Flying with the doors off

[mhorowit]

Any solved the heat problem by flying with the doors off?- Mike

[mhorowit]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Any solved the heat problem by flying with the doors off?- Mike

Should read "any body solved the heat problem..."

[Robert Lees]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Sure cools you off.

Is that the question?

[crispy critter]

Re: Flying with the doors off

.....and slows you down.However,who's in a hurry anyway if your flying a t-craft.

[mhorowit]

Re: Flying with the doors off

OK; other than the obvious (keep the seatbelt fastened) and don't leave the map open on the passenger's side, any other warnings? - Mike

[VictorBravo]

Re: Flying with the doors off

My advice is to keep your speed under 80 or 90 mph. The door openings are big enough that you can potentially build up a lot of air pressure in the fuselage, which could create problems with the windshield, fabric, headliner, etc. I don't have personal experience with this, so if anyone has more knowledge than I please let us all know.

If you plan on doing any sideslips, I'd hold your charts and small pieces down with CHAINS

Bill

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Even with just the windows open in a slip you can lose stuff out of the open baggage compartment. Was doing aerial photos the other day and slipping to get the strut out of the way and the paper towels started to unfurl from the roll behind me. Reminded me of toilet paper cutting. Slipping on final one day and a folded garbage bag departed the plane. Hope the cows didn't eat it.

[Chet Peek]

Re: Flying with the doors off

I personally know of a case where a T-Craft, flying with one door off, stalled unexpectedly, spun in, a fatal crash. Fairly high altitude area, Gunnison CO if I remember correctly. So I would be VERY careful.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Works for me..

[WLT]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Deleted 6/18/05

[AKTcrafter]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Guys,

There actually is an STC that makes it legal to fly the T-Craft with the doors off for Aerial photograpy, sky diving , or other similar uses. It's basically a paperwork mod that does come with some limitations but they are pretty common sense items. It's been a while since I looked at it but I think it says no smoking and no baggage can be carried when flying with the door removed. There may be some bank/airspeed limitations as well but my memory is kind of foggy on this and might be slightly clouded by the similar procedures that must be followed to do the same thing with my Piper Pacer. I needed the extra seats for my two kids so the T-Craft had to go and it's found a new home in Soldotna, AK. I flew the Pacer back to Alaska after purchasing it in Baltimore, Maryland. That was quite a journey even with the "high speeds" possible in the Pacer.

Regards, Roger Clyne

[WLT]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Deleted 6/18/05

[Homsie]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Ya gotta have an approval to remove the right yoke? The only time I have mine in is for my bi-annual.

[denny]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Just a reminder there are some aircraft that are allowed to operate with the doors off and it is called out on the Type Certificate Data Sheet for those makes and models. There are others that can apply for a STC and still others that require a Specil Operations Limitation issued by your local FSDO.

The Operation Limitations is for parachute jumping, sky diving, etc and will come with a maxiume speed not to exceed, maneuvering speed limit, usually 70 percent level flight speed, manimum yaw angle 10 degrees, maximum bank angle 15 degrees.

Taken the doors off to stay cool without approval may void you insurance policy. Something to consider.

Denny

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Flying with the doors off

Hey guys,
I fly Manu Sina with the bottom of the windows flipped out, and my left elbow hanging out the the left window all the time. The only thing that I have noticed is that if I sideslip the plane, the window on the partially forward facing window wants to close.