Flying topless?

[kaweeka]

Now that I have your attention, I am going to show my ignorance. Please be kind with your replies. Sooooooo, I got thinking a few months back about what it would be like to fly during the summer with my sliding canopy off the-9A. I ran it by a few of the Vans guys who were at the Mojave fly-in and got no objections. I haven't done it yet because I keep wondering about the aerodynamics. Will the windscreen create a bit negative pressure in the cockpit and fill with wind from around the sides and back? Will there be any adverse handling consequences? I have a tonneau cover over the baggage compartment. Any insight from those of you far smarter than I?

[kaweeka]

Hmmmmm, uh, yes?

[Sam Buchanan]

Ever ridden in a convertible at 150 mph?

Try it and let us know how it works out. But leave the baggage cover at the hangar, it won't survive the flight.

[bret]

hum....will the turbulence affect the airflow over the tail feathers? lose some rudder or elevator authority?

[gasman]

I think anything over 80 would not be fun for long.

[bret]

I just posted a vid of a runup, one with the canopy closed and 2500 RPM, and open 2500 RPM, funny, it was quieter with the canopy open

[SHIPCHIEF]

There is at least one RV-3 with open cockpit, It's yellow, was in Hawaii, and pics have been posted here somewhere.
I seem to recall an RV-4 with a convertible open cockpit and rear seat cover fairing as well.
I don't recall any RV-6 or 7 conversions...

[BruceMe]

Originally Posted by kaweeka

Sooooooo, I got thinking a few months back about what it would be like to fly during the summer with my sliding canopy off the-9A.

So I had a Pietenpol... I end up actually hating flying with the wind on my face for hours. Yeah, that romance wares very quickly. On the plus side, all my passengers absolutely loved it... all of them wanted to get back on the ground in under 20 minutes too. No seriously, they raved about how amazing it was. I sold it.

Let me save you a lot of hassle... Have your wife drive down the highway at 80mph. Open the window... stick your head out. If you like that, you'll like open cockpit. But I know you won't.

Oh, one odd thing I really did enjoy... hand propping. And it even has a starter. But for some reason I really loved how a hand propped engine sounds when it starts. And an O-200 is so easy to hand prop. It doesn't go wanwanwanwan like a baby that needs a bottle, it goes clucluclu-blm-blm-blm... That sound was so sweet. I always propped from behind... bit safer alone.

[turbo]

it is kink of a risk and reward thing. ill keep my top on thank you very much.

[kaweeka]

I think I'll drop the thought and keep things as they are. There's always the window as suggested