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02-06-2019, 10:41 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 2,904
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JDAir new Canopy Latch
The JD Air Parts tip up canopy latch has been slightly redesigned for a better appearance. Mechanically, it is exactly the same. The reason for the design change is two fold. 1) The previous version was water jet cut and then required machining. 2) My company doing the machining looked at the drawings and felt the latches could be machined quicker with a better appearance.
RV7 builder Sean Blair installed one in his plane. He had the old version and installed the new one for comparison. He said it works exactly the same. He will probably chime in with his thoughts and impressions.
And, in the interest of safety, we are also offering the latches anodized red. I thought this was important as a critical handle for egress. I don't have pictures of the red version but will get them on the site soon.
Visit www.jdair.com to order.
[IMG]  [/IMG]
[IMG]  [/IMG]
[IMG]  [/IMG]
__________________
Darwin N. Barrie
Chandler AZ
www.JDair.com
RV-7 N717EE-Flying (Sold)
RV-7 N717AZ Flying, in paint
EMS Bell 407,
Eurocopter 350 A-Star Driver
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02-07-2019, 12:41 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Charlotte NC
Posts: 1,167
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Was this originally a Robby Attaway design?
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02-07-2019, 11:05 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 576
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Observations of the New JD Air Tip Up Canopy Handle/Latch
Hello everyone. As Darwin mentioned, I recently installed one of JD Air's new canopy latches in my RV7 project. In my case, this is a retrofit of the prior model.
The previous version of this latch seemed a little bulky to me, IMHO. It's still a great option that performs well though. Either of the JD Air versions of this latch/handle is far superior to the stock one produced by Van?s.
I have several attractions to the new design:
? It is "sleek" in appearance with the interior portions of the handle.
? It is much smoother of a machined finish. I believe the new one is CNC'd, where the prior is water jet. The previous pics in this thread show my original handle after I had taken efforts to smooth and somewhat polish it. In its original state, the previous handle was much rougher and "frosty" looking.
? It won't take much work to polish the new product to a nice shine. The prior will take a fair chunk of time to get that look....if that's what you like.
Fit and Operation:
? The smaller front portion of this assembly fit the existing cutout in my fuselage skin just the same as the prior.
? The larger aft portion of the handle was slightly over-sized in length compared to the existing cutout. I estimate just over 1/32". You can either take that material from the lever or file the opening of the skin just a touch. Otherwise, this lever engaged fine with the fuselage skin. I believe this is being reviewed by Darwin (he can confirm).
? As with the prior model, I spent a little time with the hooks of the latch and the face just above them to get the proper fit and engagement. My hooks didn't initially mate because of too much material...but just barely. A few minutes sneaking up on it with a 1" Scotch Brite wheel in a die grinder got the clearance I needed. Again...I had to do this with the original, too. I believe that although the latch has an installation template drawing for the cutouts, and dimensions for the brackets...we can introduce small deviations in construction. Just a little finesse gets this remedied.
? I added the spring and the linkage, then immediately realized smooth and positive operation.
I'm pleased with the new latch and it adds to the look I'm trying to achieve with my plane. It's solid and works well. Another quality product (and support) from Darwin and JD Air.
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02-07-2019, 11:19 AM
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Reedley, California
Posts: 85
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Just curious. If one were to accidentally bump the forward knob (reaching for something else, stretching, etc.), would the latch unlatch, and would that be a problem?
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02-07-2019, 11:48 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 576
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Tip up canopies have a second latch overhead at the aft portion of the canopy.
Pic: 
Last edited by SeanB : 02-07-2019 at 12:01 PM.
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02-07-2019, 12:48 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 2,904
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Yes
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailvi767
Was this originally a Robby Attaway design?
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Yes it was. Robbie gave me the design when he got out of it.
__________________
Darwin N. Barrie
Chandler AZ
www.JDair.com
RV-7 N717EE-Flying (Sold)
RV-7 N717AZ Flying, in paint
EMS Bell 407,
Eurocopter 350 A-Star Driver
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02-07-2019, 02:16 PM
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Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
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Now the new handle linkage in anodized red definitely has my attention. Will this appear on the JDAir site soon? I'm in for one set.
I built KELLI GIRL with the original JDAir design, and love it. 740+ flight hours in 3.69 years, and it never came open. It'd take a really deliberate bump to get it to unlock in flight (ie, it never has happened). Great design.
__________________
Scroll
Sid "Scroll" Mayeux, Col, USAF (ret)
52F NW Regional/Aero Valley Airport, Roanoke TX (home of DR's Van Cave)
"KELLI GIRL" N260KM RV-7A tipper
Catch her on YouTube's "Because I Fly!" channel
Exemption waived.
Proud and grateful 2020 -=VAF=- Contributor
Last edited by scrollF4 : 02-07-2019 at 02:28 PM.
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02-07-2019, 02:20 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Charlotte NC
Posts: 1,167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV7Guy
Yes it was. Robbie gave me the design when he got out of it.
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If that?s the case it?s a outstanding design. I had Robbies 6 with his version of this latch and it?s fantastic design. There are no worries about bumping it open in flight. If I were building a tip up it would be on the aircraft no questions asked!!
G
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02-08-2019, 07:54 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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Has anyone replaced the stock latch with this one, or is that even a possiblity?
__________________
Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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02-08-2019, 08:21 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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I really like these but I'm not so sure I can retrofit it to a flying airplane without buggering up the paint or messing with my Classic Aero interior panel.
Bummer
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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