Build9A
Well Known Member
I hate to expose my stupid mistake here but it might be interesting and even helpful to others.
In a hurry to beat the rain out of Stuart, Florida this am I took off with my tip-up canopy unlatched. It flew open right after lift-off while dealing with a fairly challenging cross wind. Certainly not a time for such a distraction. When I got straightened out and set up to land I noticed I was quickly running out of runway below me and was too fast. So I went full power and took off holding on to the secondary latch with my right hand. It was at that point that I remembered the RVator article dealing with this exact situation. I remembered that you could release the handle and the canopy will only open about 6-8 inches. I let go of the canopy handle and asked the tower to let me remain in the pattern and return to land. Sure enough the canopy stayed open to about 6 inches and stayed there. The noise reminded me of Hurricane Wilma (which destroyed six planes at this airport and one big hanger). On downwind I slowed to around 85 mph, extended about 1/2 flaps, trimmed for coordinated flight and decided to take my hand off the stick and try to close it. Guess what, after pulling down with my right hand on the secondary latch, I was able to securely latch the canopy with my left hand. You cannot pull the canopy down going much faster than 85 mph. I contacted the tower and told him I had solved the problem and requested departure to the NW.
This is not meant to suggest that you not worry about this checklist item, cause it caused me some tense moments. The first was the distraction with crosswind conditions, then the land or go around decision, and then flying relatively low and slow with no hands. FOLLOW YOUR CHECKLIST. I certainly will cause I know I don't want to do this again. Jack
In a hurry to beat the rain out of Stuart, Florida this am I took off with my tip-up canopy unlatched. It flew open right after lift-off while dealing with a fairly challenging cross wind. Certainly not a time for such a distraction. When I got straightened out and set up to land I noticed I was quickly running out of runway below me and was too fast. So I went full power and took off holding on to the secondary latch with my right hand. It was at that point that I remembered the RVator article dealing with this exact situation. I remembered that you could release the handle and the canopy will only open about 6-8 inches. I let go of the canopy handle and asked the tower to let me remain in the pattern and return to land. Sure enough the canopy stayed open to about 6 inches and stayed there. The noise reminded me of Hurricane Wilma (which destroyed six planes at this airport and one big hanger). On downwind I slowed to around 85 mph, extended about 1/2 flaps, trimmed for coordinated flight and decided to take my hand off the stick and try to close it. Guess what, after pulling down with my right hand on the secondary latch, I was able to securely latch the canopy with my left hand. You cannot pull the canopy down going much faster than 85 mph. I contacted the tower and told him I had solved the problem and requested departure to the NW.
This is not meant to suggest that you not worry about this checklist item, cause it caused me some tense moments. The first was the distraction with crosswind conditions, then the land or go around decision, and then flying relatively low and slow with no hands. FOLLOW YOUR CHECKLIST. I certainly will cause I know I don't want to do this again. Jack