of the available room in my workshop. It would have been difficult with the big/long fuselage in the way. It’s funny how no matter how big a workshop is, it always gets filled up and could always stand to be just a little bit larger!

I found plans by another builder on how to build a movable wing rack for the Sonex wings. Here’s a link.

I gathered all of the supplies in the material list for the rack.

I then marked up the plywood for the 3 sizes of triangular gussets as showed in the plans. These plans do a great job of maximizing the use of the materials. I cut them with a circular saw.

Then I cut all of the 2x4s to length.

When I installed the castering wheels, I found that the 2 1/2 bolts called for in the plans were too long and interfered with the movement of the wheels. So I cut them shorter after tightening them. 2″ bolts would have worked better.

Here is the base of the rack taking shape.

And the top crossbeam.

Those plywood gussets do a great job of making the whole structure very stiff.

Finally, I added the 2″ wide tow straps which will be the slings for the wings. Again I ran into this issue of the bolts being too long. I was worried about this protrusion poking into the wings once they’re in position, so I cut these too. I will probably replace them with new bolts pushed in from the opposite side.

Now all I need are some wings to store in it! Here’s a sneak peek.

Since the rack is on wheels, I was able to spin it around and put the wing out of the way against a wall of my workshop. Scrap lengths of carpet would also work for the slings I think. The wing sits pretty securely under its own weight, but if I were moving the rack around a lot (say, onto a trailer) I would add a 3rd strap on the outside to keep the wings from tipping out. All in all it’s a great design.