Canopy Question

[Stockmanreef]

I am in the process of figuring out which plane to build. Initially, I was sold on the RV-10, but I have 4 yrs and then the kids are out of the house. So the point is that I won't necessarily need a 4 place plane and that a 2 seater might do the trick. And it will take 3-4 yrs for me to build and get certified anyway. With that said I am now considering the RV-9 or the RV-14.

Question:

How hot is it to fly in an open canopy plane? How bad is the sun the entire trip? I have never flow in a plane with no "roof" so to speak. I know the visibility must be awesome, but is it tiring on a long cross country in a plane where you can't escape the sun? I have flown in an RV-10 and that was a great plane to fly. Just wondering about the open canopy on the other planes.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ken

[Kyle Boatright]

There are aftermarket solutions which can block the sun. The Koger Sunshade is one which is commercially available in a few places. Alternately, tinted cling film works.

Personally, I've never been hot in the airplane other than at very low altitude in >90F weather or sitting at the runup line with the canopy closed in similar weather.

[robertahegy]

I agree, get a Kroger sunshield or a good hat. I never had that much discomfort in my 7A tipup. Pop the canopy during ground ops in hot weather.

Roberta