List-Post: krnet@list.krnet.org Date: May 13,2015 Subject: Canopy hinge location
Joe; When I was starting to test my Kr-2, stock built with initial canopy mount on the right side, I experienced a mishap which ended up costing me a new canopy and many more hours of work to repair. I was trailering my Kr-2 out to the Eldorado dry lake south of Boulder City Nevada to perform taxi tests and get some experience with the brakes, ground handling, engine/prop performance, etc. While my bird was on the trailer and almost at the dry lake a large truck passed me, I was going about 35 mph, and the wind blew open the canopy and promptly tore it off the aircraft. The plexiglass canopy, of course, broke beyond repair resulting in the cost and time involved to build a replacement. I decided that this was a good safety lesson for me and rebuilt the canopy assembly with the hinge point being on the front edge, the canopy now opens from the rear. I figured that if I ever forgot to properly latch the canopy on takeoff, the slip stream would keep the canopy closed instead of ripping it off and possibly damaging the tail/rudder and causing loss of control. I have had one incident when the canopy latches were not secured prior to takeoff and all that happened was the canopy opened about 1/2 inch in flight, I was quickly able to lock the canopy down without incident while flying the aircraft, the only damage was to my adrenalin gland from the massive amount it put out when the canopy opened that 1/2 inch, it really startled me. The canopy is very easy to remove just by pulling the piano hinge wire out one side and with the latches in the UN position, the canopy can be lifted straight up and off. I do not own a parachute and have never flown my bird while wearing one, my biggest concern about the canopy is how to get out in case of a nose over on the ground but then the location of the hinge wouldn?t cure that problem anyway. Hope this information is useful to those trying to decide where to hinge their canopy. Thanks Parley Byington N54PB Kr-2 (built to plans conventional with retracts) byington1954 at embarqmail.com Henderson, Nevada USA On May 12, 2015, at 19:58, bjoenunley via KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org> wrote: > My canopy is rear sliding. > > Joe > > 'I don't think rear sliding has been done or is practical for KR shape." > Joe Horton > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options
