Getting in and out of a slider

[rvator9a]

I'm looking for suggestions for improving ingress/egress on a side by side slider. I have seen a few posts about roll bar handles and arm rest reinforcements, I'm curious whats really needed and what works the best. I have young kids and I don't want to have to worry everytime one of them gets in and out of the plane.

[Vern]

I brief all first-timers. I point to the canopy rail, the canopy brace, and the two red handles I have on my front canopy bow and tell them that is where they can grip. I say step up onto the wing using the foot closest to the fuselage on the step,stand up on the wing black area facing forward, then step into the middle of the seat facing forward and then slide down into the seat. Then I help buckle them in, show them the headset volume and headset and mike orientation.

After the flight I instruct them to remain seated until I come around and assist them out. I remind them again of the three handhold spots, tell them to stand up on the seat cushion facing forward, step out facing forward. Then I assist them to find the step with the foot closest to the fuselage and then down to the ground.

Pilots are usually tougher to board than novices. Perhaps novices listen better???

[rv6ejguy]

Originally Posted by rvator9a

I'm looking for suggestions for improving ingress/egress on a side by side slider. I have seen a few posts about roll bar handles and arm rest reinforcements, I'm curious whats really needed and what works the best. I have young kids and I don't want to have to worry everytime one of them gets in and out of the plane.

You will always have to worry about where hands and feet go, especially hands and the windshield fairing.oops, crunch!

Stepping on the seat is a pain. I flip both seat cushions vertical against the seat back, step onto the spar top sheet metal beside the sticks, lower butt slowly while sliding down bottom cushion while holding fingers behind the roll bar. No messy seat. You can sit on the seat back before this procedure. To get out, feet up against spar on floor, hand on canopy rail, push up and hook heels on bottom seat cushions as your feet come over the spar.
Works great.

Little ones should always be assisted. Carefully brief everyone before starting on where not to step or grab.

[JonJay]

I made my windscreen fairings out of .032. They are very rigid and can bear quite a bit of weight. So, I have no worries about placing a hand on the fairing and windscreen to assist in getting out. You can not get away with that with composite fairings.
In making metal fairings you will also get to learn a new skill with an English Wheel. I only threw away two sets before I got it right. It still took less than a day to get them done. My English Wheel was passed around through various builders on loan and there are quite a few RV's running around with nice metal fairings as a result. So, chances are, you can find a wheel in your local area.
They look great and you never need to worry about cracked fiberglass or filler as it is a very natural place for people to accidently put their hand.

[prkaye]

Regarding the English Wheel, I saw this site on how to make a small one yourself.

http://www.roddingroundtable.com/tec.../12ewheel.html

[rv6ejguy]

I have a metal fairing as well but they won't bear full weight of someone. Ask me how I know. You don't really need an English Wheel to turn these out, just a pattern and a big piece of 5052.

[JonJay]

Originally Posted by rv6ejguy

I have a metal fairing as well but they won't bear full weight of someone. Ask me how I know. You don't really need an English Wheel to turn these out, just a pattern and a big piece of 5052.

5052 is much easier to form, and deform. I used 2024, which is much more difficult to wheel, but much more rigid. Forming the compound curve with the English Wheel also adds a lot of rigidity where as a flat piece of sheet will be easy to deform.
It would be difficult to bend the fairings if made out of .032/2024 and rolled with a compound curve. I am sure it would bend if someone sat on it though.

[rv6ejguy]

I just worked mine over a piece of round tubing with a slight arc in it. Worked pretty well but would be nice to have 2024 ones for sure.

[SteinAir]

I laid mine up out of a couple layers of good, heavy Carbon Fiber tape over a thin layer of glass. Now I think you could stand on it and it wouldn't break - Lord knows enough people have tried whilst getting in and out of the plane!

That being said, I've still managed to close the canopy (in the hangar) with the handle facing forward, and I'm afraid even the carbon fiber doesn't like that too much. I have a little "divot" in the fairing from that needs to be filled in

Cheers,
Stein
RV6 Slider, MSP

[kevinsky18]

has anyone thought of building a small rolling step to assist pax in and out?

Roll it up to the plane let them get in. Then you pull it away and enter whatever normal way you use. When exiting reverse process, get out fetch boarding ladder / stand let pax egress