Does anyone know of a successful jettisoning of an RV6 or 7 canopy?
Only attempt I have heard of was a very early 6 in which the pilot was being overcome with fuel fumes due to a serious fuel leak.
I am told that although it had the slotted top skins and handle for release, when he pulled the handles the canopy stayed in place. He put a foot against the canopy but still could not move it. Managed to land it safely after getting enough air through the vent.
This suggests fitting the jettison handle is a waste of time, hence my question.
As far as ejecting the canopy when upside down in water is concerned, there is NO CHANCE of moving the canopy until the cockpit is full of water. The sooner you break the canopy and fill it the sooner you have any chance of getting out. Meanwhile you need to hold your breath! The plane is now a boat and the canopy is the bottom of the boat and supporting the plane until it sinks completely.
A friend of mine put a Corby Starlet single seat, very small aircraft into the ocean and it flipped. He is a strong guy but had to hold his breath until it sank far enough for the wings to take the weight before he could open the tiny bubble canopy. He was in shallow water and worried it would be on the sand before he got it open. A sobering thought, lucky to survive.
I know of RV4 canopies self ejecting but have never heard of a 6 or 7 canopy being ejected.
Brian