Berni,

I got this kit when I ordered my 360 kit and am in the process of installing it now.  It’s easier to install before you’ve fixed the seat back and side windows in place, since it sits beneath that horizontal brace above the seatback, and there’s considerable work on the back side of the fuselage rollover.  It also depends on a fairly precise gap between the fuselage rollover and the canopy rollover (actually between the back side of 8 BID added to the aft side of the fuselage rollover and the canopy rollover) so the latch hooks can properly engage a striker plate mounted on the canopy.  If the distance is too large (like mine and at least one other builder’s is), you’ll have to figure out an alternate mounting of the striker plate, or get some custom latch hooks made.

Oh yeah, if you’ve got an award-winning paint job, you’ve got a major decision to make, because that external handle will require a fairing of some sort.

It’s a bunch of work to install, but will definitely prevent you from having to reach across your passenger to latch the canopy.

Gary Fitzgerald

LNC2 ~70%

St. Charles, MO

Looking for a good deal on

a rebuildable or used (I)O-360

I found this canopy latch kit on the Kit Components site:

http://shop.lancair.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=1100&CatId={5B61371A-49F3-449B-9D47-1B92887227A7}