Do you fly with the windows open?

[DavidGA2]

I am working on the doors for my Radial Desert Hawk conversion of a 4-place. I want to know if people find having the front windows open in flight an advantage? I already have the lower doors made and hung, but now am questioning whether installing Gull Wing Doors with a mouse trap at the bottom better for my needs. I want to be able to lock the airplane when I am traveling. It will have over 300hp, so I will likely be cruising on the high end of the spectrum. I have never flown in a Bearhawk and greatly appreciate the feedback.

[zkelley2]

Except for the rare occasion that I purposely drop something out of them, no I never open them in flight or taxi. But that's mostly because of temperature.

As far as the extra HP, it's not going to add much to your speed. HP has very little to do with cruise speed. For a Bearhawk with a true airspeed of 130, with 260hp at 75%(195hp), 300hp at 75% only gains 6kts. And burns 2.5gph more.
That assumes drag is constant, but since it won't be with the radial in place of the flat engine., your 300hp radial will be slower on 300hp than a 540 is at 260hp. I would not expect you to be on the high end of the cruise spectrum.

[whee]

I flew with the window open in a BH that had factory-style doors. It was fun when out goofing around. I think the speed limitation is 100mph. I put seaplane doors on my personal airplane and do not miss the windows.

[jaredyates]

I open the windows for photography while in flight, but that's usually around 70 knots unless it's air to air. It is quite windy for the back seaters. There is massive utility to having the windows open on the ground and for taxi, especially when it is hot out.

[Nev]

I made gull-wing doors (no mouse door needed). I really like them, easy to get in out of, easy to open fully and tons of easy access to the cockpit on the ground.

I decided not to open them in flight - I don't feel comfortable testing that scenario. I also added springs to the latch mechanism and reversed the handle so it can't easily be caught by clothing, all aimed at making it unlikely to be open inadvertently. On the ground I often open them on a hot day while taxying - with a low power setting. With the engine running at over 1000 rpm there is enough vibration due to their size that I would be concerned about fatigue in the long term. So there's some pro's and con's, but for me I'd do it again.

E6074975-1F32-43A7-AFBA-0B674919CFDC.jpg

[svyolo]

Whee, jared, and Nev, I have been looking for all three of your answers for 3 years. At first I looked at "mouse" doors as a bit dodgy. But after making them for the kit doors and seeing how they work, I like them. I would rather have mouse doors, than raise the door sill. If I end up making gull wing doors, they will use the stock door sills, and mouse doors. I prefer the extra glass area. The mouse door part is simple and reliable.

My doors are mostly stock, with 75% glass on the lower doors. I think I make a drivers side gullwing door and see which I prefer.

[Gerhard Rieger]

Hi Svyolo, here is what I did without going up on most of the door frame.

[Rollie]

I open my windows for taxi all the time in warm weather. The Cessna style wing vents don't really don't anything until flying speeds. The only times I open them in flight (and then I only open one) is when I'm flying around with cubs (slow) on hot days and sometimes on final on hot days. Since I usually have a dog or two in the back seat - the first few times I opened it, I held it so it was only open a few inches because dogs like to stick their heads out open windows. After they got used to that, I relaxed a bit and just open the window and kind of keep an eye on the dogs. They haven't jumped out during taxi with the window open and with it fully open in flight there is enough wind coming in that they don't bother to lean forward and try to stick their heads outside.

The main thing I would miss with a one piece door would be the ability to open the window during taxi in the summer. I would consider even in a one piece door having a window that opens , whether it was a little slider or something similar to the stock window but hinged into the door. Or just having the one piece door prop open a few inches at the bottom would probably give sufficient airflow to keep from roasting during taxi. I just know I never liked the Cessna solution which was to physically hold the door open during taxi.

[whee]

I setup my doors so I could add a window similar to the factory style. Another builder is using seaplane doors and put in sliding windows kinda like a Cub. It looks way cool and I’m waiting to see how it is so I can copy if I decide I want windows. When it is warm I just open the door while I taxi.

B58BEFD4-BE80-4815-8624-D3E19E367306.jpg

[Battson]

I open my windows all the time, in order of importance:

1. For taxing through unknown areas so I can lean out and better see where I am going
2. For cooling on hot days while taxiing / ground ops
3. To get bugs or bees out of the cabin
4. Demisting the interior - the heater really does nothing at taxi speeds
5. Receiving items which I forgot to pack, without shutting off the engine i.e. my lunch or hat
6. Opening in flight to get some fresh air on a hot summers day, or to hang my head out the window on final approach - but it's kinda like cruising with the top down in a Cadillac, more for show than comfort / practicality.

[DavidGA2]

Thanks everyone for the information. Based on the replies I have built Gull Wing doors and will not have fold out windows. My airplane is highly modified from the 4 Place and I discovered the sills are already raised. I believe the designer of the Desert Hawk conversion wanted more structure to support the wider opening. Thanks again!!