Tip Up Canopy sealing advice??

[Finley Atherton]

See http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=27652 for more suggestions.

Fin
9A

[170 driver]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30477239@N07/3304937984/
Several photos of my sealing method in here,,,proseal B2 sandable and paintable,,,Gulfstream does it this way.

[drew4161]

I ordered a foam c shaped door seal from Steele rubber that works great. It does "roll" a bit as the canopy is closed but that is what it is designed to do (think car door). I believe it is 5/16in tall so it compresses 1/8in down and forward. Probably not the most elegant solution but it does keep the water out. The proseal idea looks pretty good too. I can find the part number from steele if someone needs it.

Drew Hughes

[rzbill]

I have had 2 occasions where I was caught on the flightline in a gullywasher (once with hail ). My new plane leaked like a sieve.

I have sealed all the "easy places", leaving the tip up leading edge for last.
The following is what I recommend for new RV7 builders:
DO NOT FOLLOW VAN INSTRUCTIONS ON DWG 24 by cutting the seal support into 3 pieces. It can be made in one piece, with two slots for the canopy hinges.

I did cut mine originally (but diff from vans and it still leaked). Below I show how I restored that missing cutout and now have a continuous seal on the front.

FIRST I MADE TWO OF THESE:



HERE IS ONE IN PLACE before I drilled and riveted



SEALED WITH PROSEAL



SPLICED IN THE VANS SUPPLIED GASKET to make it "continuous".



The canopy hinges fit fine in both closed and open positions.
I have not flown or sat in rain since this, but I have high expectations.