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Doors open

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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject: Doors open

I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am curious of the 

experienced others have had.  I replaced the gas struts as I was haveing 

some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door.  The new gas struts solved 

the problem with the door flutter.



As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some said they open the doors 

at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after opening to cruise.  Am I 

correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening and what top speeds have 

been flown with open doors.



Has anyone experienced  any pucker factor moments while flying this way and 

if so what was the situation.



The main purpose for flying with the open doors is  to get some photos 

without having to contend with the lexan side windows.



Lowell

dan(at)azshowersolutions.
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject: Doors open

Mike Gibbs might be able to tell you of a pucker factor that happened w/ the doors open...Mike isn't that how you were flying? Of course a few other factors were involved ;>)

  Dan B

  Mesa



Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:

  



I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am curious of the 

experienced others have had. I replaced the gas struts as I was haveing 

some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door. The new gas struts solved 

the problem with the door flutter.



As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some said they open the doors 

at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after opening to cruise. Am I 

correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening and what top speeds have 

been flown with open doors.



Has anyone experienced any pucker factor moments while flying this way and 

if so what was the situation.



The main purpose for flying with the open doors is to get some photos 

without having to contend with the lexan side windows.



Lowell

aldaniels(at)fmtc.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject: Doors open

We fly with the doors open a lot in our 5. The problems I have had is 

that it will empty any pockets on the open door, and even remove the 

upholstery if it is not very well secured. I ended up using a few loops 

of safety wire on the front to keep from having to look for the panel 

again. It will blow items around from behind like bags and maps. On our 

planes one door open does not seem to have much of any effect on 

handling or landing, two doors open does not seem to affect handling, 

but watch out on landing as it may drop out from under you before you 

expect it. We were having a spot landing contest in a friends pasture 

with the local EAA one hot day and had both doors open to keep cool and 

I missed the spot by about 150 feet. It really caught me looking. I 

played with it some more to see if I was just taking a nap instead of 

flying, but it paid off in the flair every time I had both doors open.  

We try and keep below 80 with the doors open, but have gone faster. Open 

doors are great fun, good for pictures and a real thrill to people on 

rides.



Lowell Fitt wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am curious of the 

experienced others have had.  I replaced the gas struts as I was haveing 

some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door.  The new gas struts solved 

the problem with the door flutter.



As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some said they open the doors 

at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after opening to cruise.  Am I 

correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening and what top speeds have 

been flown with open doors.



Has anyone experienced  any pucker factor moments while flying this way and 

if so what was the situation.



The main purpose for flying with the open doors is  to get some photos 

without having to contend with the lexan side windows.



Lowell

rdmac(at)swbell.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 7:32 pm Post subject: Doors open

The very first ride I took in a Kitfox was in a Model 5 with both doors

removed. It was at the airport in Cushing, OK and was set up by Earl Downs,

twin brother of Ed. The slip stream rushing by my right shoulder was so

intense; I was worried my glasses would blow off. The pilot, his name

escapes me now, assured me they would not. Any how you talk about an

exciting ride. The plane wasn't a shining example either. On landing his

tail wheel broke and he was a little embarrassed. Any way, I was sold on the

plane, ordered my kit 2 months later. 

	Roger Mac

	N619RM

DO NOT ARCHIVE  



--

n981ms(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:55 am Post subject: Doors open

My first door open flight was unplanned.  My latch failed with about 10 hours on the plane.  Of course the door opened unexpectedly.  I slowed down.  Landed.  Opened the other door and made a slow cruise back to my home airport.  Many subsequent flights with doors open.  I keep the speed down to less than 80 to avoid flutter.

   

  Maxwell



Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:

  



I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am curious of the 

experienced others have had. I replaced the gas struts as I was haveing 

some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door. The new gas struts solved 

the problem with the door flutter.



As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some said they open the doors 

at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after opening to cruise. Am I 

correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening and what top speeds have 

been flown with open doors.



Has anyone experienced any pucker factor moments while flying this way and 

if so what was the situation.



The main purpose for flying with the open doors is to get some photos 

without having to contend with the lexan side windows.



Lowell 



		

---------------------------------

jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:58 am Post subject: Doors open

Lowell:



I always fly my Kitfox with the doors open.  Since the

cruising speed is 70, it is not a problem.  Here in

the caribbean, cabin gets too warm if you close the

doors.  Beside that, I come from the ultralights

world!



Jose



--- W Duke <n981ms(at)yahoo.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <n981ms(at)yahoo.com>

 

 My first door open flight was unplanned.  My latch

 failed with about 10 hours on the plane.  Of course

 the door opened unexpectedly.  I slowed down. 

 Landed.  Opened the other door and made a slow

 cruise back to my home airport.  Many subsequent

 flights with doors open.  I keep the speed down to

 less than 80 to avoid flutter.

    

   Maxwell

 

 Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:

   

 

 I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am

 curious of the 

 experienced others have had. I replaced the gas

 struts as I was haveing 

 some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door. The

 new gas struts solved 

 the problem with the door flutter.

 

 As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some

 said they open the doors 

 at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after

 opening to cruise. Am I 

 correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening

 and what top speeds have 

 been flown with open doors.

 

 Has anyone experienced any pucker factor moments

 while flying this way and 

 if so what was the situation.

 

 The main purpose for flying with the open doors is

 to get some photos 

 without having to contend with the lexan side

 windows.

 

 Lowell 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 		

 ---------------------------------

 

 

 



 browse

 Subscriptions page,

 FAQ,

 http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List



 Admin.



 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

 


	




Jose M. Toro, P.E. 

Kitfox II/582->Jabiru 2200

"A slow flight in the Caribbean..."

MichaelGibbs(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:17 am Post subject: Doors open

Lowell had asked:



 	  Quote: 	
		  ...some said they open the doors at a reduced speed and then will 

accellerate after opening to cruise. Am I correct in this. And if so 

what speeds for opening and what top speeds have been flown with 

open doors.


	


On my IV, I could fly at up to 80 KIAS with the doors open.  Any 

faster and they would close on their own.  I don't think this is 

typical because Murle Williams had modified my fuselage to give me an 

extra 5 inches of width at the hip/shoulder area and that resulted in 

having to modify the door shape to fit properly--they were more 

curved than the stock door.  I believe Murle told me that he could 

leave the doors open on his series 5 throughout the speed envelope.



 	  Quote: 	
		  Has anyone experienced any pucker factor moments while flying this 

way and if so what was the situation.


	


The only real puckering I had was getting used to the notion that 

there was nothing between me and the ground!  I habitually would 

cinch my shoulder and lap belts down each time I opened the door even 

though I told myself that there was no way I could fall out.  



Dan sez:



 	  Quote: 	
		  Mike Gibbs might be able to tell you of a pucker factor that 

happened w/ the doors open...Mike isn't that how you were flying? Of 

course a few other factors were involved 


	


Well, OK, there was some pucker happening towards the end there, but 

it wasn't because the doors were open!  



Mike G.

N728KF

jdmcbean(at)cableone.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: Doors open

When flying several demo flights I would open the doors on a regular basis..

I would also fly with them open regularly on long cross country's

(Sun-n-Fun, Oshkosh)  nothing better then flying low over some of the

country's landscape with the doors open....  I have had them open at a

little over 120 MPH IAS with no adverse effects... hard to shut though. As a

general rule I stick with the flap operating speed.. just seems to make

sense.  But I am not opposed to opening them at cruise either.



Be careful of one thing though... There is a nice grey upholstered side

panel somewhere over Middleton ID



Fly Safe !!

John & Debra McBean

www.sportplanellc.com

"The Sky is not the Limit...  It's a Playground"



 	  Quote: 	
		   Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:

   



 I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am

 curious of the

 experienced others have had. I replaced the gas

 struts as I was haveing

 some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door. The

 new gas struts solved

 the problem with the door flutter.



 As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some

 said they open the doors

 at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after

 opening to cruise. Am I

 correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening

 and what top speeds have

 been flown with open doors.



 Has anyone experienced any pucker factor moments

 while flying this way and

 if so what was the situation.



 The main purpose for flying with the open doors is

 to get some photos

 without having to contend with the lexan side

 windows.



 Lowell


	




--

shoeless(at)barefootpilot
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:48 am Post subject: Doors open

One of the most enjoyable things I have done in our kitfox is to fly over 

the Grand Canyon with the door open... WOW!

cliff

When flying several demo flights I would open the doors on a regular basis..

I would also fly with them open regularly on long cross country's

(Sun-n-Fun, Oshkosh)  nothing better then flying low over some of the

country's landscape with the doors open....  I have had them open at a

little over 120 MPH IAS with no adverse effects... hard to shut though. As a

general rule I stick with the flap operating speed.. just seems to make

sense.  But I am not opposed to opening them at cruise either.



Be careful of one thing though... There is a nice grey upholstered side

panel somewhere over Middleton ID



Fly Safe !!

John & Debra McBean

www.sportplanellc.com

"The Sky is not the Limit...  It's a Playground"



 	  Quote: 	
		   Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:

   



 I have been flying a bit with the doors open and am

 curious of the

 experienced others have had. I replaced the gas

 struts as I was haveing

 some vibration - flutter in the pilot side door. The

 new gas struts solved

 the problem with the door flutter.



 As I recall, in previous posts on the subject, some

 said they open the doors

 at a reduced speed and then will accellerate after

 opening to cruise. Am I

 correct in this. And if so what speeds for opening

 and what top speeds have

 been flown with open doors.



 Has anyone experienced any pucker factor moments

 while flying this way and

 if so what was the situation.



 The main purpose for flying with the open doors is

 to get some photos

 without having to contend with the lexan side

 windows.



 Lowell


	




--

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject: Doors open

Thanks to all for the open door comments.  And John, when I had my demo ride 

in the Model IV Speedster, it was the open door at 100 ft. that sold me. 

Pilot was Ed Downs.



Lowell

---

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