Flying topless?

[flyboy1963]

well Dave, Google shows a topless -3, a -4 with two little windshields like a PT-22, and an -8 with no canopy at all.
I'm sure I read an article about a guy in Hawaii with a -6, and he simply made a big wedge that he covered the baggage area with and installed Dzus fasteners or something so he could swap it out in a few minutes. Said it flew fine....just slower, but hey, it would be for sight-seeing and photo taking anyway, right?

don't let anyone talk you out of what you want, unless it's illegal, immoral, or fattening! ( but beer doesn't count.... if you drink standing up!)

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by flyboy1963

well Dave, Google shows a topless -3, a -4 with two little windshields like a PT-22, and an -8 with no canopy at all.
I'm sure I read an article about a guy in Hawaii with a -6, and he simply made a big wedge that he covered the baggage area with and installed Dzus fasteners or something so he could swap it out in a few minutes. Said it flew fine....just slower, but hey, it would be for sight-seeing and photo taking anyway, right?

don't let anyone talk you out of what you want, unless it's illegal, immoral, or fattening! ( but beer doesn't count.... if you drink standing up!)

The aero engineer in me has to point out that the -3, -4, and -8 are all bubble canopy airplanes with no big turtleneck or baggage area to catch the wind like the side-by-sides....so using those as an example is not necessarily a good predictor for taking the canopy off of a 6,7, or 9.

Test pilot territory for sure!