Canopy opens in flight--what now?
 

i just bought my 8 a few months ago. In my checklist, I check the canopy twice before TO; however as I am rolling onto the runway last week, the thought hit me...... What if the canopy blows open? Slow to 75 mph and land was my second thought. Anyone have this happen? Thoughts on what to do?

UNDER NORMAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS The canopy will not open in flight. The air pressure will keep it closed.

Take it from a long-time RV-8 pilot - Mel is right. Don't ask me how I know....

Different aircraft, but I've been flying a T-34B lately, and the front canopy can be opened in flight. It took me by surprise what an effort it took to slide the thing aft. Not something you could do by accident. I'd guess the -8 is similar.

That is good to know.

Well, almost never. I was flying a borrowed RV-8 and the canopy rolled back right in the middle of a hammerhead turn. I caught my hat with my right hand, the canopy with my left hand and returned both to the proper position before gaining speed on the down line.

Canopy opening
 

In my experience the T-34B canopy is far easier to push back and open in-flight then is the RV-8 canopy and can be done routinely - a lot of fun. Hadn't heard before of the -8 canopy rolling open near the top of a hammerhead. Was this possible because of the very low airspeed? Great recovery, by the way!

Now that was funny Smokey. And good work too :)

Hammerhead turn. . . hmmmm. :D You know Mel did say:

I have done thousands of hammerheads. That's normal, right? :rolleyes: