Sky-Catch Info

[SteveF]

HI,

I have Sky-Catch latches on my 170 doors. I needed to get some more and called the company in Medina Ohio. The phone is out of service. I called information and there is no listing for the owner or the company in Medina anymore.

Does anyone know if the company exists or if it has changed its name?
Does anyone have suggestions as to other items available to hold the doors open if the Sky-Catch is not available?

Thanks,
SteveF

[GAHorn]

Sky Catch is nothing more than common cabinet hardware available from hardware stores.
Contact Johnny Williams who advertises in our 170 News, for an alternative. (He is listed in the directory in TExas, ph 915/944/8558

Here's the skycatch info if you want to make your own:

Skycatch.pdf

[SteveF]

Thanks George !!!!!!!!!!

Will start with hardware store and progress to Williams Aircraft if necessary.

Thanks again,
SteveF

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Steve,

I'm not sure that Williams has the catch (the part on the door). I could be wrong.

What they do have is a steel pointed tip that would replace the blunt tip installed on the stop (attached to the wing) This tip can then be used with the stock hole and Cessna clip. If your stop tip is broke Williams tip might also work with the SkytCatch catch that is on the door but I don't know that for sure.

[SteveF]

Thanks Bruce,

My latches are still working fine. This information is for a friend with an early 172. He tried to contact Sky-Catch and couldn't so I thought someone here might know what had happened to them. The hardware store thing sounds like it is going to work fine. He may have to improvise the piece that goes on the wing bracket.

Thanks again,
SteveF

[GAHorn]

.... He may have to improvise the piece that goes on the wing bracket....

The info I posted above shows how to "improvise".

[Showboatsix]

I have installed these on my plane, they work great.

The DOOR STEWARD is an STC & FAA-PMA approved modification that greatly improves and replaces easily broken, malfunctioning mechanical type door stop or restraints that become ineffectual with repeated usage. Pilots enjoy the fact that the DOOR STEWARD gently opens and firmly holds the door open. The DOOR STEWARD consists of a modern inert gas spring - with necessary brackets. It is easy to install with virtually no maintenance. Developed out of frustration and observation of pilots and passengers who were repeatedly nagged by door whips in windy situation.

The DOOR STEWARD can be used with or without most existing door restraints. With the DOOR STEWARD, the door will stay open when needed. No more flopping open and closed in gust of wind or sudden door movement caused by prop wash of aircraft taxiing nearby. The cost is usually much less that REPAIRING the OEM Door Restraints. Great for float equipped aircraft when water taxiing. FAA approved for Single Engine Cessnas from 170 series through 210 series except Cessna 177 and P210. New versions for Cessna 177, Beechcraft and Piper aircraft are pending.

Check Trade A Plane for listing.

[GAHorn]

... The cost is usually much less that REPAIRING the OEM Door Restraints. ...

That was a cut/paste of their advertising claims, I presume. Any damage to the airframe and door stops due to "slamming" by the wind will still have to be repaired, of course.

Everyone.... Remember to CLOSE your cabin doors whenever you can, even during walk-arounds. A blast of wind, or prop, will damage your doors and they are expensive to repair. Teach your passengers on how to open/close/protect your doors. Tell them to AVOID using them as support when boarding/de-planing.

Even if the Door Steward is installed, wind and prop-wash and abusive passengers will damage your doors and especially your door hinges. The upper door hinges are becoming very SCARCE and expensive,... and those upper door hinges take a real beating regardless of door stops, etc. etc.. (Think about the leverage placed on them whenever that wide door is used/abused.)

[170C]

Well, here goes another "OPINION"! I have the Sky Latch's (I think that is what I have--they have a screw type adjustment on either side that puts tension on the ball [bearings] on either side of the middle?)on my plane and they are fairly effective provided no strong wind or parking on a sloped ramp with the tail lower than the mains However, just when you need them to hold the door open, they give up the ghost & the door slams shut or slams into you. I put them on yrs ago because the factory catches weren't worth much either. The Door Stewart may work pretty well, but they are expensive and create something to catch things on and if you have any interest in keeping a plane original, they don't fit that mold at all. One of these days I will run across someone who has the time to engineer the type catches I saw one time on a C-180 that were virtually fool proof as they had a lever that slid over the top of the door as it was opened to its full travel and dropped over the door edge and held the door open very positively. Maybe I will design it and get rich--------yea, right

[JHKeeton171]

Yes, Mr. Traves and his wife have both passed. Don't know if any of the surviving family members would have any more information on tooling and/or parts for the SkyCatch or not. Their names are available in the obituaries and I quess it would not be too hard to track some of them down. Some people who have seen mine feel that it would not be too hard to make them if you had the right skills and equipment.


http://wp2.medina-gazette.com/2007/08/page/41/

http://wp2.medina-gazette.com/2008/04/2 ... ws-traves/


Romilly W. Traves
August 14th, 2007 · No Comments
Romilly Webster Traves, 80, of Medina, passed away Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007.

Mr. Traves was born Dec. 20, 1926, in Lakewood to Walker Webster and Mary Ursula (Kilbane) Traves. He grew up in Rocky River. He was a 30-year resident of Medina County. In 1952, he married Patsy (Andrews) Traves, with whom he celebrated 55 years of marriage. A graduate of Western Reserve University, he was an award-winning architectural designer/builder in the Cleveland area. He was a member of the American Society of Interior Designers for 51 years. He was a 32nd-degree Master Mason of Rocky River, past president of Ruritan of Lodi, and an active member of the Lions Club, and served as vice chairman of the Zoning Appeals Board of Harrisville Township. Since childhood, his first love was flying. He was a first lieutenant in the USAAF, serving as a C-54 flight engineer. A lifelong model aircraft builder, private pilot, and owner of a 1947 Stinson that he rebuilt from scratch, he was a 62-year member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and a member of the Valley City R/C Club. In 1975, he began Sky Catch, marketing his trademarked aircraft door catch worldwide. On Wednesdays he could be found with the “Romeos” (Retired Old Men Eating Out), swapping stories of the joys and challenges of flight over lunch.

He is survived by his wife, Patsy (Andrews) Traves of Medina; brother, Donald R. Traves of Fairport, Ohio; daughters, Deborah Traves of New York City and Jody (Traves) Amacher of Aiken, S.C.; and grandchildren, Lauren and Travis Fitzsimmons of New York City.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Neale Traves of Atlanta, and his parents.

A private family service will be held.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Medina County, 797 N. Court St., Medina, 44256.

Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, is handling arrangements.

[SteveF]

JH,
Thanks for posting the obituary of Romilly Traves. He was a nice guy to deal with and will be missed.
And now we know why no one answers the phone and that the Sky-Catch will be unavailable for a while.

SteveF

[blueldr]

I guess the Door Steward is pretty nifty , but I like to be able to pull the door hinge pins and remove the doors for loading my camping gear.

[Brad Brady]

The only DOOR STEWARD I have ever installed, left the shop last week. (I can't go out and look at it). But as I remember the piston can be easily removed.(just two pins)

[hilltop170]

............. I'd like to be able to pull the door hinge pins and remove the doors for loading my camping gear.

The Door Stewards pop off their mounts from either end with a gentle tug.

[hilltop170]

........One of these days I will run across someone who has the time to engineer the type catches I saw one time on a C-180 that were virtually fool proof as they had a lever that slid over the top of the door as it was opened to its full travel and dropped over the door edge and held the door open very positively. Maybe I will design it and get rich--------yea, right

Frank, some Beavers I have flown have a catch like you're talking about on the rear doors, it's a flat piece of aluminum about 4"long and 1"wide attached to the plane at one end and used as a flat spring with a tapered wedge-shaped teflon catch attached to it. The aluminum is bent just so that the door edge will ride up the taper and drop over the back side of the latch to hold the door. To release it, the aluminum tab is pushed until the latch disengages. Really easy to build and I'm sure would sell a bunch.

p.s. I saw your plane at Reklaw but couldn't find you to say hi.

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