Now that I glue the canopy on...

[Gary's RV7A]

Has anyone glue the side skirts onto the tip up canopy? It seems a lot easier than riveting them on???

 

[DGlaeser]

I did both

I glued them to the canopy, and riveted them to the frame. I added them after the canopy was glued to the frame IIRC.

 

[flion]

Like Dennis with the addition that I both glued and riveted the canopy to the frame along the sides. Then I glued the outer skirts to the canopy with clecos in the frame holes and riveted the skirts to the frame once the Sika had set.

 

[Gary's RV7A]

152 holes drilled and dimpled

Since I've already glue the canopy on to the frame, why not glue the canopy side skirts on to. I could avoid drilling and dimpling 152 holes. I know in the scheme of things, it's a small faction of the total holes in an RV. Just checking to see if someone else has done the same. Thanks!

 

[Gary's RV7A]

Ok, I glue the skirt to canopy and will rivet to the frame

I did glue the skirt to the canopy, waiting for the sika to set before I rivet to the frame. The glue fills the small gap between the plexi and the skirt. Looks like a cleaner finished product with no gap.

I'm 99.9% sure I'm not going to install the canopy release system. I don't like the handle coming through the panel and I don't plan to exit the plane in flight. It would be nice for removing the canopy in the future, not sure how often that happens...

 

[DGlaeser]

Like - never ...

I skipped the release mechanism. I drilled holes in the hinge 'pins' (bolts) and put a clip-pin in to secure them in place. I've been flying for 3 years and have yet to remove the canopy.