Hello Mark,

There are a couple of Legacies that have rear hinges, and latch in the
front.  They're used in racing for the very reason you're thinking about
removable hinge pins.  Your idea may be perfectly valid if tested.  What you
or anyone at this point doesn't know is what the departure path would be of
the canopy.  A canopy that is hinged in the back will clear the cabin.  One
that is hinged in the front and latched in the back is a different story.
It is reasonable to consider that the canopy will rotate (flip)  or slide
upon leaving.  You don't know whether the front or back of the canopy will
crack you in the head and make the entire point of bailing out moot.
Military vehicles that shoot off the canopy, drop tanks, etc. analyze the
departing component and then test them.  I had a gear position mirror on my
left engine nacelle of my C320.  It was almost under the wing (WL).  It let
go in flight at 220K. It struck the fuselage at the pilot position.  That
meant it moved up and inward about 2 feet in the process of moving back
about 4 feet.  Non aerodynamic shapes move through the air in strange paths.

Removable pins might however be very useful on the ground if the canopy
latch is jammed.

Jabe Luttrell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Sletten" <marknlisa@hometel.com>
To: "Lancair Mailing List" <lml@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 9:09 AM
Subject: [LML] Exiting Legacy Inflight


> How about using pins safety-wired in place for the forward canopy
> hinges?  Then you could develop allow a mechanism to pull the hinge pins
> inflight; open the canopy lock then pull the hinge pin release cable and
> the canopy is gone.  Silly idea?
>
> Mark & Lisa Sletten
> Legacy FG N828LM
> http://web.hometel.com/~legacyfgkit
>
>
>
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