Fred
From: Fred Klein
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 7:05 AM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Deformation of canopy
On Feb 7, 2012, at 12:14 PM, Raimo Toivio wrote:
we are not contortionists ' we are pilots. At the age 50-100 it is a
hard task to practise to be a contortionist ' pilot.
...fascinating topic...
Raimo...a couple of questions...
- When you say you are not a contortionist, are you saying that...while
sitting in the left seat cockpit...you either CANNOT, or find it
extremely difficult to, pull the rear of your window/door inward if the
rear shoot-bolt doesn't engage properly?...
If I had to pull the rear of my door inward, that would be quite
challenging. Happily it is not necessary in Romeo Tango=B4s case at all,
because it goes =93automatically=94 right. My practise is to press
window frame down by my left elbow and same time push the lever gently
fore.
- If so, what happens when you don't get a "green" lite?
I get it always. My doors are not very tight. I did not used Europa
suplied door rubber weather strip. I found my own version of the rubber
seal. But if I could not get =93green=94, I would try again in that
case. What else?
- How often do you not get a "green" lite after latching your
window/door?
In my case so far never. Notice: in my case. You cannot trust it. Me
neither.
What I'm trying to understand is whether or not your window/door
installation was perfect or near perfect resulting in virtually 100%
engagement of rear shoot-bolt when latching and thus your warning lite
system merely gives you some peace of mind.
When building I did not know how easy it will be to close the doors when
completed. I built the warning systems just in case. BUT ' one single
time having a rear bolt outside is too much and can lead to fatal. That
is why I would build it again with this knowledge. In fact ' when the
doors close easily you are not concentrating to this procedure. Easy
closing doors are kind of risk...that is why you also need a warning
system ' positive or negative or both.
As mentioned previously, I feared that my rear shoot-bolts would NOT
engage properly UNLESS I was able to include some means of pulling the
rear of the window inward...and my little ergonomic investigation showed
me that if I installed a little tab on the window frame...approximately
in line with the CM "head rest"...this would do the trick, without my
needing to be a contortionist. This works for both port and stbd windows
as I, like others, do not want to depend on a passenger to tell me if
everything's aok.
After I had read this I went to my winter-hangar, which is behind the
wall of my office. Sat down to the P1 seat and noticed this place for a
little tab in line with head rest would do without a snakebody. Ten
inches back and it would be hard to reach it. But IF you once forget to
use your tab OR it is not necessary to use it at all ' the destiny is
behind you.
(For the port window, I reach my right arm across my chest to pull the
tab inward while my left hand pushes the door handle forward...for the
stdb window, I reach my right arm behind the passenger's "head rest" and
pull inward while passenger [or I] push the door handle forward...no
contorting necessary...and whether I have a warning lite system or not,
I still anticipate going thru these motions when securing the
window/doors.)
If you happen to manage to build perfect doors, they will be closed very
easily. As advertised. Then there is a risk sometimes for some reason
you are a bit more careless than normal and your rear bolt is out and
you have no idea about that w/o a warning device until you notice that
airborne at 5000 ft and start to fight for your passenger(s), plane and
your soul.
Build a warning or/and ok systems. I will send you all the necessary
bits (a DC12V led with a nice collar (colour of your choise), two
microswithes and 10ft of high quality teflon aviation wire and a
schematic drawing. How about that (valid only for you and one week
only)?
What more you need?
Build warning devices ' fly more safe!
Raimo
OH-XRT
FINLAND
Fred
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