Emergency Egress

[Low Pass]

In the years I've been flying my plane (9), I never found a tool that I thought was worth carrying in the plane. If I have to get out, and was able, it would be a matter of kicking the canopy and hoping you could get out. A long shot at best.

But with someone above mentioning the pistol, I think they're onto something. Maybe not a pistol - although a very good idea - but how about something similar to one of those boom-sticks used on sharks. A short, single-shot (reloadable) device that would fracture the plastic. I think you'll need the extreme velocity and shock (high impulse) of a shotgun blast to actually open up a canopy.

Now, the BATF would probably have a problem with a 6" shotgun. But some similar exploding device might *actually* remove large sections of Lexan in a bind.

And the more I think about it, a Saturday Night Special with a few extra rounds would be perfect! Just have to watch what state you fly into... Would also drop the probability of having your RV hijacked to essentially zero!

[rv6ejguy]

There is no way a Lexan 1/4 inch thick, curved windscreen would cave in far enough to hit the pilot on an RV. If you have worked with this stuff, you know how indestructable it is. It does scratch easier but does not crack like Plexi.

This would be far more bird proof than Plexi but you could never kick it out or shatter it if you were trapped.

Maybe this with a 1/4 end mill stuck in the end: http://www.mytoolstore.com/panason/pan07-10.html

[SkywayCaptain]

Originally Posted by Low Pass

Now, the BATF would probably have a problem with a 6" shotgun. But some similar exploding device might *actually* remove large sections of Lexan in a bind.

This would work...

http://serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

3 shots if you keep one "in the tube"

[dtw_rv6]

With that Mossberg, you wouldn't have to worry about using a lexan canopy. Just point whatever direction might be up. Sheet metal, plexy, whatever... there will be a hole.

[N941WR]

Although I like the "Super Shorty", I suspect if the plane is upside down, the canopy will already be broken and it is just a matter of finishing the job with your foot. Just remember to tell your passenger to "hang in there" until you clear a path.

There has to be one or two people reading this thread that have had the unfortunate experience of crawling out their upside down RV. If so, please tell us your story.

[larrynew]

How about one of those framing "guns" for attaching the bottom studs to concrete?

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...3&Ntk=AllProps

[frankh]

Now we're talking..I mean if a single shot deal would work then for $19 then why not?

Assuming you can load it and keep a saftey on...would't want to have to fuss finding the " bullets"

[Norman CYYJ]

Bullets will not penetrate lexan. 1/4 lexan will stop a .303 at point blank. The sales people for lexan use to have pieces with the bullet just starting to get embedded into it. Security vehicles use it in between the panels to make them bullet proof.

[gmcjetpilot]

Consider some heavy leather gloves. From what I have seen the canopy cracks on its own and you need to grab edges to break them off, to affect an exit.

Also you might need to dig yourself out of the dirt under the canopy sill. A really large heavy duty (combat) knife with handle gaurd might be handy. I like the control stick pointy thing attachment as well. I never had to use any of them, hope I'll never have to. For auto glass a spring loaded center punch works well, saw it on Myth Busters

The Cirrus windscreen has a few advantages, its framed and no doubt thicker than a RV canopy. Not sure if the Cirrus windscreen is Lexan or Plexi (trademarked names), but they both have pros and cons. RV's I think is traditional Plexiglass, which is more brittle than Lexan.

Consider the clothes you wear, T-shirt, cutoffs and flip-flops might not be ideal. Leather jackets are too hot for summer and potentially might label you a poser, but one piece fire retardant flight/uniform suit might be practical in an emergency.

There was a nice long thread on rescue tools a year ago.

[rzbill]

Originally Posted by rv6ejguy

There is no way a Lexan 1/4 inch thick, curved windscreen would cave in far enough to hit the pilot on an RV. [/url]

Ross,
When I was in Aero Eng class 30 years ago, we watched a development video for the F-16 canopy which was polycarbonate (Lexan). The video showed a 1/2" thick canopy of lexan being struck by the well known chicken cannon projectile. The pilot dummy was cold cocked. They needed to move up to 5/8" before the deflection was small enough to miss the pilots head.

In regards to impact speed, the tests were subsonic. Impact energy does go up by velocity squared but at the same time the canopy stiffness will change by thickness squared. The RV speed regime and canopy thickness for a tip-up are likely in the range of this danger zone. The slider is probably not an issue due to the short mounting span of the windscreen.

Mind you, I have nothing against a Lexan canopy. I find little difference between being hit by the lexan canopy or being hit by the actual bird and additional shards of a busted acrylic canopy.