2 problems--first the old toss the toilet paper roll out the canopy trick

donaziza · #1 05-13-2020, 08:15 PM

Went out today with my 8, (9000 Ft.) to try for the first time ever to toss the toilet paper roll out of the canopy trick. Slowed to 75 Kts, unrolled maybe 14 inches, (of toilet paper-not the canopy) and out it went. Closed the canopy, banked 90* looking for it--couldn't find the darn thing. "Finally ---spotted it at about the 12:30 position just barely in sight to the right of my prop/fuselage. Banked 90* left then 90* right with the nose down figuring it would be pretty much right on the nose. Never saw the darn thing again. (From 9000 Ft., I don't think it had hit the ground yet.) OK, you guys who have done this, is there some trick, short of rocketing it out the front of the plane, to find the darn thing??

2ed question. Not a problem, just a maintenance thing. Don't know if all RV 8's are the same as mine, but there "was" a hard rubber bumper thingy, shaped like a pencil, in my left canopy track fairing that the roller would bump up against when opening one's canopy (on the ground), so as to keep the back tip of the canopy from hitting the vertical stabilizer. Maybe it followed the toilet paper out, but it is now completely gone. Is this something I can jerryrig from HD, or do I have to go thru Vans? I'd post a picture, but I'm VAF picture challenged.

fl-mike · #2 05-13-2020, 09:55 PM

I think wasting TP is some sort of federal offense right now....

The bumper is just some fuel hose from your favorite auto parts store. OD a bit larger than the rail slot. At least that’s what we use in these parts.

donaziza · #3 05-13-2020, 10:14 PM

I think wasting TP is some sort of federal offense right now....

Ha Ha---That "did" occur to me.

Saber25 · #4 05-13-2020, 10:36 PM

Decades ago at EAA fly ins with my C-140 we had contests using TP and balloons.

Take a paperclip and secure about 1/4 inch of paper at the cardboard roll to give it some weight so it can unfurl as it descends.

We found not doing so would normally mean the whole roll of TP would fall into someones open arms, perhaps in need of such a gift from heaven.

Taltruda · #5 05-14-2020, 12:07 AM

Instead of banking around to look for it, maybe try this...launch the roll, count to 5, then nose up into a wingover, Power to idle, rudder pedal it around so you come right back in the opposite direction. Try to loose a bunch of altitude in the wingover so you get below it. I find that it?s easier to see it with sky behind instead of ground. Banking around like you did seems to make me do circles around it instead of going straight at it.

moosepileit · #6 05-14-2020, 05:32 AM

Cheap scratchy stuff unrolls better. Never needed a paperclip, about 3' of tail worked. Always useda glider or Pitts or Luscombe- slower plane, long wings or an acro plane with DRAG available.

If you get it to unroll but miss for too long, after about 2-3 minutes, it may be found as an attractive cloud ball in the sky.

If you find the ball don't fly into it unless you are good on potential airspeed unreliable drills. It might find your pitot.

I hit one once in a glider at the bottom of a loop. Open cockpit 1-26. Released at the top. I'd let 3 rolls go, hit the one that unrolled least.

Was not trying to, I didn't see it til I heard the metallic plunk like a spar snapping.

RVs go pretty quick downhill, challenging platform for the task.

sailvi767 · #7 05-14-2020, 06:06 AM

Meanwhile somewhere near Atlanta thousands have gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of free toilet paper reported to be falling from Heaven. Hundreds of televangelists have taken credit and stated if people will only dig a little bit deeper and keep those donations coming toilet paper from heaven will become a daily reality!

RV8iator · #8 05-14-2020, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donaziza

I think wasting TP is some sort of federal offense right now....

Ha Ha---That "did" occur to me.

Yep, but think of the lucky sap on the ground who found it!

fl-mike · #9 05-14-2020, 06:54 AM

Wait, was that new or used TP? Both sides?

smithflys23 · #10 05-14-2020, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fl-mike

The bumper is just some fuel hose from your favorite auto parts store. OD a bit larger than the rail slot. At least that?s what we use in these parts.

This is what i do also. I have a 3? piece of clear plastic tubing wedged into canopy track/rail. Easy to remove if need be.