Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 06:56 PM - RV-8 Canopy Half-Open Latch... (Matt Dralle)
Message 1
INDEX | Back to Main INDEX |
NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
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
Other Matronics Email List Services
These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.
-- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --
|