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  #21  
Old 12-16-2017, 05:41 PM
RV6JOY RV6JOY is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Albany, Western Australia
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Does anyone know of a successful jettisoning of an RV6 or 7 canopy?
Only attempt I have heard of was a very early 6 in which the pilot was being overcome with fuel fumes due to a serious fuel leak.
I am told that although it had the slotted top skins and handle for release, when he pulled the handles the canopy stayed in place. He put a foot against the canopy but still could not move it. Managed to land it safely after getting enough air through the vent.
This suggests fitting the jettison handle is a waste of time, hence my question.

As far as ejecting the canopy when upside down in water is concerned, there is NO CHANCE of moving the canopy until the cockpit is full of water. The sooner you break the canopy and fill it the sooner you have any chance of getting out. Meanwhile you need to hold your breath! The plane is now a boat and the canopy is the bottom of the boat and supporting the plane until it sinks completely.
A friend of mine put a Corby Starlet single seat, very small aircraft into the ocean and it flipped. He is a strong guy but had to hold his breath until it sank far enough for the wings to take the weight before he could open the tiny bubble canopy. He was in shallow water and worried it would be on the sand before he got it open. A sobering thought, lucky to survive.
I know of RV4 canopies self ejecting but have never heard of a 6 or 7 canopy being ejected.
Brian
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  #22  
Old 12-16-2017, 05:53 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowflake View Post
The caps could be popped off the pins while the canopy is closed, and before you pull the handle.
If the Canopy lets go, those struts will rip right out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RV6JOY View Post
...
As far as ejecting the canopy when upside down in water is concerned, there is NO CHANCE of moving the canopy until the cockpit is full of water. The sooner you break the canopy and fill it the sooner you have any chance of getting out. Meanwhile you need to hold your breath! The plane is now a boat and the canopy is the bottom of the boat and supporting the plane until it sinks completely....
Brian
I plan to open the canopy in flight, should this ever happen to me, and the canopy will float in trail. (I've tested this during my 40.)

I suspect / hope that on "landing" in the water, the canopy will flip forward with enough force to shatter. Then when the plane is upside down, it will be much easier to get out of.

The other option, of course, is to not fly over open water.
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RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
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  #23  
Old 12-17-2017, 03:57 PM
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Snowflake Snowflake is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
If the Canopy lets go, those struts will rip right out.
That's my expectation as well.

Quote:
I plan to open the canopy in flight...on "landing" in the water, the canopy will flip forward with enough force to shatter.
With the canopy release pulled, I hope it would flip forward with enough force to *depart* the aircraft before it flips over. I suspect pulling the release in flight would not cause it to leave the aircraft without some finagling with angle of attack and pushing to get the aft end up.

I honestly don't want it gone in flight unless i'm wearing my helmet... I suspect the airflow blowing on your face would make it almost impossible to fly the plane.
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