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04-18-2016, 05:22 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 612
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To circle back on this, I did call builders support today and talked to Gus.
As it turns out, there maybe isn't really any information yet or parts available for the canopy jettison handle and mechanism. It sounds like it was one of the things designed in a while back and never really got completed. So there wasn't anything I could order today for that. I guess one of the factory planes has it, one doesn't, and Mitch's has some other release mechanism to use with his panel, because when planning for the release they didn't account for how much stack space most panels will have.
So it may or may not be complete yet. He said he'd check into it for me more.
Then regarding the canopy being removable, it really is those hinge covers that cause the issue there. Apparently they are fairly finicky and easy to wreck. So, if you ever do pull them, you run the risk of scratching your paint or breaking the pieces. Then, at that point, you'd have to re-create new ones, and paint them to match, and then get them re-inserted without scratching everything. So the short answer is, sure, you can remove the canopy from the plane after it's painted and complete, but it's troublesome enough that you may not be satisfied with how the process goes...so maybe best just to consider it permanent once it's on there.
So unless something changes, I wasn't as far off as it seemed.
At this point I'm going to try a two prong approach. I'm going to fab a canopy release handle out of aluminum rod if possible, and if I can't make it strong enough, I'm going to plug the hole in the panel with a plastic cap plug, and then just build some sort of bracket on the sub panel to create a locked down canopy release so it can't be accidentally tripped, but perhaps can be used if needed some day for maintenance. I just have to figure out how to bail with the chute then, without a full jettison. Maybe just an escape hammer for a few blows?
Last edited by TimO : 04-18-2016 at 05:30 PM.
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04-18-2016, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wee Waa Australia
Posts: 279
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Just a question in regard to the other RV aircraft... Do they all have jetisonable canopies. I think the RV 4 I had the hinge was designed to rip off, but what about the other tilt canopies?
__________________
Kit 140241
Tail Feathers done
Fuselage kit completed.
wings almost complete.
Flaps and ailerons done.
Canopy next. Phew!
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04-18-2016, 05:59 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,408
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Has Van's forgot we would like to complete our RV-14 before we all die of old age?
__________________
Thanks Ron
RV-10 SOLD
RV-14 Flying
AirCam flying
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04-18-2016, 06:42 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 474
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Canopy clips
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimO
Then regarding the canopy being removable, it really is those hinge covers that cause the issue there. Apparently they are fairly finicky and easy to wreck. So, if you ever do pull them, you run the risk of scratching your paint or breaking the pieces. Then, at that point, you'd have to re-create new ones, and paint them to match, and then get them re-inserted without scratching everything. So the short answer is, sure, you can remove the canopy from the plane after it's painted and complete, but it's troublesome enough that you may not be satisfied with how the process goes...so maybe best just to consider it permanent once it's on there.
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I safety wired mine because you are right, it will destroy the clips, ask me how I know. After I "permanently" attached the canopy, I had to take it off, which originally I thought, no big deal. WRONG. It destroyed the little tabs when the canopy popped up, so I had to fabricate two more. At that point, as Tim said, removing the canopy for maintenance is not an option because it will ruin the clips and the paint will never match. I didn't put the handle through the panel anyway because I don't think I'll ever jettison the canopy.
__________________
Stoney
First RV-14 Flight 04/17/2016
Serial #140087, N214SW - Sold
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04-18-2016, 07:21 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,408
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I had my clips all painted, and forgot where I left them. I had a small fire going and decided to burn a few boxes. As I thru the boxes in the fire I heard a faint cling. What that you ask , one of the small clips. I immediately kicked the boxes out of the fire and never saw a trace of the second one. One of the boxes was what I had painted them on and I must never removed them from the box.
All this to make one point, Van's supplied me with spares of both the small cover and of the small clips. They must have known I was a fire bug. They must have thought I was a bigger bug because I still have more spares.
Til now I thought they provided everyone with spares. You guy's don't burn boxes? or what.
__________________
Thanks Ron
RV-10 SOLD
RV-14 Flying
AirCam flying
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04-18-2016, 11:18 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimO
Then regarding the canopy being removable, it really is those hinge covers that cause the issue there. Apparently they are fairly finicky and easy to wreck. So, if you ever do pull them, you run the risk of scratching your paint or breaking the pieces. Then, at that point, you'd have to re-create new ones, and paint them to match, and then get them re-inserted without scratching everything. So the short answer is, sure, you can remove the canopy from the plane after it's painted and complete, but it's troublesome enough that you may not be satisfied with how the process goes...so maybe best just to consider it permanent once it's on there.
So unless something changes, I wasn't as far off as it seemed.
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To each his own I guess....
The canopys have been off both of the prototypes numerous times with no ill effects (BTW, both prototypes do have the complete release system). The trigear does show some signs of wear and tear on the paint because it was updated from an earlier design hinge cover.
The key is developing an understanding of how they work and painting them properly (once painted, excess can be removed from the edges with a razor blade), and properly masking the opening while painting the fuselage.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
Last edited by rvbuilder2002 : 04-18-2016 at 11:25 PM.
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04-18-2016, 11:22 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jswareiv
I safety wired mine because you are right, it will destroy the clips, ask me how I know. After I "permanently" attached the canopy, I had to take it off, which originally I thought, no big deal. WRONG. It destroyed the little tabs when the canopy popped up, so I had to fabricate two more. At that point, as Tim said, removing the canopy for maintenance is not an option because it will ruin the clips and the paint will never match. I didn't put the handle through the panel anyway because I don't think I'll ever jettison the canopy.
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The covers did exactly what they were intended to do... pop off if the canopy is jettisoned.
To remove the canopy without popping the covers, you have to remove them by reversing the process you used to install them.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
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04-19-2016, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 474
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002
The covers did exactly what they were intended to do... pop off if the canopy is jettisoned.
To remove the canopy without popping the covers, you have to remove them by reversing the process you used to install them.
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I learn something new every day, thankfully. When I actually popped the canopy, I wasn't thinking about the little covers and them coming off. My bad. Thanks Scott.
__________________
Stoney
First RV-14 Flight 04/17/2016
Serial #140087, N214SW - Sold
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04-26-2016, 09:06 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 612
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The past couple days I did a mock up of the canopy handle. I'm guessing by the part number quoted in the thread that Van's may use a welded steel part. I decided to mock it up with 3/8" Aluminum rod for now. I got a 4' piece on Amazon for under $15 with prime. I didn't want to do any welding at this point, because I wasn't sure how the handle would look or work with the spring that was included in the kit.
I drilled and tapped one end of the rod, and cut the other end with the slot to pin onto the canopy release arm. I found a couple of washers...one to go against the panel so the spring doesn't wear on the panel, and one to go around the rod with a pin to hold the washer in just the right position so the canopy release pushrod would have just the smallest bit of tension on it when the pins are fully engaged. I then made a crude bar of aluminum that I screwed onto the handle for the "T". Now I had something I could quick test.
I think it's an OK system, but I found that the spring takes a LOT of pull to release the pins all the way. I had the wife do it and she could barely pull it far enough. (Not that I expect her to get into aerobatics, without me in the plane, and then mess up and decide to bail out.  ) So the spring is pretty heavy. All in all, it works. But, to have a handle that you could actually grab with your hand, the T-handle will probably have to stick out at least 1/2" if not a little more, from the panel. The factory handle I have a pic of below shows the gap. (Although I don't see their spring anywhere on it)
The short of it is, there are limited times I would probably want to have the handle available, and most of the time I'll be happy to have nothing there at all. So I've basically come to the conclusion that for me, the best situation will be if I can have a permanent pushrod, but a removable handle portion.
That way if I'm going on flights where I will have the chute and do aerobatics, I just have to screw on the external handle. Otherwise I will just have a capped hole on the face of the instrument panel. It seems like a good way to go to me, and it's one less part to buy. Now I just have to fab the permanent one, which I can do sometime after the first flight if I want.
So there was actually a benefit to not getting the part with the kit...it allowed me to think it through a bit and do it in a way I think will work best for me in the end. When I finally do have a final part, I'll try to get an updated pic with measurements.
The best pic I have from OSH is probably this one, showing one of the factory handles:

Last edited by TimO : 04-26-2016 at 09:10 AM.
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04-26-2016, 09:21 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,408
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Tim , what about if God forbid you had to ditch. You may want the handle to get out?
__________________
Thanks Ron
RV-10 SOLD
RV-14 Flying
AirCam flying
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