Direct C51
Well-Known Member
I am fabricating my engine cowl and am trying to visualize a solution to a large hinged cowl door. The standard is an exposed piano hinge like a Piper Cherokee, but I would imagine this will create some drag, as well as leakage through the gaps in the piano hinge. This hinge line is in the high pressure area of the cowl, so I would prefer as leak free a hinge as possible. Can a piano hinge be sealed? I was thinking some flexible material be bonded to the aluminum across the hinge inside the cowl to seal the gaps. Is there a better way to hinge aluminum sheets? Is the small drag and leakage not a problem?
