Source: 2018 Q2 Beartracks, Mark Scott
I finally got a chance last fall to fly with the back doors off my Bearhawk. With such a large hole I was a little nervous about what it would be like, particularly if I got into nose left uncoordinated flight. I am happy to say everything went well.
I took everything out and secured the free back seatbelt. I needed to tape the aft cabin fabric down by the door edge to keep it from flapping around. The first flight was solo. I progressively increased speed and performed small to moderate rudder pulses checking for any adverse effects. I can feel aircraft drag increase with nose left yaw but that is about it. There are no unusual trim changes. I took it up to 90 KIAS which is fast enough for the photo work I plan to do. Maule flight manuals prohibit a front window opened with the back doors off. This is important. If a front window were open it would create a tunnel effect and lots of air flow through the cabin.
The photographer sits sideways in the back seat with his right arm over the back. He said it works really well since it enables him to stabilize the camera. The view from the back is superior to the front because the opening is so much larger and there is no wing strut in the way. He wears a riggers harness with two large steel lanyard rings. One lanyard is attached to the left vertical tubing and another to the cross tube in front of the left passenger window. Each lanyard has a quick single hand disconnect hook. On takeoff the photographer sits on the left passenger seat side with the seatbelt on and the lanyards disconnected from the plane. In flight he connects the lanyard hooks and disconnects the seatbelt. In preparation for landing the steps are reversed. The photo flight is briefed amongst all participants beforehand. We typically fly about 2500 ft AGL in the late afternoon or early evening for the best shots. The photo plane holds a very steady course and altitude. The subject plane does all the maneuvering. The photographer tells me what he wants the subject plane to do and I relay that to the other pilot. Overall it has worked very well. So if you are looking for something else fun to do in your Bearhawk give some doors off photography a try.