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Having just read the story of the guys canopy departing his aircraft in flight, and others talking about frayed cables and straps, makes me think, when it comes to that time in my build, to figure out a way to have redundancy, maybe not something new, but maybe just two straps/cables.

AL Roberts

Al,
I am thinking that if you ever get to the point where the straps are holding the canopy in flight, you want it to tear loose and depart the aircraft. For one reason, you may be bailing out. On the other hand, if the latch fails, having an open canopy still attached has to be a lot more drag than an open canopy which has departed.

Kip,

I like your idea for improving the strap. My original one is always kinked up and I do worry about it just breaking off with just the right wind gust. Thad would be a bad day for sure. This would make a nice addition to the annual I am performing.

Thanks!

I agree with you, Bryan, 100 percent regarding the canopy coming loose and departing the aircraft or being held by a strap and flapping in the airstream which would probably cause some severe control problem not to mention the damage to the airplane. My thought of having a back up strap was to keep the canopy from coming loose in the first place. I'll have to wait until I get to that place in my build before I give it any more thought.

AL

By the way Bryan, I have lost your email address. I sent you a message the other day, with a photo attached, however I sent it to the address I have on file.

AL

Or an even lighter option is to use the checklist and insure the canopy is closed, latched, and pinned before each takeoff.
Happy Landings
John
N50NX