JDAir new Canopy Latch

[scrollF4]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Has anyone replaced the stock latch with this one, or is that even a possiblity?

Yes you can. I retrofitted my older generation JDAir handle after having already installed the stock Van?s handle. Not tough. Definitely worth it.

HOWEVER, it does involve expanding the rectangular holes in the cockpit side wall. If your airplane is painted, that might be an issue. Mine wasn?t yet painted (wrapped), so it was easy.

[Tom Gan]

Originally Posted by scrollF4

Yes you can. I retrofitted my older generation JDAir handle after having already installed the stock Van?s handle. Not tough. Definitely worth it.

HOWEVER, it does involve expanding the rectangular holes in the cockpit side wall. If your airplane is painted, that might be an issue. Mine wasn?t yet painted (wrapped), so it was easy.

I?ve also been considering changing out my original stock Van?s tip-up canopy latch with the JDAIR latch. No question it is an improved functional latch and I regret not being aware of the product during my original build. Having said that, my airplane is painted and I am still considering the latch but wanted to show specially what would need to be done for a retrofit. items in red are from the Vans template with the JDAIR template as an overlay. I positioned as best as possible to minimize repainting issues. The two callouts circled ?1? are two flush rivet holes that would have to be filled with a rivet or some other method and repainted using their existing latch.



I wonder if JDAIR would consider elongating the two latch portions slightly (2 callout?s #1) to cover these two existing holes for a retrofit version of their product ?

For those that have the latch are there any functional issues to extend the face of the latch to cover the two pre-existing holes? I'm not sure if putting in a flush rivet in the callouts to fill the hole would interfere with the latch.

JDAIR, something to consider.

[azflyer21]

Originally Posted by Tom Gan

I?ve also been considering changing out my original stock Van?s tip-up canopy latch with the JDAIR latch. No question it is an improved functional latch and I regret not being aware of the product during my original build. Having said that, my airplane is painted and I am still considering the latch but wanted to show specially what would need to be done for a retrofit. items in red are from the Vans template with the JDAIR template as an overlay. I positioned as best as possible to minimize repainting issues. The two callouts circled ?1? are two flush rivet holes that would have to be filled with a rivet or some other method and repainted using their existing latch.



I wonder if JDAIR would consider elongating the two latch portions slightly (2 callout?s #1) to cover these two existing holes for a retrofit version of their product ?

For those that have the latch are there any functional issues to extend the face of the latch to cover the two pre-existing holes? I'm not sure if putting in a flush rivet in the callouts to fill the hole would interfere with the latch.

JDAIR, something to consider.

I just installed this on my QB -14A. I found that the rivet #1 in front of the long cutout interfered with the handle, even the dimpled skin. I flattened it and filled with epoxy/flux. I also had to move the pattern back so the front cutout lined up on the front of the existing (Van's) cutout, this was due to the bulkhead. but this was on a 14.