Door Pull Straps & Flying With Doors Open

[Dvanlanen]

Has anyone installed the door pull straps (the straps used to pull the door closed) on their doors, and then flown their aircraft with the doors open? If so, do you have any issues with these straps fluttering in the wind and/or damaging the doors in any way?

Thanks,
Dave

[jiott]

I don't know anyone who has installed the straps, including some factory built SLSA's. They simply aren't needed unless you are a very small person with short arms.

[t j]

I installed the factory supplied straps on the middle tube of the doors and another set on the bottom tubes. I can easily reach the middle strap when the door is open and when shut I need the bottom strap to pull the door tight with my right hand so I can latch it with my left hand. You can't pull on the model 4 factory door latches to close the door tight or they will bend.

The straps don't cause any trouble while they flap around when the door is open.

[Paul Z]

How fast can you fly with the doors open?

[SkyPirate]

I'd keep it under 80 or slower

[Paul Z]

I have been very reluctant to fly with the door Open, but in Texas during the summer it would be nice. The air vents on my plane are pretty close to useless.

[Dorsal]

I also tend to keep it below 80

[Slyfox]

this last summer I had a wasp appear on my left door. yaya, I got scared. was sitting right next to my hand. I slowed way down and opened the door. it went outside, but I couldn't get the door back closed. I have the handle in the middle and it rotates and unlocks at the back of the door and front. I couldn't get the back the come in far enough to lock in place. I held onto the door for a bit, but I didn't like that. I finally forced the door handle shut, but the rear didn't latch. I felt it was a nightmare. I guess there will need to be a little handle to pull the back shut in the future if I try opening the door again in flight.

[jtpitkin06]

To close a door in flight, try slipping in the direction of the open door.

John

[t j]

How fast can you fly with the doors open?

I have a 503. At cruise rpm (6000) about 75 mph with the door open. I would guess at wide open throttle I might get 76 mph with the door open.