Canopy Lock Pin

[caveman370]

I’m thinking about relocating my pin more in the middle of the bar. I had the back of the canopy raise up when I didn’t get the aft latch secured even with the pin installed. Luckily the throttle and the hand hold were close together to nurse it back around for a safe landing.
It’s on my pre takeoff check list to look at now!


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[Tnhelm]

I mentioned the Airward option but don’t think I would rely on it alone. I’m installing the pin on my OneX. By the way, hard off field landing I had, the canopy shattered and left the aircraft. No trouble getting out.

[Corby202]

I just use a spring clip made from folded aluminium. This clips into the slot on the canopy rail once the canopy is shut.

[mike.smith]

How do your rescuers get it out when you are upside down and unconscious?

The Sonex canopy is a relative egg shell. A good kick does wonders. For any aircraft if you're making a forced lading the check list should include unlatching the door. In the case of the Sonex, removing the pin.

[mike.smith]

How do your rescuers get it out when you are upside down and unconscious?

The Sonex canopy is a relative egg shell. A good kick does wonders. For any aircraft if you're making a forced lading the check list should include unlatching the door. In the case of the Sonex, removing the pin.

I still had my old canopy lying around, so last night I did a test and I kicked it once. A 2' square hole shattered in it, just from one kick.

[Spaceman]

How do your rescuers get it out when you are upside down and unconscious?

The Sonex canopy is a relative egg shell. A good kick does wonders. For any aircraft if you're making a forced lading the check list should include unlatching the door. In the case of the Sonex, removing the pin.

I still had my old canopy lying around, so last night I did a test and I kicked it once. A 2' square hole shattered in it, just from one kick.

I'm like 95% done building my canopy and dying to be done with it. Picturing what you just said made me cringe!

[DCASonex]

Definitely cringe worthy ! Installed mine after a lot of fitting work, and next day found three cracks running up the side. Replaced with a Todd's canopy (no longer available) and bonded to new frame. That was 7 years 370 hours and a lot of bounced landings ago, all still good. One key might be to be sure to avoid any scratches on the canopy surface, especially inside on lower edges. The A model canopies bulge out on sides and have to be pulled in to the frame. That puts the inside surface in tension. any minor nick of scratch will then start a crack.

Those with A type canopies might be interested in one quick and lightweight means to greatly strengthen the structure. Mine caught a gust of wind when opening one day and when it reached full open, slightly over bent the rear bow down near the hinge. (if had not been bonded, probably would have cracked it) Open a standard canopy and give it a slight push when fully open and you will see that rear bow near the hinge is where any flexing takes place. That puts a lot of stress in that area. Adding a 1/2" aluminum tube diagonally from right rear corner,at hinge, up to about top center, and fastening to the existing horizontal member as well, makes the whole assembly much stiffer. Very simple and light weight. Really have to try it to believe how much more solid the whole assembly becomes.

David A.

[Spaceman]

To answer the original post, I asked Sonex the same question a few weeks ago because the plans didn't show where the pin was located. Attached is the photo they sent me of where they put it!

[Airwolf]

Thanks Spaceman!

[Fritz]

I know this is an old thread but I just saw it so it's new to me ;)

IMHO: The idea of a canopy that can't easily, quickly and obviously be opened from the outside is just nuts. ...but to each their own

The first person to reach you, and maybe your passenger, might not be a highly trained fireman with a crash axe. It's more likely to be an out of breath farmer or motorist that just ran 200 yards through a corn field.

They're probably going to spend a minute or two trying to figure out how to open the canopy, it's human nature, they've never heard of a vehicle "door" that can't be opened from the outside. Hopefully they realize that they're not going to find a "handle" and hopefully they have the presence of mind to try to bust the canopy open. Now your betting your life that this random bystander is going to have the strength, agility, situational awareness and kung fu skills to punch a whole in the canopy.

When they finally bust a hole in the canopy they're going to spend another minute or two trying to push, pull and turn everything they can reach to release the canopy. They will have absolutely no clue they have to remove a canopy lock pin first. When that doesn't work, they're going to have to figure out that they have bust out the whole canopy to get you you out. ...hopefully your not bleeding or there's fuel pouring out everywhere, God forbid there's a fire

A simple over-center latch that that can be opened from either side (like we've used since the dawn of aviation) with a simple "TURN TO OPEN" sign with an arrow is a no brainer. IMHO