top of page
  • Writer's pictureMatt DeCraene

Baggage Door Modifications

One silly thing that has always bugged be a little bit, was the somewhat exposed piano hinge for the baggage door. Here is how it looks on the plans:

Potentially the gap could be closed by extending the baggage door and F-873H Spacer so they overlap like this:

This does not leave room for a hinge anymore, and would leave gaps down the sides of the door at either end of F-873. Therefore F-873 would change from a straight strip to a "U" shape. This would create a complete lip around the baggage door opening like the following sketch:

This necessitates a gooseneck hinge like commonly used on car trunks, and RV oil doors. The hinge is designed to allow the door to open slightly past 90°.

Hinge shown in the open position.

Another advantage of this is the ability to use a small gas strut that holds the door closed in the closed position, and open in the open position. Picture the pencil in the following picture as a strut trying to extend. Note that force from the strut would cause the door to close.


In the open position, the line of action moves to the other side of the hinge point, holding the door open.


I would likely create the fixed portion of hinge out of a piece of angle riveted to the hinge support, and then the hinges would be made of several pieces riveted to the door angle. I need to look for sources of the struts, as well as design the rest of the structure, and make the new parts to check feasibility.




43 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page