Door Holder-Openers?

[hangarb7]

Don't know if my '46 is missing anything but assuming it is not, has anyone devised a method for holding the doors open while climbing in? Now that I am older
and don't bend so well, it is a pain to try to get in while holding that door out of the way. My doors do swing all the way open so I can prop from the right side
by myselff, but it would be great if I could latch the door 90 degrees to the fuselage. All the ideas I come up with end up being a hazard in the cockpit in case of
a mishap.... Thanks in advance.

Jack D
BC12D
44057

[Robert Lees]

I've not come across any.
If you invented one, I'm sure it'ld be in contravention of the TCDS. 90 degrees to the fuselage could make the aircraft go backwards!

But it's good that you prop from the right side...much safer than in front!

After propping from the right, try sliding in ass-backwards from the right.

Rob

[Hank Jarrett]

It's easier for Rob to slide in from the right.

Brits drive from that side already! ;-)

[Robert Lees]

What on Earth are you suggesting? Various rude suggestions spring to mind!

How dare you say that, you young whipper-snapper!

[Hank Jarrett]

Well, I have an English car so I can go both ways. Driving wise! ;-) I don't care for helicopters. They are over the line for me. Un-natural and kind of immoral! ;-)

[hangarb7]

Actually, I do go in ass backwards.... I back up to the doorway, put my left foot on the peg, then lift myself in. But then have to bend my leg in while wrestling with the door that now has propwash pushing it closed. I guess I will come up with something. I gots some ideos....

[Leenicklas]

Any thoughts on door hinge bolts being tight enough to hold door open??

[Hank Jarrett]

I don't think making the bolts so tight the door wouldn't swing freely is a very good idea. I did see someone who put a bathroom cabinet spring clip door holder (used to keep the cabinet door closed) on a wing rib that the door clipped into. Looked a bit jury rigged and you couldn't open the door full forward any more. On my 41 I have a piece of cord with a loop on each end. One goes around the door handle and the other over the fuel cap. I use it when I am working in the cockpit but it would be a pain for things like starting.

[hangarb7]

One idea I have and will try when I EVER get back to the airport (windy, cold and blowing snow in Western Pennsylvania.....) is pulling the door full forward against the cowl, then using a cord, tie a 'release' knot to the door and maybe over the fuel tank opening, with a length of cord back into the cockpit. Once the engine is propped, climb in, pull the release cord untying the knot and pulll the cord into the cockpit. .... It's a thought, anyway. I have some other ideas, too. I'll report back

[Hank Jarrett]

Just make sure the turbulence behind the slow turning prop can't grab the cord and pull it into the prop!!!!

[Robert Lees]

hangarb7: that sounds like a recipe for disaster! I always swing from behind the prop on my '46 BC12D...I can see no useful purpose in having the door held open other than with my body/arm.
Cord/rope etc could lead to unintended consequences!

Rob

[7352]

I use cabinet hardware to hold doors full open.

[Hank Jarrett]

That is the kind of clip I saw mounted to a wing rib to hold the door open. Problem was you couldn't put the door against the cowl with it on the wing. This looks like it is on the fuselage side. For that the between the door handle and fuel filler works well, but I would NOT use it for starting.

[Taylorcrafty]

I was going to do something like the cabinet door holder, but then I found this perfect-sized bungee cord to hold the door open on my C150 style exhaust. I can remove it after I'm already in the plane.

If I ever loose this bungee I am in big trouble. Will get a picture of how it works.

[Taylorcrafty]

Also... Here is how our caravan doors are held open if it gives you any inspiration.