Hi Larry. No, the hinges did not fail, the failure was the latch, at the back, releasing most likely due to a bit of flexing in the fuselage and/or canopy as could be simulated on the ground.
What I meant with my comment was that once the canopy was open the air entering through the rather large gap between the canopy and the fuselage caused the canopy to lift higher and maybe also why it needed so much force to close. Different airflow and aerodynamics compared to a front hinge where there is very little or no gap between the canopy and fuselage in the open position. The result is a highly undercambered, high lift airfoil! After the plane was repaired 2 additional latches were added, one on each side at the back, they are not affected by flexing and won't release "uncommanded" again! My other KR2 has a canopy that opens to the side but that has a very substantial and robust latch. Rudi On Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 11:35 PM Flesner via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org> wrote: > On 1/25/2023 10:06 AM, Rudi Venter via KRnet wrote: > > I wonder if my canopy opened up more in flight than what some others > > report due to the long front hinges? > > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Rudi, > > The long front hinges are still in tact so I'm guessing they had nothing > to do with the failure other than possibly contributing to any flex in > the canopy causing the latches to fail. If the rear latches continue to > hold with any airframe / canopy flex the canopy will not open. Simple > physics. If you don't trust your canopy latches then you need to > install a secondary stop much like the safety chain on a locked > residential door. Unlike "which radio should I get," a poor decision on > canopy latches could prove fatal. > > > https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/builderresources/while-youre-building/building-articles/canopies-and-windshields/canopy-retention-and-security > ? > > Larry Flesner > > -- > KRnet mailing list > KRnet@list.krnet.org > https://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet >
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