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View Poll Results: 6/7/8- do you have a functional canopy/ejection release mechanism?
I have an 8 and HAVE a mechanism to eject the canopy. 12 9.38%
I have an 8 and DO NOT HAVE a mechanism to eject the canopy. 21 16.41%
I have a 6/7 tip up and DO NOT HAVE a functioning canopy release/eject mechanism. 49 38.28%
I have a 6/7 tip up and HAVE a functioning canopy release/eject mechanism. 24 18.75%
I relocated the original 6/7 tip up canopy release/eject mechanism handle. 14 10.94%
I have a 6/7 slide and HAVE a functioning canopy release mechanism. 8 6.25%
Voters: 128. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 11-17-2016, 03:42 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
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Default Poll: Do you have a canopy release/ejection mechanism?

I have a 7 tip up and will finalize my canopy release mechanism very soon. The lever shaft has been extended below the bottom rail of the sub panel. I have the options of a fixed attachment or design of an alternate release handle location.

The poll is to get an idea of what % of aerobatic capable 6's, 7's, & 8's actually have a functioning release/eject mechanism.

I am leaning toward a fixed attachment that can be ground activated -i.e. a bolted in place termination. I can always make a mod if it becomes necessary. Hopefully not in flight.

You vote will be greatly appreciated.
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Old 11-17-2016, 07:48 PM
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RV7A Flyer RV7A Flyer is online now
 
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I'll assume that by "release/ejection mechanism" you mean a mechanism that can be used in flight, rather than a release mechanism that can only be accessed on the ground (since every canopy, as far as I know, has to have *some* sort of way to install/uninstall it).

I originally had modified the mechanism so it was accessible by turning the lever from underneath the panel (i.e., oriented vertically), but then naturally that interfered with the radio stack, and I really didn't want the handle sticking out of the panel, so I abandoned it and went with high-quality push-button quick-release pins instead...

Last edited by RV7A Flyer : 11-18-2016 at 01:06 PM.
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  #3  
Old 11-17-2016, 08:33 PM
simpkinsona simpkinsona is offline
 
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Location: Vacaville, CA
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Default Interesting poll but...

Are you going to base your decision on the results of the poll? I don't wear a parachute so the option wouldn't matter to me. I would say it would depend on how much acro you plan to do and how extreme.

-Andy
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  #4  
Old 11-18-2016, 05:57 AM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer View Post
I'll assume that by "release/ejection mechanism" you mean a mechanism that can be used in flight, rather than a release mechanism that can only be accessed on the ground (since every canopy, as far as I know, has to have *some* sort of way to install/uninstall it).
Yes, I mean to release in flight. An available handle for egress.

Quote:
Originally Posted by simpkinsona View Post
Are you going to base your decision on the results of the poll? I don't wear a parachute so the option wouldn't matter to me. I would say it would depend on how much acro you plan to do and how extreme.

-Andy
You are right, not useful to jump out without a parachute, and the need for one is certainly a big question too, but not in the scope of this poll. Mild aerobatics is the plan.

With many panels, the center upper area where that handle is located conflicts with a stack style panel. I have never found (searching was done) where anyone has ejected themselves from an RV. Since that poll would not likely give much information, I wondered how many are prepared with an inflight canopy release.

The release torque tube has been extended with the stock lever on the bottom. The plan is to secure it with screws/bolts, so ground removal is easy.
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Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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  #5  
Old 11-18-2016, 06:41 AM
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ChiefPilot ChiefPilot is offline
 
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On the other hand, if you *ever* want to participate in a sanctioned IAC event you need a quick release canopy. The aircraft won't pass a tech inspection without it and that means it wouldn't be eligible to fly in such an event.

Modifying a slider can be as simple as replacing two bolts with two pip pins or similar. The tip-up is designed to be jettison-able but many builders opt to leave this out for various reasons.

For a slider, I see no downsides to making it jettison-able and mine has been that way from the start. I do wear a chute when doing aerobatics.
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  #6  
Old 11-18-2016, 07:21 AM
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vlittle vlittle is offline
 
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I have a Rocket, which I recorded as an RV-8 in the poll.

See http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...light=Jump+dog. For my write up.
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  #7  
Old 11-18-2016, 07:28 AM
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I have a light 9 capable of gentle acro. I casted my vote to strenghen the majority
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  #8  
Old 11-18-2016, 07:35 AM
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Ron RV8 Ron RV8 is offline
 
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A fair bit of my flying is over water...

I installed pip pins in the forward canopy attach points of the -8, primarily to jettison the canopy should I have to ditch. My feeling is that the aircraft would most likely flip inverted at touchdown, and that the canopy would most likely not be openable inverted in water due to the pressure.
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  #9  
Old 11-18-2016, 01:50 PM
MK77 MK77 is offline
 
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I'm finishing up my -7 and similarly, extended the canopy release down below the sub-panel such that rotating it would release the pins. Not sure if I'd be able to access it in flight in an emergency. I'm actually reconsidering installing it per plans just because I may want to participate in aerobatic competition someday and am not sure if my current installation would pass the safety inspection or not.

Matt
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  #10  
Old 11-18-2016, 03:00 PM
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ronschreck ronschreck is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MK77 View Post
I'm finishing up my -7 and similarly, extended the canopy release down below the sub-panel such that rotating it would release the pins. Not sure if I'd be able to access it in flight in an emergency. I'm actually reconsidering installing it per plans just because I may want to participate in aerobatic competition someday and am not sure if my current installation would pass the safety inspection or not.

Matt
FYI, any -6/7 jettison mechanism essentially as depicted on Van's plans is suitable for IAC competition. It's OK to relocate the handle as long as you can reach it while strapped in.
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