Door windows

[Rex Havis]

My aircraft is a 1940, BL-65. the window frames are the 1/2" squire tubing. I need to know how the plastic window attaches to the frame. Hope someone can help. thanks

[1938BF50]

Re: Door windows

Plastic is drilled oversize and sandwiched between the aluminum trim strips and the 1/2" square, round or "P" shaped rolled tubing. In attempting to stay original(I gave up), I have seen (5) different trim styles for the prewars. You will have to soften the materail to make the bend at the aft end of the window. I cracked 3 before I got wise to the stresses.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Door windows

On my 41 BL we just attached it to the 1/2" square tubing and let it over lap the door frame. It was attached with sheet metal screws. Tom

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Door windows

This is how the doors on my 41 were done. I checked a lot of old photos and mine and Toms looked like the old pictures. This is the WOOD door with the swing out square tube window. If that is what you have look over the door frame around the windows very carefully. BOTH of mine were broken and the fabric was holding the wood together on the vertical pieces. Once the fabric was off you could see that the wood pieces had failed in the glue joints and the plywood skin was broken in the same places. I re-glued the the wood pieces and laminated a strip of Carbon Fiber tape between the wood and ply. The tops of the doors are strong enough to hang on now.
I also found the screw holes damaged where the swing out windows were attached. I drilled the holes through and used "T" nuts and machine screws in place of wood screws, and again, my windows are H**L bent for strong now. I did the same thing for the hinges. I can't imagine how anyone thought wood screws would last in a wood door! I guess they didn't figure we would keep them this long. Anyway, once the upholstery is on the inside of the doors, you can't even tell there aren't wood screws there.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Door windows

By the way, the round vents were NOT in the door window originally. They are supposed to be in the top rear corner of the WINDSCREEN.
Hank

Be careful if you move them. It's really easy to wreck the windscreen putting the vents in.

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Door windows

Hi Rex, Search "sliding windows" then look for the thread 'sliding windows' ( the one started by Frank in 2004) there are some pics and conversation there. Mostly on pages 2 and 3. Some how it evolved into a NON- sliding window discussion ;-) h