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07-25-2011, 10:45 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NW,Wash
Posts: 7
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RV-4 Canopy Latch
Anyone have a latch designed that will keep my 4's canopy open 4 to 6 inches on the taxi way to allow cool air inside? I was transitioning from medium well to well done last Sunday headed to departure end and blew the top off.
Last edited by NWTailwager : 07-26-2011 at 03:02 PM.
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07-28-2011, 11:43 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Inglewood, CA
Posts: 35
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Simple taxi latch
I just used a very simple bar that is bolted to the instrument panel and can pivot on nylon washers. The bar pivots up for the "taxi" position and clips to the protruding canopy sliding bar that engages with the instrument panel. Probably not a very good description, but it works very well even in high winds and during engine startup where you can get some vibration. It costs about $3.00. I will try and post a picture.
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07-30-2011, 09:06 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NW,Wash
Posts: 7
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Thanks for the info, pictures would be great.
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05-16-2012, 07:17 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oliver BC & Red Deer Alberta Canada
Posts: 350
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open canopy
any pictures on this?
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05-18-2012, 08:20 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: St Louis, MO
Posts: 957
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RV-4 Canopy Latch
I have a latch that works really well. I would love to take credit for it but it was copied from a friend of mine, Brudell Pitts in Atlanta. It requires just a little bit of fabrication of a bracket that bolts to the left side of the roll bar using one of the existing bolts. You'll also have to attach a pin to the long canopy tubing that slides into a hole in the bracket. This coming winter I am going to make a new roll bar to incorporate everything into one piece. Will also round off the top of the roll bar like I've seen some guys do.
With the canopy open using this latch, the canopy is about 3-4" up from the rail. This is more than enough to get a really good airflow. I live in St Loius which is not known for dry cool summers. Even on the hottest most humid days as soon as I get the engine started I stay plenty cool. The only problem is blowing my hat off when I run up the power to taxi. I can start, idle & taxi with it open but obviously need to close it for the mag checks.
I don't have pictures on my computer but plan on going to the hangar today and will take lots of pictures to post. If anyone wants higher res pictures than what I'll post later PM or e-mail me.
Oly
__________________
RV-8, Flying
Previous airplanes: Corby Starlet, Citabria, Cessna 140, Vari-Viggen, RV-3, RV-4
RV grin every flight
"Sure is nice to have smart friends"
2018 dues paid
Last edited by olyolson : 05-18-2012 at 09:52 AM.
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05-18-2012, 07:59 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TX32
Posts: 1,891
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Cool it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NWTailwager
Anyone have a latch designed that will keep my 4's canopy open 4 to 6 inches on the taxi way to allow cool air inside? I was transitioning from medium well to well done last Sunday headed to departure end and blew the top off.
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This is a simple system I put on my RV4 back in 97'. This is a customer's RV4 I installed my system on using a 5/16 -6" bolt with the head sawed off. A throttle knob threads on the threaded end, drill small hole at other end. Lower canopy until skirt aligns with roll-bar at desired height. Mark inside of skirt and roll bar. Drill through roll bar and skirt. (hardest part) Install plastic bushing in roll-bar. Slide pin in, then place washer and cotter key. Leave 1" from hole to end of bolt. Lower canopy and fine tune/test alignment. You must notch the top of the skirt so the pin can pass through going up and down. After a few tries, sliding the pin in the hole while sitting in the cockpit becomes second nature. On my RV4 I used a Nautilus pin, larger with a steel loop welded to the end in lieu of the knob and a .040 doubler around the hole in skirt.
Email me off line with any questions. 
V/R
Smokey
smokyray@rocketmail.com
PS: Also visible is my Home Depot Aviation department canopy hold back device...

Last edited by smokyray : 05-18-2012 at 08:09 PM.
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05-19-2012, 11:20 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 536
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Do you do your "run up" with the canopy in the cracked open position?
Mike
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Mike
RV-4 #2750
N654ML
IO-360
WW150C Prop
1018 lbs
Flying
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05-20-2012, 05:58 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: St Louis, MO
Posts: 957
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Canopy Latch
Mike,
No I don't think I want to "test" how much I can run up the engine before the canopy blows off. I close & lock the canopy in the down position before doing the runup & mag checks. Plus if you did there would be a LOT of wind blast in the cockpit.
Oly
__________________
RV-8, Flying
Previous airplanes: Corby Starlet, Citabria, Cessna 140, Vari-Viggen, RV-3, RV-4
RV grin every flight
"Sure is nice to have smart friends"
2018 dues paid
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05-20-2012, 07:53 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oliver BC & Red Deer Alberta Canada
Posts: 350
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I have it
In my new to me RV4, I looked and I see that I have this lol lol, plus I have the safety latch and a lock for the canopy. I?m sure I will find more neat things as time goes on.
Tim
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05-20-2012, 09:49 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NWTailwager
Anyone have a latch designed that will keep my 4's canopy open 4 to 6 inches ...
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No need to open it that far to get plenty of outside air. 1 to 1 1/2" is plenty. If you're an engineer, swing an arc from the canopy hinge thru the existing holes in the instrument panel and aft bulkhead and drill two new holes. Not an engineer, then just come up an inch and over 1/32". Like this.
Only reason to add more hardware is if you lack the room to drill secondary holes.
Tony
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