Windshield Trim Strip

sirlegin · #1 09-08-2009, 02:31 PM

On the sliding canopy, is there any pros and cons to building the windshield trim strip out of aluminum versus the fiberglass recommendation?

sirlegin · #2 09-08-2009, 07:33 PM

I was referring to the "Tiara"
Thanks for your input

nucleus · #3 09-09-2009, 01:13 AM

My "Tiara" is in aluminum and I will probably redo it in fiberglass. It is too malleable. Passengers and avionics techs have a tendency to put their paws on it and bend it as they move in and out of the plane, no matter the briefing. I narrowly escaped cracking my canopy when I slammed the canopy into a bend someone put into it. The canopy is looser now so I can just slide it forward and close it with the handle, but I still check it very carefully.

I recommend fiberglass over aluminum for this reason.

Hans

mikehoover · #4 09-09-2009, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painless

Are you referring to the "tiara", which is located in the area where the windshield and canopy meet, or the windscreen fairing located where the windscreen meets the fuselage skin?

Either area has been done in aluminum. I did my fairing in aluminum, but I could not get the tiara to sit flush to my liking with both the windscreen and the canopy with the canopy closed. It is definitely doable, just takes some finesse. The aluminum windscreen fairing was actually quite easy to do.

Regards,

Got any photos of your windscreen fairing? Thanks!

L.Adamson · #5 09-09-2009, 06:57 AM

I'm a sheetmetal person by trade, and thought about it.
But I like the fit of the fiberglass. I have no rubber seal, and heavy rains will never enter the cockpit. I have to blast the canopy with a hose to get a few drops inside.

L.Adamson

Frank Smidler · #6 09-09-2009, 06:47 PM

Go with fiberglass, it was a lot easier to do than I thought it would be.

IowaRV9Dreamer · #7 12-11-2012, 10:26 PM

I'm preparing to attach my windshield. I've never done any fiberglass. The plans describe a fiberglass layup at the bottom of the windshield in a lot of detail,

They also barely mention a "trim strip" that hangs off the back of the windshield between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. It is shown on drawing 43' section K-K.

My question is: do I really have to make this trim strip? I can't find it mentioned in the instructions. It seems like it will be fragile, and a pain to make. Is its function really to cover the gap to keep water out?

ChiefPilot · #8 12-11-2012, 10:37 PM

I made the trim strip ("tiara") out of four layers of carbon fiber. It is extremely stiff and I'm not too concerned with people grabbing onto it to get in/out of the aircraft. The rest of the fairing is fiberglass, so no aluminum-to-CF contact.

Bayou Bert · #9 12-12-2012, 04:12 AM

I saw this the other day...anyone tried it out?

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...clickkey=87234

Bert

alpinelakespilot2000 · #10 12-12-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaRV9Dreamer

My question is: do I really have to make this trim strip? I can't find it mentioned in the instructions. It seems like it will be fragile, and a pain to make. Is its function really to cover the gap to keep water out?

This is actually the easiest part of the windscreen fairing to make, Dave, and it keeps out drafts and noise in addition to moisture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefPilot

I made the trim strip ("tiara") out of four layers of carbon fiber. It is extremely stiff and I'm not too concerned with people grabbing onto it to get in/out of the aircraft. The rest of the fairing is fiberglass, so no aluminum-to-CF contact.

Ditto on this, except I used 3-4 layers of 8oz BID fiberglass sandwiched between 2 layers of carbon fiber. Although I instruct passengers not to put their weight on it, I really have no concerns about damage if they accidently do.