Flying with the doors open?

I read that you can do it... however the previous owner had never done it, didn't seem that confident that things would hold together. Well, my son and I took the opportunity to test it out.

First up, slow to 60 mph, drop 1 notch of flaps, secure everything that can fly around in the cabin and baggage compartment. Fingers crossed, here we go.

Opened the first door, worked fine some pressure on the door, but not too extreme so far so good. Open the second one, smooth sailing. it was most fun at 60-70 mph, as over that you get blown around way too much. Great fun slipping to land when the wind blasts in the doors through the cabin sideways. Perfect for those hot summer days.

Of course after we proved it could be done safely, then my daughter wanted to try it also!

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in my model 2 ..once the temp got to 55 F and above ..the doors came off for the summer and stayed off till I started growing ice cycles on my moustache in the fall :eek: Brrr then reluctently they went back on.

Chase

Thats the only way to fly in the summer I love it I bet I have over 400 hr with my door open flying around up state NY. Just watch a tight slip as the door will slam shut!! Have fun and fly safe

Alan

Wow that's one to watch for. I noticed as I slipped on final a good blast of air coming sideways through the cabin, then it lifted my jacket from the back of the baggage compartment over our shoulders and we grabbed it before it departed out! :) Good times...

Dosn't look like your son is enjoying the flight at all :), I have a couple about that age, hope I get the same reaction.

My model 4 has been to 120 mph with the doors open. Very windy and noisy but no ill effects on pilot, doors or turtle deck. Did not want to try a slip at those speeds. Has anyone ever lost their turtle deck while flying?

When opening the doors at any cruise speeds, anything not nailed down will try to evacuate the aircraft. Anyone with map pockets in their doors will want to remove anything of value first.

"Has anyone ever lost their turtle deck while flying?"

Yes, the Melnicks Series 5 did. It had flown up to my home airport at the time in Kennesaw, GA.from Florida. It went on a local flight and the plastic blew out. Don't believe the doors were open. I remember the pilot (it wasn't one of the Melnicks)said it's flight characteristics were greatly changed. This was the same plane that Skystar used as a factory demo for a while.