Cold neck
Hi, all
Im new & learning so forgive me if this is a stupid question. Been looking to possible buy a 4 in the furure and from what i can see in some videos and pictures, it appears the canopy just closes with no gasket or anything to stop the air from rushing in. This makes me wondering how does it seal and are there alot of air leaks?
Thanks in advance!
Jon,
First, welcome to the RV-
4-UM!
I built my Four back in 95' and started test flying it during the hot, muggy summer months in the South us locals call,
dog days.
Hot personified.
Canopy leaks were welcomed as any extra fresh air was
heavenly below 5K'. In winter (we actually wear shoes that time of year) I noticed a few cool air leaks mainly from behind. I contact-cemented a thin felt lining around the inside of the canopy skirt which reduced air leaks significantly....except in the back seat (where I never noticed them).
My wife commented on a particularly cool day at 11,500' that her neck was getting a cold breeze from somewhere. So...one particularly dark night I placed a drop light inside the cockpit, closed the canopy and turned all other lights out. Voila, every canopy air gap (and many other small holes) were exposed and with the help of a grease pencil, identified and remedied with thicker felt in that spot.
Experimental airplanes are never really finished, but a flying
work in progress. You can tweak yours to your own specifications, the beauty of EXP on the canopy rail.
You have chosen wisely.
V/R
Smokey