RAF 2000 half doors
 

A friend of mine has offered to build me a set of half doors for my RAF 2000 similar to those currently available on the helicycle. I need to come up with a source for a pair of hinges and three door latches to match what I currently have for my full doors. Does anyone know where these can be purchased? If these half doors are successful on my RAF, my friend could make them available for others. He wants to use my RAF as his test bed. I'm hoping the half doors will increase cruise speed and may be able to fly with them year round instead of having to put full doors on in the winter (here in Georgia). I'm attaching a couple of photos of the hinge and clasp that I'm looking for.

(Couldn't make the photo attachment work! This thing is smarter than I am. But it's the standard RAF hinges and clasps.)

if they are designed to help keep the wind away from the cabin i will be a customer for the first ones. best regards,eddie
(PS I have no idea where to get the hinges and latchs).

I hope they'll improve the air flow over the cab keeping the air routed around the door opening without making it feel all closed up like the full doors do, we may have to add a stall strip to disrupt the airflow a bit. I tried posting pics but this thing gets the best of me all the time, I'm just getting to old to be learning new tricks. Stan, PRA 41973

Stan V,
As mentioned before on this site: it is hard to beat McMaster-Carr for a wide selection of hardware 'goodies', including latches and hinges. At the very least they are a source of what's available readily from many suppliers. Many parts also include a pdf of dimensions.

Now if you want DIN or MIL/AN spec 'stuff, that's another matter.

I've used them quite a bit; somewhat pricey on some items, but usually very quick delivery.

Chris

Stan - The half doors do make a big difference on my Helicycle. The cabin has smooth air inside....its faster....and just very comfortable. Still fn to fly at 100 degrees....

Now when it starts getting colder...around mid October...I will put the right full door on...and fly with my left half door till up in November....then its full doors till March when I again fly with the left half door...and the right full door.

I made my hinges as per the plans out of sheet aluminum, but I know you could find hinges already made.

My RAF that I flew had full doors and it would have been nice to have had half doors as well. I flew my RAF with the passenger door on when it was getting cold....then the pilot door when it got real cold out.

Stan

This latch may work http://www.tchweb.com/tchstore/produ...ist-Catch.html

Maybe have a machine shop CNC the hinges

Steve, that's the latch, now if I can only find the hinge, McMaster-Carr has a bunch of stuff but I couldn't find the hinge. Stan, PRA 41973

Stan F.,I too fly my RAF with just the right door installed. Here in Atlanta I've not had to add the left door even on the coldest days.

???
 

Is this what you are after Stan? On my Firebird I used the same hinge as RAF used. I believe that I have a several spares you can have, and could have more machined if needed.

Aussie Paul. :)

Paul, that's them. I could sure use what spares you have, Do you know who manufactures them ?

Stan, I had them CNC machined here locally as I did with most of the components for my Firebird. Firebird was more like a mechano set build, by bolting all the CNC machined components together.

I hope to have a look this weekend.

Aussie Paul. :)