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  #11  
Old 05-06-2015, 08:35 PM
Neal@F14's Avatar
Neal@F14 Neal@F14 is offline
 
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Location: Wichita Falls, TX
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Default

Taxi with the slider canopy open is fine. Flying with it open is a recipe for disaster. Proper airflow over the tailfeathers in flight is kinda important in the RVs.
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Last edited by Neal@F14 : 05-06-2015 at 08:45 PM.
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  #12  
Old 05-07-2015, 10:46 AM
66mustangfan 66mustangfan is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Pedro, CA
Posts: 12
Default Open Canopy

Someone here mentioned the Thorp 211 can fly with the canopy open. This is correct. I found one of these planes for cheap so I bought it as a restoration project sometime ago. I hope I'm not high-jacking, but does anyone know anyone with this plane so I can get more info/build plans. preferably in the Southern California area or Utah. I know most of you are RV guys, but I also know the aviator scene is close-knit. Just thought I would throw it out there. This project needs to tie me over until I can afford an RV!!!

Thanks,
Mike
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  #13  
Old 07-09-2015, 04:02 AM
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Ghost two-six Ghost two-six is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sunny Florida
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Interesting you should mention the Thorp Mike. I was noticing the other day that a fellow could pick up a decent flying Thorp T-18 for LESS than the cost of a quick build Kit and have an aircraft that would come pretty close to RV performance for way less money.
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  #14  
Old 07-09-2015, 06:31 AM
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edsong edsong is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Hatton, ND
Posts: 124
Default Too fast

Open cockpits are fine for 100-110 mph airplanes or slower.
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  #15  
Old 07-09-2015, 06:59 AM
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maniago maniago is offline
 
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Location: Bowie MD
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As you would expect, any canopy with sloping sides or back of any consequence is going to act as a drag, if not an outright parachute. Most already have detached airflow over the top, so slide it back and youre gonna get more of the same, but even more aft. Probably not what you want. Note the WWII fighters and such that had sliding canopies - straight sides and top. Ever seen a P-51 with the bubble canopy open in flight.....?
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  #16  
Old 07-09-2015, 11:30 AM
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az_gila az_gila is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
Default Open bubbles

Quote:
Originally Posted by maniago View Post
As you would expect, any canopy with sloping sides or back of any consequence is going to act as a drag, if not an outright parachute. Most already have detached airflow over the top, so slide it back and youre gonna get more of the same, but even more aft. Probably not what you want. Note the WWII fighters and such that had sliding canopies - straight sides and top. Ever seen a P-51 with the bubble canopy open in flight.....?
This bubble canopy was opened in flight -



And even the late model, full bubble Spitfires...



I think it depended more on other factors than "straight sides and top"...

Might as well add this one too...

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Last edited by az_gila : 07-09-2015 at 11:42 AM.
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  #17  
Old 07-09-2015, 11:49 AM
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ChiefPilot ChiefPilot is offline
 
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Location: Twin Cities, MN
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Only as a (simulated) emergency measure. I've slowed waaaay down in flight to let a captive fly escape into the atmosphere on his own. Slowing to ~60 KIAS, I unlatched the slider, slid it back an inch or so, and the pressure differential pulled the fly out. I then re-latched the canopy - it was noticeably harder to slide forward but still do-able.

This was done with some thought, BTW - I had a parachute, was in the phase one test area, and was really designed to see what would happen should I ever forget to latch the canopy. It behaved just as others here said it would.

I wonder if the fly experienced shock cooling on his way down from 7500' MSL / 6500' AGL...
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