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Old May 23rd 06, 09:51 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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Default Doors popping open in flight

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I learned to fly in the summer so we always took off with the doors
open. It really helped keep us cooler. I was surprised teh first time I
found out that most pilots close the doors before flight, even when its
not cold.

-Robert


Doors are for barns. Real airplane have canopies. I've had the
canopy pop open, but then it's legal for me to fly with it open.
Oddly enough, just as with many aircraft doors, the aerodynamic
forces make the Navion canopy want to pretty much close all the
way in flight. You can really only fly with it open if you
latch it open before takeoff. There is a cable that gives you
the leverage to pull it open in flight, but my plane doesn't
have it.