Van's Air Force
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Canopy cover
- Thread starter Rbb469
- Start date
sansoneservices
Well Known Member
You can buy lightweight fabric of your choice and make one. Anybody with basic sewing skills would consider it easy
Thank you!
I bought the lightweight cover from VANs catalog 10 years ago. I'm not sure if it was made by Bruce, but I am really happy with it. Very light, has survived heavy winds when at the outer banks of NC for a week, OSH storms, and fits very well. It has 3 straps that wrap around the fuselage and a bib on front that comes out all the way to the cowling . Weighs almost nothing.
That’s exactly what I’m looking for unfortunately they no longer sell them on the vans website.
I hunted one for my RV-4 for a while about a year ago. The story I heard was that the material was no longer available or economical, I don't think they're coming back in stock... I got lucky when a friend of mine popped into a local hangar sale and found one for me! Good luck on your hunt!
I just ponied up for Bruce's lightweight cover for another aircraft, they are sure proud of those! $$$
DJ Lauretson made mine and I LOVE it! Of course, that was eons ago! She might still knit you up one. Go to cleavelandtool. com and ask. There is one listed for the RV-3. Maybe she could be persuaded to do just one more for an RV-4.........
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Tankerpilot75
Well Known Member
I believe Bruce sells both a light weight and a heavier weight duck canvas cover. I originally had the light weight cover and it worked very well - until it didn’t. It picked up an oily feel after a hard weather day leaving a film on the canopy that was difficult to remove. Washed the cover at home in a washing machine and the thin metallic covering kind of dissolved. Big mess!
Much prefer the heavy weight cover today. Holds up well. The duck cover is a little bulky but it definitely protects the canopy area and overall a better product.
Much prefer the heavy weight cover today. Holds up well. The duck cover is a little bulky but it definitely protects the canopy area and overall a better product.
Thanks for all the info. Being limited on payload in the -4, I’m wanting it light/compact. I had Bruce’s for my -7 and it was heavy/bulking. How does the light weight bruce’s cover Compare to the lightweight vans cover that you have? Is it comparable? ThanksI hunted one for my RV-4 for a while about a year ago. The story I heard was that the material was no longer available or economical, I don't think they're coming back in stock... I got lucky when a friend of mine popped into a local hangar sale and found one for me! Good luck on your hunt!
I just ponied up for Bruce's lightweight cover for another aircraft, they are sure proud of those! $$$
Use 'ripstop nylon' and 'buckle straps' from Amazon. Very inexpensive, lightweight, almost waterproof and easy to sew. Looks to be about the same material as my Bruces lightweight canopy cover. I am (my wife is) just about finished sewing up a cold weather cowling cover with thinsulate sandwitched between the ripstop nylon. The spinner cover is on the table now.
Dean Pichon
Well Known Member
I have one of Bruce's covers for my -4. It's a rugged, well-made cover, but heavy. I lugged it to Oshkosh last summer and hoped to replace it with a lighter option. I brought my cover to Bruce's booth (at AirVenture). I was told the cover I had was the lightweight one! I saw a number of very light ones on other -4s parked around me. A number of those had Cleaveland Aircraft tags. I went by their booth only to learn they no longer make covers. Long story short, I have been unable to find a lightweight cover, either.
Thanks. I’ll reach out and see if she will. Thanks again. RickyDJ Lauretson made mine and I LOVE it! Of course, that was eons ago! She might still knit you up one. Go to cleavelandtool. com and ask. There is one listed for the RV-3. Maybe she could be persuaded to do just one more for an RV-4.........
Thanks for the info! Ricky
Thanks for the info. That’s what I think I’ll do. Ricky
I have a very light cover made from fabric that is silver reflective color on one side and black soft/felt texture on the other. It's great at keeping the heat out and it's waterproof, and non-abrasive for the canopy. I don't know who made it. would love to make a spare.. if I can find this mystery fabric somewhere.
@Rbb469 I don't know where you are, but I have used Aerocovers a couple of times for wing covers and I had a plane with an engine cover from them. I was quite happy with the products, pricing was good, and they have some options for fabric on their website. They may have templates in stock. You could email them to ask. And with them being Canadian, If you are USA, with the crappy dollar we have, it should be even a better deal for you!
PandaCub
Well Known Member
Word of caution: I used a lightweight cover on my RV-8 for years but started noticing random spots of canopy "fogging", almost as if someone had wiped the area with a caustic chemical. My A&P noticed it too, and said it was probably from hours of the cover flapping in the wind with dust between the fabric and plexiglass. A couple hours under the buffing wheel restored clear visibility, but I plan to trade the lightweight cover for a heavier Bruce's cover with smooth microfiber against the plexiglass. Hopefully the damage won't happen again.
My original lightweight canopy cover is finally coming apart. Not really interested in a heavy new one. Has anyone tried these? Apparently Bruce’s makes a lightweight called the Fly-Away…?
Curious if anyone has a pirep on these.
Curious if anyone has a pirep on these.
resurrecting this one... as I have exactly that cover waiting to be put thru its paces. Bought it a couple of years ago for that very price, but seemed a tiny weeny bit heavy for a lightweight as compared to my original Vans cover. This one has now been used for the better part of 20 years, and I will start using this "fly-away cover".
Amazingly, researching the subject a couple of minutes ago, Cleaveland just have the -3 cover, and Vans, as usual lately for many items (all forces and ressources concentrating on the that famous -15) have been out of order for quite some time...
I trial fitted this cover once, as mentioned, surprisingly heavy, elastic material seemed to fit the contours pretty good. Remains to be tested on the field
For over 15 years on my RV-7A, I've used a cover originally made by Cunningham Covers which was in Arlington, WA.. I should say I'm on my 3rd cover because, as straps wore out, I replaced them. As panels have frayed and worn, I've removed the panels, used them as a pattern, and sewn new panels in using Sunbrella fabric from this source: sailrite.com. The company has long since passed, but according to an engine cover discussion on SuperCub.org, the original patterns were purchased by another person who was trying to make a go of it as a company.
I keep the cover in the plane and always install it when parked, except during short fuel stops. It weighs about 4-1/2 lbs. Not sure if that's lightweight or heavy, but it sure works for me.
I keep the cover in the plane and always install it when parked, except during short fuel stops. It weighs about 4-1/2 lbs. Not sure if that's lightweight or heavy, but it sure works for me.
Lynn Cunningham retired and sold the business to a woman who changed the name of the company to Aviation Covers, inc. They don’t have a website anymore (that I could find), but their last phone number was (360) 435-0342. I believe they are still in business at Arlington (KAWO).
Lynn used my previous RV-8 to make a canopy cover pattern back in 2003 or 2004. I liked his cover because it was form-fitting and had 4 straps that helped prevent the canopy cover from moving in the wind and sandpapering the canopy. Some other manufacturer's covers are somewhat loose fitting and use only two straps, allowing sand and grit to get underneath them and then the moving, flapping cover scratches the plexi.
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