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  #1  
Old 09-14-2008, 07:59 PM
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sprucemoose sprucemoose is offline
 
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Default New thread- ejecting from an RV

This is a new thread, started from this thread:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=34116

Is there anyone aware of a single instance of anyone successfully getting out of a stricken RV in flight and parachuting to safety. This covers a lot of topics, like parachutes, tip up RVs, etc. Feel free to weigh in on whatever, but my basic question remains. In 10+ years of being involved in RVs, I cannot think of a single instance, but I'm hoping somebody else can.
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  #2  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:05 PM
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Jeff,
I don't know of anyone ejecting from an RV in flight.
I have converted several tip-up RV-6s back to the original system without struts for customers who regularly do acro.
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  #3  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:33 PM
wintaki wintaki is offline
 
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Whats the deal with the struts that make it hard to open the canopy? I've seen this mentioned several times but don't understand what the issue is (very interested in RVs but not building one - yet!)

thanks
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  #4  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:35 PM
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danielhv danielhv is offline
 
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Has anyone ever considered some kind of pin to hold the struts in instead of bolts? In an emergency, pull the pins, pull the canopy jettison, and jump? Some kind of thick pin (not a carter pin) like the ones that have the little ball at the end and you have to push a button to allow the ball to sink in thus allowing you to remove the pin... See them alot on military planes, but do not know what they are called...


Edit: Ball Lock Pins... thats what they're called!


Last edited by danielhv : 09-14-2008 at 08:38 PM.
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  #5  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:39 PM
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n5lp n5lp is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danielhv View Post
...Some kind of thick pin (not a carter pin) like the ones that have the little ball at the end and you have to push a button to allow the ball to sink in thus allowing you to remove the pin... See them alot on military planes, but do not know what they are called...
They are called Pip Pins.
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  #6  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:39 PM
DeltaRomeo DeltaRomeo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wintaki View Post
Whats the deal with the struts that make it hard to open the canopy? ...snip
Makes it hard to jettison the canopy (gas struts are bolted on). Tip ups were initially designed to be jettisoned with a T handle on the panel (struts keep this from happening).

b,
d
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  #7  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:45 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sprucemoose View Post
...Is there anyone aware of a single instance of anyone successfully getting out of a stricken RV in flight and parachuting to safety...
Well, there is one person who got of an -8 that was on fire but he didn't have a parachute.

In talking with a friend with a slider -6, he once told me he took off with it open just a few inches and the air loads kept him from moving it forward or aft. He had to land to close it.

This leads me to believe that you aren't going to get a slider open.

As for the tip-up's and the struts. I figure if the air gets under the front of it, those struts are just going to pull right out. The trick is going to be getting the front of it up.
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  #8  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:53 PM
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I'VE GOT IT!! Lets get Paul to get us some of those explosive bolts from work that they use on the space shuttle and put those on the front of the canopy to blow it open and catch the airflow! I'm sure NASA won't mind too much! Group buy??
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  #9  
Old 09-14-2008, 08:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
This leads me to believe that you aren't going to get a slider open.
I've heard this, too...although I'm not sure how true it is. Maybe the guy trying to close it was 80 years old. (No offense to the 80 year olds who read this!)

But, I have PIP pins installed in place of the bolts that attach the slider frame to the track-wheels. If worse comes to worse, the plan is to slide the canopy back as far as I can, pull the pins and push it straight up so I can bail. Of course, it sounds good in theory...
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  #10  
Old 09-14-2008, 09:02 PM
whifof100ll whifof100ll is offline
 
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Default Ball retaining clips on lift struts

I don't have them there now, now for my test flying I tied dacron string under the clips that retain the ball on the lift strut. I made a nice handle loop. One nice tug for each lift strut, the they are free from the canopy. The T handle on my plane is under the sub panel, but I can still reach it.

Not sure if I could get out, but if something would have failed, I was gonna give it a try.
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