SC-15 UV Resistant Canopy

[russd]

Hello Everyone!

I started lurking/building a -9A last December. This site has been an unbelievably valuable resource. It seems whenever I've had a question or problem, a quick search has turned up a solution.

One need wasn't totally satisfied though. I couldn't find the answer I wanted for a UV-resistant canopy. I was ready to order my finish kit and either needed a special canopy from Van's, or needed to have one custom made. An email to Van's put me in touch with Becky at Airplane Plastics and sure enough, they now have a material which has the same tint as the standard canopy, only it includes an ultraviolet inhibitor. For what it's worth, it's also reportedly cooler inside.

My finish kit is on order and the special-order SC-15 canopy will be drop-shipped from the manufacturer. I don't know the exact cost difference, but it will no doubt be less than a visit to the Dermatologist to have a bunch of bad guys frozen off! The interior and electronics should like it too.

[Calvin25]

I always thought that most all glasses and acrylics filtered UV?

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by Calvin25

I always thought that most all glasses and acrylics filtered UV?

I think the standard canopy filters UV-A rays but not UV-B (or UV-B but Not UV-A, I can not remember which is which, and which is the most damaging).

[Calvin25]

If I remember correct it is UV-B that is bad, I may be wrong but I always understood standard glass and acrylic filter that wave out 100%.

[russd]

When I took my canopy out of the box, I cut off a chunk and sent it to Bill McLean for testing. He sent me the plot and following information for comparison.

Previously Tested RV-7 Canopy

• 80% visible light allowed through
• 1% UVb allowed through (bad)
• 12% UVa allowed through (not as bad)

SC-15 Special-Order Canopy

• 76% visible light allowed through
• 1% UVb allowed through (bad)
• 1% UVa allowed through (not as bad)

The standard canopy is pretty darn good but if you have health concerns, it might be worth considering for the extra couple hundred bucks it costs.

Thanks to Bill McLean for the peace-of-mind and to Van's and Airplane Plastics for the extra effort to make it happen!

[bruceh]

As someone who has fair skin and a family history of skin cancer, I think this sounds like a great option as I get ready to order my finish kit.

What is the extra cost?
Is it tinted any darker?

I'm also assuming my glasses with the transitions lenses won't darken due to the low amount of UV rays.

[Av8torTom]

wear a hat and sunscreen...
Now, if it's truly cooler then that would be worth consideration.

[russd]

... and cut out something else if I had to. I just signed off my Phase I and took my wife for her first ride yesterday. On the drive home, she remarked at how she didn't feel the strong sun on her face and how her glasses didn't darken. Pretty remarkable for someone who's had melanoma and doesn't get dressed without sunscreen. Yes, that's subjective but at least as important to me as the test results from the Army.

Bruce, Airplane Plastics selected the SC-15 because it was nearly identical to the "darkness" and color of the standard Van's canopy. I don't think you could tell any difference in tint. The bad news is you'll have to invest in some dark glasses.

Daryl at Van's can give you the difference in cost between the canopies. I remember something like a couple hundred dollars plus a difference in drop-shipping from Airplane Plastics. Cheap compared to health care costs.

[bkthomps]

what did the cost difference end up being?

[russd]

Sorry for the delay, Brian. I went to the hangar and picked up my invoice from August 2009 - $200 plus drop shipping from Ohio.