Baggage Door Inst.

[Watkinsnv]

I just finished drilling out all the rivets on the left side of the fuselage. That are required to install the aft baggage door. I have had the door, frame and STC for years just not the time. I have a short window of opportunity Between 5 annuals counting my 170B and two at Reid Hillview Ca. A local camp out at Alpine County Ca. a small remote mountain airstrip. And then on the last week of June through the 4th of July J.C. in Idaho and Minam in upper Oregon. I just want to be able to enjoy the convenience of a baggage door through the summer of camping. Tomorrow I’ll locate the door hinge brackets and cut the initial hole in the side of the fuselage. I have a strong feeling an extended baggage pit may suddenly appear as well. I have the time right now because one of my main contracts Aloha Airlines went away. So I dropped down to 2 days a week on call 16hrs a day or really the whole 48hrs. Its like a fire mans schedule or as I call it the Maytag repairmen’s job. I’m a vary lonely guy. I also could be using all these projects I had stored up as an excuse to not be flying right now what with the price of gas skyrocketing. Actually I’m having fun working on my airplane. My wife thinks I’m using these projects to put off the two yards of river rock I need to shovel and place some stepping stones to finish off the back yard, That I promised to complete before I left for the back country of ID and OR. But what does she know. Lance

[GAHorn]

Lance, could you post some pics?

[Watkinsnv]

Day # 1. OH MY GOD ! What have I done? There’s a BIG Giant Hole in the side of my airplane !!! Day #2 Now I have my work cut out for myself. Plugging the hole, caus there’s no turning back now. Lance
P.S. Pictures maybe only if it meets the picture worthiness criteria. I may have to wait until its out doors, if I use the flash the new rudder skin's will be blinding.

[GAHorn]

Drape a funeral shroud over the rudder until the baggage compartment is finished.

[Watkinsnv]

Day #2 Deep breaths calm, located frame. Located holes in sta 90 bulkhead frame to locate door hinges, knocked holes out. Hug door for the first time. Stood back and looked it over. Went to help a friend remove his engine with my hoist. Prop strike, enough said about that. Took extended baggage pit out of his 180, only slight differences. Close enough to document the differences and knock one out. Got back trimmed floor skin to match door frame. It all fits and matches the outer shape. Day #3 drill frame and hinges on to skin trim outer skin to frame and maybe fit to door. I know pictures - pictures. Lance

[Watkinsnv]

Day # 3 Drilled everything in sight, and some things hidden. Door 75% trimmed flush to outer skin. Generator ran out of gas and then I ran out of gas and sunlight. Just a little final trim and deburing and then I can permanently install the frame and hinges. The ends in sight. I took all the dimensions for the extended aft cargo bay. So I’ll round up the aluminum sheet stock for it on Mon & Tues. Lance
P.S I took some pictures.

[learaviator]

Day # 3 Drilled everything in sight, and some things hidden. Door 75% trimmed flush to outer skin. Generator ran out of gas and then I ran out of gas and sunlight. Just a little final trim and deburing and then I can permanently install the frame and hinges. The ends in sight. I took all the dimensions for the extended aft cargo bay. So I’ll round up the aluminum sheet stock for it on Mon & Tues. Lance
P.S I took some pictures.

Can you post or send the pictures? I plan on doing this also.

[GAHorn]

First: Find a door off an early 100 series Cessna:This is the door on the left...Del Lehmann of Mountain Airframe, Mena AR on the right.

DelAndDoor.JPG

Then find a motley crew to install it: (This is Del's motley crew)

TheMotleyCrew.JPG

Then wait until it's finished:

MVC-008S.JPG

Bring beer: (Del likes Beck's Dark)

MVC-004S.JPG

[learaviator]

Thank you George.

[GAHorn]

The Del Air STC is a great way to do this.

Harry Dellicker, Porterville, CA. 559-784-9440