Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 08:01:07 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1252627@logan.com>
From: Mark Davis <mdavis@adnc.com>
Subject: Legacy Canopy Fit
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Don -

As I've described in a separate post to you, we've experienced the problem
of the gas struts lifting the canopy about 1/8" along its leading edge.
Prior to attaching the struts, we were able to achieve essentially an
absolutely perfect fit with the fuselage (only had to split the skin in 4
places to achieve it!!)  When connected, the struts then provided enough
force to push the leading edge of the canopy up about 1/8" particularly on
the port side.  We tried a number of solutions moving the struts down and
out various distances (used an Al plate as a temporary attachment so that
we didn't have to keep redrilling the firewall).  We moved them down 1/2",
3/4" and 1" from the original locations and then out 1/2" and 1" at each of
these heights as well. None of these locations worked perfectly but the
best seemed to be simply down about 1/2" on the firewall.  This resulted in
a fairly good fit except for about a 1/16" + rise on the forward port
quarter.  We then removed the canopy, strapped the very front section with
a carpenter strap and heated the leading edge to try and bow the leading
edge slightly to bring the it down a bit more - fairly successful but not
perfect.  Since we were within about 1/16" for only about 9-10" on one
section of the leading edge we decided to body work out this remaining
rise.  It seems very obvious that he geometry of to 106# gas struts is the
source of the problem.  Will be very interested in seeing what Lancair
comes up with to solve the problem.

Mark Davis
Legacy #162