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Canopy latching system

 
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rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:56 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

Wade,
I would not advise any builder to use the latching system from Zenith.
I have had nothing but trouble from mine since the airplane was new. First
the canopy would not latch so on the advice from some of the net members, I
raised the lower latch part by 1/8th inch using a shim under it. Then the
canopy would latch and now when it is latched and I am trying to open it
turning the knob on the left side of the canopy, it sticks. I plan to
eliminate the entire system and use latches like the ones on the box I have
enclosed a picture of. I would advise anyone building this aircraft to do
the same. This is the system being used on all KR aircraft and I know from
experence, it works fine and if you are scratch building it's a lot cheaper.

Tracy Stone
Harker Heights, Tx
ZodiacXL w/Jabiru 3300


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Jaybannist(at)cs.com
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:35 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

Tracy,

I know that the ZAC latching system is somewhat "mickey mouse," but, for the life of me, I don't see how your pictured latches would work. If they are mounted outside, how do you latch them from inside (and visa versa)? Maybe I'm missing something. How do the KR guys work them?

Jay in Dallas
Do not archive

"robert stone" <rstone4(at)hot.rr.com> wrote:

Quote:
Wade,
I would not advise any builder to use the latching system from Zenith.
I have had nothing but trouble from mine since the airplane was new. First
the canopy would not latch so on the advice from some of the net members, I
raised the lower latch part by 1/8th inch using a shim under it. Then the
canopy would latch and now when it is latched and I am trying to open it
turning the knob on the left side of the canopy, it sticks. I plan to
eliminate the entire system and use latches like the ones on the box I have
enclosed a picture of. I would advise anyone building this aircraft to do
the same. This is the system being used on all KR aircraft and I know from
experence, it works fine and if you are scratch building it's a lot cheaper.

Tracy Stone
Harker Heights, Tx
ZodiacXL w/Jabiru 3300



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wjones(at)brazoriainet.co
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:35 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

Thanks Tracy ,I will consider the change .However I think the rotary latch supplied by ZAC looks much nicer . DO NOT ARCHIVE
Wade Jones South Texas
601XL plans building
Cont. 0200
[quote] ---


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rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:04 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

I will use hard wood blocks (Oak) to mount the latches onto on the inside.
One on each side. Both the uper and lower surface must be the same so that
the entire lach will fit right. When I get mine done, I will post a picture
so you can see how it's done.

Tracy Stone
---


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pmaxpmax(at)HOTMAIL.COM
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:15 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

My Zenith supplied latches work just fine. 130 hours so far.  I guess we all have different experiences.

If you use the latches shown in the pictures, it may be hard for someone on the outside of the plane to open the latch and get you out if they need to.

Phil Maxson
601XL/Corvair
Northwest New Jersey
Quote:
From: rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Zenith-List: Canopy latching system
Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 16:54:32 -0500

Wade,
I would not advise any builder to use the latching system from Zenith.
I have had nothing but trouble from mine since the airplane was new. First
the canopy would not latch so on the advice from some of the net members, I
raised the lower latch part by 1/8th inch using a shim under it. Then the
canopy would latch and now when it is latched and I am trying to open it
turning the knob on the left side of the canopy, it sticks. I plan to
eliminate the entire system and use latches like the ones on the box I have
enclosed a picture of.

<<SNIP>>
Change is good. See what's different about Windows Live Hotmail. Check it out! [quote][b]


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rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 7:32 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

The canopy is only 1/8th inch thick and would be very easy to break in an emergency.

Tracy Stone
[quote] ---


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stshuck(at)comcast.net
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:24 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

I like your idea of separate latches, however I think I can expand on it.
[quote] ---


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bryanmmartin



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:46 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

I haven't had any trouble with mine in 200 hours other than having one
side come open in flight a couple of times due to not ensuring that it
was fully latched. One good thing about the supplied latching system is
that in case of an emergency, the canopy can be easily opened from the
outside by rescue personnel. I have seen homebuilts with canopy latching
systems that do not allow it to be opened from the outside. The only way
to get an unconscious pilot out in an emergency would be to break open
the canopy.
robert stone wrote:
Quote:
Wade,
I would not advise any builder to use the latching system from
Zenith.
I have had nothing but trouble from mine since the airplane was new. First
the canopy would not latch so on the advice from some of the net members, I
raised the lower latch part by 1/8th inch using a shim under it. Then the
canopy would latch and now when it is latched and I am trying to open it
turning the knob on the left side of the canopy, it sticks. I plan to
eliminate the entire system and use latches like the ones on the box I have
enclosed a picture of. I would advise anyone building this aircraft to do
the same. This is the system being used on all KR aircraft and I know from
experence, it works fine and if you are scratch building it's a lot cheaper.
Tracy Stone
Harker Heights, Tx
ZodiacXL w/Jabiru 3300

------------------------------------------------------------------------


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Bryan Martin
Zenith 601XL N61BM
Ram Subaru, Stratus redrive
Do Not Archive


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do not archive.
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rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:02 am    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

Steve,

Then do so and put your ideas out on the net. This is how we come to the best way to do anything. If you have a better way, I would sure be interested. I have built both a KR-1 and KR-2 and now own a ZodiacXL with the Jabiru 3300 engine so I am not without experence but this does not mean my ideas cannot be improved on.

Tracy Stone
[quote] ---


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rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:43 am    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

Bryan,
In a situation where a pilot must be extracted by people outside the
destruction of the canopy is of no importance and having just cut two holes
in mine to install air vents I found that it is thinner than 1/8 inch. It
looks to be just thick and therefore strong enough to hold up when flying at
140 MPH but not hard to break in an emergency.

Tracy Stone
---


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rickpitcher



Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:59 am    Post subject: Re: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

rstone4(at)hot.rr.com wrote:
when it is latched and I am trying to open it
turning the knob on the left side of the canopy, it sticks.

Tracy Stone
Harker Heights, Tx
ZodiacXL w/Jabiru 3300


You might try to adjust the latch mechanism so it doesn't stick. When I made my latches I used some '87 Mazda trunk latchs * with the remote release mechanism. I had to adjust the trip-wire on both latches so they would release at the same time. It's not that difficult.

BTW, I understand that you have already considered emergency egress. In case of a problem the rescuers will just smash the canopy open. But if you use the suitcase latches on the inside, how are you planning on latching the canopy from the outside after you park the airplane? Another set of latches?

Rick

* The Mazda trunk latches are almost identical in appearance to the Zenith latches, but with built-in switches that light up a "trunk unlocked" light on the dashboard of the car. I used these to turn off a pair of red lights on the annunciator panel marked "Canopy Unlatched". The lights stay lit until the latch on the corresponding side of the canopy is securly locked. Works great!


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bryanmmartin



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:05 am    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

That's true, but doing so takes longer, takes more effort and may
require some kind of tool. The rescuer then has to reach in past the
broken shards of the canopy to extract the pilot.

The first person on the scene may have nothing but bare hands to work
with. In a dire emergency, time may be in very short supply. It would be
much quicker and easier if all the rescuer had to do is turn a handle,
lift the canopy and then have fewer obstacles to overcome to get the
pilot out.

There have been many cases where the pilot was dragged from a burning
wreck by a bystander before professional, fully equipped rescuers could
get to the, by then, burned out hulk. There have also been cases where
the pilot died because the rescuer could not break through the structure
in time.

I remember one accident during Oshkosh a few years ago where a plane
crashed in a neighborhood near the field and witnesses to the crash had
to break open the canopy to get at the occupants. They managed to get
the passenger out but the pilot died in the fire before they could get
him out. If the canopy were easier to open, the results might have been
different.

robert stone wrote:
Quote:


Bryan,
In a situation where a pilot must be extracted by people outside the
destruction of the canopy is of no importance and having just cut two
holes in mine to install air vents I found that it is thinner than 1/8
inch. It looks to be just thick and therefore strong enough to hold up
when flying at 140 MPH but not hard to break in an emergency.

Tracy Stone


--
Bryan Martin
Zenith 601XL N61BM
Ram Subaru, Stratus redrive
Do Not Archive


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Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.
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clojan(at)sbcglobal.net
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:14 am    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

dont understand how that would work on the outside? j


Steve Shuck <stshuck(at)comcast.net> wrote:
[quote] I like your idea of separate latches, however I think I can expand on it.
[quote] ---


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:43 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

Jack,
These latches are mounted on the inside, not the outside.

Tracy
[quote] ---


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:52 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

It won't, you will have to get yourself out..
[quote] ---


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:47 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

still doesnt make scence?


Steve Shuck <stshuck(at)comcast.net> wrote:
[quote] It won't, you will have to get yourself out..
[quote] ---


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:47 pm    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

still doesnt make scence?


Steve Shuck <stshuck(at)comcast.net> wrote:
[quote] It won't, you will have to get yourself out..
[quote] ---


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:59 am    Post subject: Canopy latching system Reply with quote

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]--> I can't comment on ZAC's latches, since I scratch-built the canopy, and used spring-loaded barrel bolts myself, but how do you open (or close) the canopy from the other side of where the latches are? Seems to me that if you put them inside, you can't secure the canopy when you walk away, and if you put the,m outside, you can't close the canopy for flight. This may be my dumb question for the year, but, how will you set up the latching system?

Paul Rodriguez
601XL/Corvair
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