RV8-List Digest Archive

Sun 04/14/13


Total Messages Posted: 1



Today's Message Index:
----------------------
 
     1. 06:56 PM - RV-8 Canopy Half-Open Latch... (Matt Dralle)
 
 
 


Message 1


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    Time: 06:56:27 PM PST US
    From: Matt Dralle <dralle@matronics.com>
    Subject: RV-8 Canopy Half-Open Latch...
    I found a pretty ingenious canopy half-open latch system from fellow RV-8 builder Mike Zeller. The pictures pretty much tell the story along with my YouTube video of the system in operation. The system has a free spinning cam and a latch that allows the canopy to be fully opened and closed normally. If you open the canopy just past half way, then pull it forward slowly, the cam will line up and fall into the latch perfectly and then will keep the canopy from sliding back any further! To close the canopy, you just pull on it and close it. To open it all the way, you just pull it forward a few inches, then slide it back all the way. The best part is that there is no chance of scratches on any paint and it seems to hold the canopy *very* securely in the half-open position. A pretty amazing piece of engineering. Van's should just include this system as a part of the stock canopy installation. The latch kit only comes with the black plastic parts and that little machined aluminum fitting. I needed a .125" spacer and wanted to use flush screws, so I fabricated some additional plates to go on either side of the latch. To give the whole thing a bit more strength, I made a backing plate out of .063" and added a couple of platenuts. All of the bits and pieces will get black power coated to match everything else in the cockpit, so you won't even notice its there when all's said and done! Super Cool! Here's a YouTube video I made of the cam and latch system in action: http://youtu.be/f0BSlcYxU4M Pretty cool. - Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen" http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel Status: 172+ Hours TTSN - Rebuilding Fuselage After Landing Mishap... RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer" http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Revitalization Log Status: 120+ Hours Since Purchase - Upgrades Complete; Now In Full Flyer Mode




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