REFLECTOR: Adding a door/modification of elite doors for stairaccess

Tue Jan 2 21:33:19 CST 2007

The original kit did just that, you cut out the door and reinforced it with 
bundles of "S-glass". My kit came with a Dan Maher video showing how to do 
that, but the factory made it "easier" for us by fabricating the doors for 
us. Unfortunately, the "plug" that they initially used for a template was 
slightly different than the actual fuselage that was being shipped at the 
time, so the doors didn't match up without considerable heating/clamping. I 
believe that was finally corrected, long after mine were sufficiently 
toasted and shaped.

Larry Epstein
173 FGE
>
>Hmnnnn….Extreme caution on opening up the fuse any further than the already
>large cutouts of the gull wing doors Hiroo!  …think the amount of
>reinforcing required (to counter any further weakening of the structure to
>enlarge one or more doors) would really negate doing this.
>
>
>
>I too pondered why the doors were separately supplied already reinforced by
>the factory, rather than allowing the builder to reinforce the side of the
>fuselage where the door was cut out (i.e.: the cut-out simply becomes the
>door)….there must be a reason.
>
>
>
>Would be very interested to see any examples of elite doors being split and
>used as stairs into the aircraft….would make a heap of sense for ease of
>access and lessen gas strut forces to open the top half of the door….also
>think it great for taxi-ing.
>
>
>
>Greg in Sydney
>
>HYPERLINK "mailto:gregpoole at saaachapter11.com"gregpoole at saaachapter11.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>Behalf Of Hiroo Umeno
>Sent: Wednesday, 3 January 2007 10:52 AM
>To: amillin at sbcglobal.net; Velocity Aircraft Ownersand Builders list
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Adding a door
>
>
>
>I guess there aren’t enough single-door Velo’s out there for them to put 
>the
>retrofit kit on the Velocity Store<g>.  I’ll definitely consider factory
>retrofit kit.
>
>
>
>What I am not exactly certain is your statement about the structure.
>Looking at the door section of the fuselage, and recalling how I have built
>that area, I do recall it was essentially the fuselage that is cut open to
>the cut line and bonded with the carbon beam and the hinge area
>re-enforcements.  You, then, built up the lips and other structure that 
>will
>go along with the door.
>
>
>
>As for the door itself, it looks to me like it is the standard fiberglass
>sandwich with the frame all the way around.  It seems to me that you should
>be able to replicate a fairly similar setup (of course, why would I do that
>if I can just get all the parts I need from the factory).
>
>
>
>On the other hand, this does present an interesting opportunity for some
>creative modifications.  I think Chuck was the one who has the handy
>“Airstair” mod that opens up and down to help alleviate some of the
>step-height issues.  I know he did that on the “pop-top” variety but it
>seems to me that it can be adapted to the Elite type as well.
>
>
>
>Expanding on the dual-split “up and down” door concept, I could imagine
>elongating the top portion of the opening a bit to the rear so that the 
>rear
>seat occupants can get in a bit easier (the main benefit of the pop-top)…
>
>
>
>Hiroo
>
>
>
>    _____
>
>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>Behalf Of Andy Millin
>Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 11:31 AM
>To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Adding a door
>
>
>
>Hey Hiroo,
>
>
>
>I'm not sure the procedure would change much between a completed plane and
>the kit.  You gotta do what you gotta do...
>
>
>
>The Texas Attorney, Mr. Chris Barber, added the second door to his SUV, and
>is now the de facto authority.  :)
>
>
>
>I'm not sure the part of the fuselage that gets cut out could be re-used.
>The door frames have quite a bit of structure to them that just isn't there
>in the fuselage wall.  Your beautiful, existing window will most likely be
>cut out for the door opening and later discarded.
>
>
>
>I'm finding out how much fun fitting and finishing the doors can be.  It 
>can
>be a bit tedious, but it really isn't that bad.
>
>
>
>Building the door was actually pretty painless.  You could probably order a
>"fast build" door from Velocity.  (Window and latching mechanism already
>installed)  The only downside could/might be a door window that isn't as
>well aligned with the other windows.
>
>
>
>You will need to:
>
>     Cut the hole
>
>     Dress the edges
>
>     Add the triax re-enforcement around the opening
>
>     Pot the pin tubes
>
>     Mount the gas spring
>
>     Fit and finish
>
>
>
>I would imagine you could have it back in the air with a couple of weeks of
>work.  If you have to install your own window, then it will take a bit
>longer.
>
>
>
>Would you be using Kitplanes Northwest to help?
>
>
>
>Andy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>    _____
>
>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>Behalf Of Hiroo Umeno
>Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 1:37 PM
>To: reflector at tvbf.org
>Subject: REFLECTOR: Adding a door
>
>Now that N21HV is in the air (sometime) we are starting to think about what
>comes after all the tweaks are done.  My wife has signed herself up to 
>doing
>the upholstery (she has done a few cars and much furniture in the past).
>She’s also going to do the exterior paint scheme as well.
>
>
>
>But, before we get into those, there is the (sore) subject of the door.
>When I initially ordered the kit, I ordered the SUV since I wanted the yoke
>control.  The option to have SE with yoke wasn’t offered back then and the
>SUV was on “launch special pricing”.  Of course, I wasn’t married and
>thought I might have an occasional passenger or two and figured that single
>door wasn’t a big deal.
>
>
>
>That was then, and now, the situation is a bit different.  My wife loves to
>fly (with me, but not at the controls) and after climbing in and out of the
>plane a few times on the ground I hear no end about how “un-ladylike” the
>whole process of getting to the right seat is.  Particularly, since, even
>tough we are the same height; she has legs full six inches longer than me.
>
>
>
>So, in the interest of domestic tranquility and from keeping her from
>insisting on me trading in the Velocity for a Wichita Wonder, I need to
>think about adding a door to the plane, and before the upholstery and paint
>goes on.
>
>
>
>Has anyone added a door to a completed plane?  How difficult is that?  
>Since
>my kit was delivered with the door pretty much all done, I have no idea how
>much work it would entails.  Particularly, since the passenger side window
>is already installed, it would be a real pain if I had to re-do the window.
>
>
>
>Can the whole passenger side fuselage panel (including the installed 
>window)
>somehow be re-purposed into a door?  My cursory inspection shows that I
>could potentially build-up a frame forward of the carbon beam, then cut
>around to create the door from the fuselage itself.  Is this too 
>simplistic?
>
>
>
>Any pit-falls and considerations?
>
>
>
>Hiroo
>
>
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