Do you know if it possible to fly an RV7 with the canopy off for the purpose of dropping a skydiver. Thanks in advance for any advice.
See your Operating Limitations
If you fly an RV without the canopy you will likely become a skydiver, whether you planned to be or not.
I do remember watching the video of the guy jumping out of a no-canopy RV. I tried to find out why that is prohibited from experimental planes. I only found it was not allowed - not why. Does anyone know why and are there exceptions?
The same limitations also prohibit banner and glider towing
The FAA apparently assumes that the only reason you would be dropping skydivers, towing a banner, or towing a glider is if you were being paid to do so, and thus would be carrying passengers or cargo for hire.
Basically, I believe that you are correct- but can?t prove it. I looked into this a few years ago with regards to the banner towing limitation, and talked to some folks at a high level at FAA headquarters. You;?re not going to like the answer, but it is what it is...Catch 22!
They have no record of the rationale that put that limitation in there years ago, and because they have no rationale, they can?t waiver it, because they can?t rationalize the waiver! Meanwhile, they have limited resources to work on a huge number of issues, and this doesn?t have enough priority to get fixed - the limitations of small budgets.
If you fly an RV without the canopy you will likely become a skydiver, whether you planned to be or not.