At 07:11 AM 6/2/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Dave Morris wrote:
>>
>> #1 - I looked all through Don's newletter index and even read through all
>> the newsletters in vain, trying to find a lucid drawing of a cool front
>> canopy hinge. How is everybody making these? Are you just cutting out
>> pieces of aluminum or buying something from Ken Brock or what? Are you
>> attaching the hinge to the forward fuselage cover or to the forward
bulkhead?
>
>I'll send you a photo or two later today. Even though folk are making
>theirs from aluminum, consider making yours from glass. The aluminum
>ones must be bolted to the canopy, where as glass (and foam)hinges
>can be glued into place.
>
That sounds interesting. I don't think I've seen anyone use glass, but it
should be a natural.
>> #2 - What is the consensus these days about the instrument panel? Are
>> people still building them out of fiberglass as a bulkhead, or are you guys
>> using a regular aluminum panel? I would assume it would be easier to add
>> instruments and make layout changes using a think aluminum panel instead of
>> fiberglass, but I had also heard that the instrument panel is part of the
>> structure and needs to be thick and load-bearing. Any thoughts?
>
>Consider both. Add the aluminum over the fiberglass (you need something
>in which to attach the aluminum anyway).
>
I was thinking more of cutting out the foam in the entire center portion of
the standard instrument bulkhead, beefing it up around the edges with some
carbon fiber, and then insetting an aluminum panel where the foam was
removed. That way, I don't have to try to think up all possible instrument
layouts, thin out the foam in some areas, add wood pieces in others, and
other kludges that the plans agonizingly discuss. I'll just have a nice
piece of aluminum that can be used like in a regular airplane.
Dave Morris
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
FAA PPSEL EAA Dragonfly CAF
www.davemorris.com/dave/dfly.html
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