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I purchased my '65 ALON two years ago. I tried canopy open takeoffs, landings and flights with and without a passenger. Yes, it was very difficult to close and lock the canopy in flight, even after slowing down to 75 mph. Frankly, I concluded that the exercise was not worth the effort, and could be dangerous, considering the in-cockpit attention it required. I have snap vents installed in the lower aft corners of my windshield, so ventilation is adequate with the canopy closed, even here in Florida. Then I read here on the Tech site and in Coupe Capers about one or two (?) instances of ALON canopies separating from the aircraft in flight! I think the primary input was related by Couper Marv Dunlap. I spoke to him in person at Terrell, and tried hard to nail down the details , without success. I never confirmed that such canopy departures actually occurred. There were some details provided about rigging the canopy hardware properly to minimize or preclude such separation, but this would not ease closing/locking in flight. All of this is in the archives about 6 mos ago. Bottom line, I will have to forego participation in flour bag "bomb dropping" competition at future Coupe get-togethers since I have decided NOT to fly with my canopy open. Don Bowen
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] Closing the Alon Canopy in Flight
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:29:27 -0800
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Greetings,
Anyone out there have a good system for closing the Alon Canopy in flight? The slipstream sucks the trailing edge of the canopy away from the fuselage right where the clips are positioned making it nearly impossible to close the thing with just one person in the cockpit.
Thanks in advance.
Chad Surmick
1965 ALON A-2 N5479E
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