Canopy:

December 3, 1997-This has presented quite a problem as to how to hinge the canopy. I have tried a number of ways from the side but I am more convinced on the front hinging canopy. I have designed the necessary parts and am now making the styrofoam mockups.I will use a gas strut from a car, one of those that assits in lifting heavy doors, they seem quite small and very powerful. The only disadvantage is having the weight far from the center of gravity.

OK there is the beginning of the canopy, this is a front hinger and the odd looking hardward at the front is the mechism for emergency release and shove forward of the canopy. At this stage everything is in foam. Note the top of the instrument panel will come up with the canopy.

Than there is the famous hinge that attaches in the nose. The long arm on the bottom is where the gas strut will attach.The basic material is foam and glass with wooden plugs and a metal tube for the actual hinge. The part that attaches to the fuselage is an aluminum fixture.

Glassing the foam canopy frame

The canopy frame has been glassed, I've ruined one piece of lexan$$$$ and here I am carefully fitting this one on... only to discover that the piece I bought had a large scratch in it.....just at eye level.

OK so it works!Now to add the gas strut!August 27,1998

	There is the fully functioning canopy....the gas strut holds it open. Its rather fun to open it. I just push it up about 10 inches then the gas strut takes over and it opens slowly on its own! Seems to work fine... now to get those canopy latches made.
	Here is a close up of the emergency release mechanism; from the top of the metal look for the small cable....pulling that cable releases the canopy.

	Well there it is! It works great!
	Well there is my modified latch.... somewhat from a 1-34 but the front section is cut open to allow the canopy emergecny release to pull the canopy forward then eject it upwards. seems to work fine on the ground....... The levers for the latch push forward out of the way when latched on both sides. This was a fun thing to design!

	There is a view of the emergency canopy release. This cable pulls the lever which pulls the canopy forward then up.
	Here are the instruments in the canopy; note the emergency release does not have a handle...

	Well a little sitting in it! Notice I have the spoiler up just a hair.