Sonex Canopy

[ihab]

Hi folks. This is Pickleman's canopy -- I got pictures from him and resized them. His remarks:

Since the windshield ISN'T bolted down, it doesn't look like it blends well with the canopy, but when it is screwed in place the line is smooth and continuous. It IS raised a couple of inches from stock. The rear lip overlaps the turtleneck about an inch. There is an added photo of the front windshield bow and he wrapped aluminum windscreen attachment piece. The gold line is the approximate meeting place of candy and wind shield. The one photo from the side shows the reformed bubble where it bonds to the canopy frame.

[ihab]

... and one last photo from Pickleman (5 photos per message limit):

[rfidler]

I think this gentleman is headed in the correct direction for the canopy frame concept. What does the frame look like in the forward fixed part windscreen portion fixed to fuselage?

[Sx1552]

How well will the canopy jettison in an emergency? I fly aerobatics and don't see an easy way to put in a jettison handle. Maybe I'm missing something, but I want the option to bail out.

[GraemeSmith]

Peter Anson's canopy latch provides a much easier to use handle with a positive "throw" that raises the left edge solidly a couple of inches. That will get the leading edge lip up into the airstream and I'm 99% sure that will take care of it. My own abandon aircraft drill is:

Mixture out and master and mags off
Flick headset aft into baggage compartment
Flick the canopy latch to unlock
Lastly - Undo harness and crouch/standup on seat pan . I'm either going to be standing in a blast of air or finishing pushing the canopy overboard.
Jump.

[Arjay]

Once the canopy is unlatched, if the engine is running above idle, and/or the airplane is moving above walking speed, the canopy will assuredly open...with a bang! Ask me how I know that!

Ron
Taildragging Sonex, 695

[BRS]

...
Mixture out and master and mags off
Flick headset aft into baggage compartment
...
Jump.

Since you are letting the plane fly it's self to oblivion why take the time to find the mag switch and and master when really all you want to do is get out and away? Seems pulling the mixture is the fastest control to find that will kill the engine.

[GraemeSmith]

Since you are letting the plane fly it's self to oblivion why take the time to find the mag switch and and master when really all you want to do is get out and away? Seems pulling the mixture is the fastest control to find that will kill the engine.

'Cuz planes HAVE been known to decide to keep flying and circle around on their ex-crew. De-energizing it before departing is a recommended practice. My Mags. mixture and canopy lock are clustered in the same area - so it's even easier to do than some planes I've drilled for.