Air Stair/Split Door
I'm beginning a section on this popular modification, right now the pictures are all I have.
From Scott Derrick
I have a split door in my STD V. The air stair door used my door as a starting point.
This door was designed by Tom Wright in PA, who is still building Velocities. I think he made 3 or 4 V's with this door.
I have included a link to a zip file with pictures of the door.
This door was done on the old style top loader.
Mine is a 96 model kit built in 97.
From Chuck Harbert
Just wanted to add a few thoughts to the discussion that Hiroo started. When I decided I had to make an easier entry (for my wife) into the my "top loader", I did some research and found that it had already been done (i.e Wright door?). I decided to make it strong enough to be a stair as well, since I was told that the original split door Elite on display at Sun'n'Fun had this happen accidently a few times. I asked a structural engineer to review what I was planning and he okayed my plan. I got an ex-Velocity factory builder (Scott Lower) to help me do the work (he's an expert). It was definitely not an easy job (2-3 weeks), and the latching mechanism is complicated.
Here's what I now think:
Good points: 1. Very easy to get in/out, especially back seat, or in an emergency 2. Nice to taxi in hot weather with the stair down for ventilation 3. Easier to service panel instruments, etc. 4. I think it adds some additional value
Bad points: 1. Big job and expensive (if you don't do it all yourself) 2. Upper hatch window has a sharp point on lower forward edge to match fuselage (possible head poke) and there's a square edge protruding from the strake that I've bumped my back on a couple times. No big deal. 3. The latching mechanism requires two hands to close. I need to improvedesign.
Overall, I'd do it again if I had a top loader, but I wouldn't if I had an SUV that I could get a factory door for. It's too much trouble to split the door and design a new latching mechanism IMO (although Scott L is considering this on his Elite).
