Open Cockpit

tsorce · #1 12-27-2009, 10:28 PM

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with flying an RV-6 with the slider style canopy removed? I did see the design of an open cockpit on a RV-3

rv7charlie · #2 12-28-2009, 07:35 AM

I don't know the answer to your specific question, but I do know a bit of Thorp T-18 history (a plane with similar performance).

The T-18 was originally designed to be an open cockpit sport plane. The 1st one flew a couple of times that way & the builder immediately added a canopy. I don't think anyone's flown without one since. The problem is that speeds are so high that the wind just beats you up constantly. Perhaps the side-by-side seating makes it more difficult to control airflow around the cockpit vs a single seat or tandem arrangement.

Charlie

tsorce · #3 12-30-2009, 10:38 PM

Thanks? Charlie every bit of information is helpful. I would imagine you want to stay under 120 Knots.

JDRhodes · #4 12-31-2009, 08:18 AM

I've always thought that one could use the windshield from the slider and the rear structure from the tipper canopy, leaving an open cockpit above the seating area - Ercoupe style - while preserving some aerodynamics around the cockpit.

This would prevent your from having a removable canopy, unless you took the step to build some sort of opening canopy for the middle part - again, the Ercoupe uses sliding side windows that bend up to an overhead structure. I've seen Swifts with a similar set-up.