Paul Visk wrote: >> I'm trying to decide on which way to hinge my canopy. I know the currant trend is to mount it from the front. But I can't get over the inability to open the canopy in flight if you need to jump out. Is anyone putting with a side hinge in or is everyone hinging from the front?<<
Are you going to wear a parachute every time you fly? I doubt it. I couldn't wear a parachute in N891JF if my life depended on it (and I don't think it does). Keep in mind that inflight structural or control failures in these planes are VERY rare. You'd do far better to concentrate on how to get the plane on the ground safely, or at least under control, rather than trying to bail out. Consider that if you take off with one latch disconnected (or even both) the forward hinging canopy will almost close itself...it'll hover maybe an inch over the longeron at the rear, but it will be in equilibrium and stay more or less closed. if you take off with a side hinged canopy unlatched, it will likely slam open, killing lift on the right wing, and stall, if on takeoff. This is basically what happened to Allen Buzza in Australia. Fortunately he survived and went on the rebuild the plane, and is working to finish another. I almost lost the side-hinged canopy on N891JF the first time I started the engine and didn't have it latched. That's when I decided to make it front hinged. Just some food for thought. I could go on, but it's past my bedtime... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com http://www.n56ml.com
