Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. I'll
Look into it...
Kim Blackseth
On Apr 14, 2009, at 4:14 AM, Ed Burkhead <[email protected]> wrote:
Didn’t Jack also have enough arm strength to use an arm-powered chai
r?
I suspect any powered chair must weigh more.
The usual 9 cubic foot baggage compartment may well be big enough
for a chair. Perhaps quick release mechanisms would let the
batteries (and/or wheels) be removed and lifted in separately
allowing his assistant to do it through the regular window/door
opening.
If any structure needed to be modified, I’d suspect the rear-window
zone would be least structural. The fact that the Alons have the sl
iding canopy shows that the rear canopy area can be separated from t
he plane while keeping the plane’s structural strength. Don’t
Alons have some reinforcement of the upper edge of the rear cockpit?
I imagine using that identical structure might get easiest approval.
A hinge at the back of the window/door structure combined with
pneumatic lifts like are used in car rear hatches could make opening
and closing it more practical.
Perhaps even a full bubble canopy could be installed, hinged at the
front windshield support (probably requiring reinforcement) would
let both Kim and the chair be lifted in and out more easily.
Heck, perhaps flight testing could show that the canopy is optional,
allowing the plane to leave the canopy at home and fly as an open
top convertible like Leonard Page’s Wasp. (Didn’t Leonard fly
the Wasp with no canopy part of the time? Did he have any problem wi
th turbulent air over the empennage?)
I don’t expect there’s any way to use an external pod on a low-
slung plane like a Coupe. Especially so for a 14” thick load.
These are un-expert thoughts for you to discuss with an expert DER.
Good luck, Kim.
