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Yep, that's about 0.0087".
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RV8 windscreen
Hi Lance, could you make a thicker windscreen for an RV8 that would be more resistant to bird strikes? Agree that a birdstrike that comes into the cockpit is a bad luck event, but it seems like a thicker windscreen would reduce the risk. Perhaps a flat one, not a bubble like the standard windscreen? Not protruding into the baggage space?
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Hey Mickey,
As mentioned in my prior post, I doubt that there's much to be gained by going to 1/4 vs 3/16 (especially after forming)... That being said, undoubtedly there's a thickness that will stop a bird, even a turkey vulture. How thick to do that? I have no idea, but it will be thick enough that it will create other issues, especially if you try to keep the original thickness from the roll bar back. There will be an issue at the intersection with mismatched height (all the way around) and unless it's a clear canopy, the tint will be noticeably darker. I'm sure there's other problems that will arise as you try to install it... At some point due to thickness, the windshield will survive, but not on the airplane. Imagine a 25 lb turkey vulture hitting the windshield at 170 kts, and ripping out that handful of little fasteners... As far as making a flat wrap, yes I could do it, but I doubt I would sell enough of them to justify the time spent on tooling up for it. I recall a member here did it himself and it came out fine, and I imagine I would find myself competing with enterprising individuals who would make their own. Lastly, I could form a thicker canopy overall, but it's going to get heavy pretty fast as the thickness goes up. All that being said, if folks want a thicker canopy, I'll do it (even if I hate weight!). Lance |
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If the RV-6 you speak of has a standard Van's canopy it is not clear (hold a white piece of paper up to edge and it is obvious). The standard kit canopies have always been tinted but they are not a dark tint because they are manufactured to meet the light transmit-ability requirement set by the FAA for night flight. |
finish kit
I'm getting ready to to order my finishing kit. Anyone have some updates to this thread?
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Windshield
Really no such thing as a birdproof windshield. Lear 23 had a thick lexan windshield but not certified to meet bird strike requirements. Large bird went thru the windshield and killed the pilot. Lunken Airport in Ohio many years ago, right after takeoff at relatively low speed.
Airline windshields meet a certification requirement for surviving bird strikes of a certain size, but not extremely large birds. |
Airliner front windshields are also two panes of thick glass separated by a heating element. The heat is to allow the glass to have some plastic properties in the event of a bird (or now, unfortunately...drone) strike. There is a significant speed limitation if the heat is inoperative and a very short time period allowed for replacement. That is how important the FAA considers it.
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Can you remove a center section of a standard bubble windscreen and replace it with framing and a flat panel? |
Anything is possible, that is why these are called Experimental aircraft.
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