Gust locks lock the control column in place, preventing random movement and possible damage to the surface from wind while an aircraft is parked. They are nothing more than a strap, a tensioner of some type, a loop, and a hook. It takes a small investment and only a matter of a few seconds to install. If you do not use a gust lock, you should.
The weatherman may have predicted a calm evening with clear skies. But how much are you willing to gamble that the weatherman is right? Unexpected thunderstorms are quite common and move in quickly with gusty high winds. If you’re lucky, your aircraft may only sustain slight damage to the hinge points, which can be repaired by local blending.
But the real possibility remains that the damage may require the repair or replacement of the brackets and other attachment pieces. Or worse yet, it could sustain damage to the front spar of the rudder, elevator, and/or ailerons. Damage to these parts requires them to go back into the fixture for spar replacement; the spar is the hub where everything else is attached. If the part is near its life limit, then you’re faced with the decision of, “Do you repair or do you replace?” Either way, you’re committed to major dollars (possibly tens of thousands of dollars) and downtime.
