Hi Ed,
I'm probably not alone in doubting that I could exit a coupe upside
down via the original rear windows, although I definitely prefer them
in appearance. ;<)
You are not alone in believing that the windshield is not "fastened at
the bottom", but this belief is wrong. Early Ercoupes had a formed
aluminum strip riveted to the upper cowling that the lower edge of the
windshield slid forward into before being secured around the top and
sides by screws.
Likely a sealant was also employed, but this was not the primary means
of securing the bottom of the windshield. Later it was undoubtedly
observed that air pressure in flight tended to press the windshield
into the desired position, and so a rubber weatherstrip replaced the
metal for production economies.
Nonetheless, The Ercoupe Service Manual directs that 3M Cement EC 711
be used to "cement weather stripping in place" on p. 31 under the
heading "Replacing Windshield". This interpretation becomes even more
certain with reference to the Parts Manual, Fig. 10 and Item 10-27 on
p. 11 "Weatherstrip - fuselage windshield. Today the appropriate
adhesive would likely be 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive.
I have been in coupes retrofitted with bubble windshields that were
trimmed and "installed" such that in flight with the sidescreens open
you can observe light between the upper cowling and the windshield.
Some may be safe that way, and others may not.
Scares me to death, whether or not such concern is realistic.
Regards,
William R. Bayne
.____|-(o)-|____.
(Copyright 2009)
--
On May 6, 2009, at 11:21, Ed Burkhead wrote:
Kevin wrote:
. . . Lexan . . . is just about impossible to break, especially when
you're on your back trying to kick them out.
That's probably true and is important for the old-style, smaller back
windows that are firmly attached.
On the Ercoupes and Forneys, the sliding windows only need to be
pushed on
to bend and pop out of their tracks. The windshield is not even
fastened at
the bottom but it is at the top and sides so I don't know how easy it
would
be to push out.
Landing in soft, plowed ground and flipping over like Wayne Woolard
once
did, does merit keeping the ability to bust out. It's very, very rare
but
that's not much consolation when you find yourself lying there with the
plane upside down on top of you.
Ed
