And, NO Greyhawk, I won't slow down

Barry,

 

Grayhawk has never suggested slowing down to any Lancair pilot except for ultimately landing in order to get more fuel.  You should also taxi fast to keep the dust from settling on the fuselage although you will have to eventually stop to put it in the hangar.

 

However, you do have a problem.  The cowl pressure is too great because the cowl air exit is not large enough or the inlets are too large or the air is being overheated or there is a rag stuffed in the lower cowl or the door has not been made to stand up under pressure.  Make a new one out of aluminum,  use more rivets and polish it so it shines like chrome.  This eliminates cosmetic body work that you seem to avoid like the plague.

 

If you want further suggestions, send pictures of the remaining hole.  If we can get three guys to look into the hole while wearing hard hats, the repair job fits the definition of a well-managed "multi-modal transportation construction project" and may qualify for Fed financial aid if you promise to use 15W50 corn-oil. 

 

Grayhawk

 

PS: Mine remains attached at dive speeds up to 240 KIAS.  It has a riveted hidden hinge (idea copied from a Skymaster), a Camloc "push the button thru the finger hole to release" latching mechanism, cowl lips to kiss the door when closed, interesting door erector stays to keep it up when I want it up and a temperature strip indicator on the inside to tell me the back cowl temp upon opening.  So there.