Ed,
Do you have the standard or outback gear?
The standard gear has a distinct advantage with respect to speed limitations.
The original Outback Gear added a lot of surface area and a lot of camber to the doors. Also, the two-piece design cantilevered much of the area of the outboard door out beyond the attach point. This door is the week link. A handful have failed in flight and departed the aircraft. The outboard doors flex quite a bit under aerodynamic loads.
On the other hand, I found the the outback inner gear door can withstand the full 200 KTAS cruise speed - even when detached from the actuator. I had a rod end bearing fail back at about 150 hours. I was pleasantly
surprised to see the door remained on the aircraft. -The rod end bearings have been replaced with stronger units made of a better alloy-
Back to door speeds.....
I am now flying with a three-piece outback gear door set-up. Like with the standard gear the center door is attached to a new trailing link on the main gear. These door effectively have no speed limit. The only caution then becomes the gusto with which the gear locks into place. I have gone as high as 160 KIAS for extension speed.
The impetus for these doors was not to increase gear speeds, but to keep them from flexing open in flight and turning into air brakes.
Chris Zavatson
N91CZ, 1400 hrs
360std
From: Ed Gray <egraylaw@swbell.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 3:20 AM
Subject: [LML] parachutes, gear speeds
On recent trip in my new (50 hr.) 360, a misadjustment prevented my left inner gear door closing. I elected to continue and gradually increased speed, seemed the faster I went the smoother it got. Finished trip (900 mi.) at 200 mph. No apparent damage to the door. Query—at what speeds do gear doors depart? I have used 135 mph as max gear down speed—Now thinking 160 might be ok if needed to get down quick. Anyone know the answer?
Getting out of front hinge canopy with a parachute? I haven’t tried it, but my guess is you would need to get inverted and slow way down to push it open. If rides about 2 inches open if opened in
flight. Don’t try to close it in flight unless you have a good pull strap and on autopilot.
Finally, has anyone gotten a Dynon Skyview autopilot tuned for vertical hold without hunting? If so please send me your settings. Ed Gray Dallas