Fuselage door

[Bitshifter]

I am to the point on my fuselage that I am pondering a door for the front pit. I think that the best door in terms of usefulness would be to cut the longeron and move it down but that is my least favorite choice.
Having never been in a Hatz, is the front pit that hard to climb into? Is the short door down to the longeron good enough? Is the short door in the way if it folds down or should it fold forward?
Would it be possible for someone to post a video link of someone actually getting into the front seat?

Thanks
Ed
Hatz 154

[stearmoth]

Hi Ed,
We built the door with the horizontal hinge above the top longeron and I, Hans, am very happy with it!!
This helps a lot and does not disturb the structural integrity ( remember we have done 5 turn spins).
I would strongly recommand it and we think it is easier.to build than the late Mehlin's solution.Although Mehlins door looks better and is a bit more comfortable.
Next time I climb into the front pit I let Sam make a movie to post.

Hans & Sam, H.C.#78, Switzerland

[dougm]

Ed, cutting the longeron and reinforcing the area to accommodate a door has been done on numerous aircraft over the years. Waco did it on all their open cockpit biplanes and the Bakeng Deuce is at least one experimental I can think of that's done it as well. I have a set of QCF drawings that I'm using as reference to do the same thing on my Hatz. Properly done it is definitely achievable.

Here's a couple QCF pics...

[dougm]

And here's a Bakeng Deuce

[M Lightsey]

Altering longerons to install a door is a very significant alteration that needs to be carefully considered. There are a lot of forces at work in that area of the fuselage and I wouldn't be comfortable that a design that works for a parasol like the Deuce would be adequate for a biplane like the Hatz. Even if copying a design like the Waco, you'd still need to consider the tubing sizes and thicknesses to ensure adequate strength.
No matter what you do, the Hatz is a fairly small airplane and the front cockpit requires a certain degree of limberness.
Mark

[dougm]

Agreed. It's not something to be taken lightly.

[stearmoth]

Hi Doug,
I also agree - this cut out has to be well engineered!
By the way, i emailed you several times (you may not received them) and lately sent you a personal message.
Now I try to contact you on the forum on behalf of the access problems our French Hatz buddy Didier Pain experienced!

Kind regards
Hans

[stearmoth]

Hi Hatzers,
Here is a link to two youtube clips showing the easy entry into our "Vintage Hatz" by the top longeron hinged door. First shows my lovely wife Therese climbing into the Hatz and the second shows a nearly retired old guy you may know entering with ease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvYFb1JGOec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cmbLDiqMQ8

By the way, where are the photos of the Brodhead Hatz gathering and does anyone knows the brand of the radial on this Pietenpol (see photo)?

Also we now have flown off the restrictions (40 hours) and have gained full airworthiness acceptance!


Kind regards
Hans & Sam, H.C. #78, Switzerland

[mtaylor]

That would be Frank Pavliga's Piet and I believe it is a Leblonde radial. I was fueling up Sunday morning at Brodhead to head home and Frank was at the pumps with his Piet. It's a beauty!

[M Lightsey]

Frank's Piet has a 90 horse Lambert on it.