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Anybody delete the cabin access step??

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DaveG601XL

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Cincinnati, Oh

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:34 am Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

I don't have my fuselage on gear yet to make my own determination, but I am considering not installing the cabin access step on my tri-gear 601XL.  I remember thinking that on the factory demo plane that I could get up without it.  I could have a cheap plastic stool in a wing baggage compartment for passengers and still be ahead on weight and drag.  I figure that I would be out with them to assist their entry & egress anyway.



Anybody out there who has not installed the step have any positive or negative advice on this?



Thanks.

_________________
David Gallagher
Cincinnati, OH area

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Dave, I think you could do away with it but having it, IMHO, cuts down on the chance somebody is going to step on the flap while getting in. Also getting in is not the only time it is used. You use it to get outs as well.



I modified mine so the crossbar, that goes under the fuselage now goes though the fuselage.



 	  DaveG601XL wrote: 	
		  I don't have my fuselage on gear yet to make my own determination, but I am considering not installing the cabin access step on my tri-gear 601XL.  I remember thinking that on the factory demo plane that I could get up without it.  I could have a cheap plastic stool in a wing baggage compartment for passengers and still be ahead on weight and drag.  I figure that I would be out with them to assist their entry & egress anyway.



Anybody out there who has not installed the step have any positive or negative advice on this?



Thanks.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

davgray(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

I rarely use mine.  I prefer to sit on the front of the wing and slide

backward.

It can be added later if desired.



Gary Ray



---

Ron Lendon

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 685
Location: Clinton Twp., MI

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Heard that question, sitting on the wing leading edge, asked of Chris Heintz at SnF 2007.  His reply was to increase the number of nose ribs to match the 4 in the rear in that area.

_________________
Ron Lendon
WW Corvair with Roy's Garage 5th bearing
CH 601 XLB
N601LT - Flying
http://www.mykitlog.com/rlendon
Corvair Engine Prints:
https://sites.google.com/site/corvairenginedata/

davgray(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 3:43 am Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Ron

There are already 4 matching nose ribs on the 601XL.  Also when you sit on

the front of the wing most of the weight comes down very near the main spar

and more evenly distributed by the size of your A** than would be by the

sole of your boot.

Some care as to where you place your outboard hand is advised to keep it

within the four rib area .  If you try it I think you will see that you

don't need to be very agile to make it work.

If you find that you don't like it add the step.  It is one of the last

proceedures of construction anyway.



---

Ron Lendon

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 685
Location: Clinton Twp., MI

Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 5:44 am Post subject: Re: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Gary Ray,



The 8/05 6-W-7, 6-W-8, and 6-K-0 of 5/05 prints I have shows 3 nose ribs and I see no update posted by zenith.  The NR1 is inline with RR1 NR2 is between RR2 and RR3 and NR4 is inline with RR4.  Chris said to move NR2 inline with RR2 and add a NR inline with RR3.

601zv(at)ritternet.com
Guest

Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 6:59 am Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

My 04/06/04 drawings have 4 inline nose ribs showing on 6-W-7 and 6-W-8 

pages dated 03/04, and 4 were included with the wing kit. I have left out 

the access steps.



DO NOT ARCHIVE



---

Michael Valentine

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 108

Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 7:14 am Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Everyone is right - the plans changed sometime between '04 and '05.  I have late '03 wings with 4 ribs that I got from another builder, but my plans purchased in '05 show the number now reduced to 3.



 Michael in NH



On 5/19/07, Robin Bellach <601zv(at)ritternet.com (601zv(at)ritternet.com)> wrote:[quote] --> Zenith-List message posted by: "Robin Bellach" <601zv(at)ritternet.com (601zv(at)ritternet.com)>



My 04/06/04 drawings have 4 inline nose ribs showing on 6-W-7 and 6-W-8

pages dated 03/04, and 4 were included with the wing kit. I have left out 

the access steps.



DO NOT ARCHIVE



---

dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Regardless of the number of nose ribs your kit has or whether or not you care to add one more nose rib, most of us can get onto the wing from the trailing edge without a step installed. Unless you have bum kness, you can (from the left side for example) put your left knee ove the flap onto the wing walk area and with your left hand gripping the cockpit side rail, you can pull your carcass, including the sole of your right foot, onto the wing walk. The key is to remember to drop the flaps to full extended position when you park the plane. 



With all the other little concessions to heavier conveniences that I have made, I am seriously considering leaving the entry step off my 601XL. A bit less weight, a bit less drag, and no opportunity for a heavy passenger to load his or her weight farther aft of the main wheels...... it's worth thinking about. For the seriously stiff or inflexible, a paint can with a string attached to the lid would be an option on occassion.



Dred

japhillipsga(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:12 am Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

Ed, I'm 5,8 and a step is really necessary, not for entry cause I can step up and over the flap, but to get off the wing without jumping or putting all the shift weight onto the turtle deck a step is needed. What I would do different if building again is employ the torq rod inside method of mounting the steps. Sometime back (couple years) a builder posted some really great photos (somewhere ?) of how he modified the whole step system where only a hole in the bottom was made and the step came out. Looked real neat and I wish I had thought of it when I was building. Flew my "death trap" XL yesterday with a good friend. He had never experienced power on and off stalls before. Hope he'll fly with me again someday. Ha. Best regards, Bill of Georgia

    

  

 

    

  

 --

dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:52 am Post subject: Anybody delete the cabin access step??

I'm still chewing on the options Bill. I had no trouble getting in or out of an RV7-A that belongs to a friend of mine. That wing is higher off the ground than the Zodiac wing. It is mostly a matter of repeating the routine in reverse to get back on the ground. The biggest negative is putting one's weight one one knee during the process. I'm 5' 8" also so your advice is as valid for me as it is for you.



The friend with the RV7-A was with me at a fly-in this weekend and we discussed possibly flying out your way in the late summer this year (a weekend adventure?). I'd like to bum a ride in the Zodiac if you'll have me. It would help get my mind right vis a vis the likelihood of flying mine late this year. We'd both like to see the RV8 project as well. Think we could work that out? What is your airport designation?



Ed

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