Identifying a Canopy Blank's Glider Model

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

We have an unused canopy blank (no frame) wrapped in paper in our club's hangar's attic. It is in very nice shape and has been stored there for years.. No one seems to know anything about it or where it came from. We would like to identify and potentially sell it.

The canopy is 78" long and 24" wide at the rear. Rather long and tapers to a narrow rounded nose like a DG's or Diamont's canopy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFA_Diamant).

A possible clue to the aircraft associated with this canopy is concerning the side window opening. First, there is only one opening which implies that it is for a single place ship. Second, the canopy has pre-drilled screw holes only located around the perimeter of the opening. This seems to preclude a Mecaplex window as there are no additional holes located aft of the opening for the rails.

Pictures of the canopy are available here; https://link.shutterfly.com/qI0hDPifPbb

Any idea?

- John (OHM)

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

The window opening is 6-1/2" x 4-1/2".

[John Sinclair[_5_]]

On Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 8:23:06 PM UTC-8, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> The window opening is 6-1/2" x 4-1/2".


Hi John,
It’s all in the curve......side view? Best way to check is to lay it over another ship. Yours is a good 10� longer than say the Standard Cirrus which is 68� long. I’d lay it over a DG and see how that looks. For reference the Standard Cirrus measurements are:
Rear H -16�. Mid point H- 16�. Nose H- 8�
W- 24�. W-23�. W-20�
Overall length 68�

Hope this helps,
JJ

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

JJ - Thanks for the comments.

Within the club there is the opinion that this is the rear section of the two piece canopy system for an RV airplane.

Anyone have any comments on that front?

Thanks, John

[Waveguru]

Have you contacted Van's?

Boggs

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

On Monday, November 30, 2020 at 6:42:24 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
> Have you contacted Van's?
>
> Boggs

Contacting Vans or the Vans Airforce group is the next step.

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

Is the window cutout parallel to the bottom edge of the glass, or as an obviously offset angle? A couple of pictures of the front end would also be helpful.

As JJ suggested, a "camera on the floor, straight side view" would be helpful.

Possibly interested in purchasing said canopy.

Steve Leonard

[John Sinclair[_5_]]

On Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 6:35:37 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> Is the window cutout parallel to the bottom edge of the glass, or as an obviously offset angle? A couple of pictures of the front end would also be helpful.
>
> As JJ suggested, a "camera on the floor, straight side view" would be helpful.
>
> Possibly interested in purchasing said canopy.
>
> Steve Leonard


Believe all of Vans stuff is side by side seating. It does kinda look like it may fit some of Burt Rutan’s designs, Early
VariEase, maybe? It could work on many sailplanes if the curve is correct. Most sailplane cockpits are about 24� wide, sides can be pulled in (or out) a bit, if necessary, but the side view curve must match.
JJ

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

JJ,

The RV-3 is exclusively a single seater with a rear canopy (two piece version) that could be what I have. There are also several other RV models that have a "centerline" seating arrangement and two piece canopies. See https://www.vansaircraft.com/which-rv-is-right-for-me/.

In the next few days I will have more/better pictures and more/better measurements. I will then ask for help with this identification conundrum from RV groups.

Maybe I will get really, really, lucky I'll find out its a P-51 canopy. Cha-ching!

Thanks, John (OHM)

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

John,

I am betting on Diamant. I have an RV-3 canopy in my garage, and it looks nothing like that. RV-3 canopy is blown bubble, with sort of a teardrop shape when viewed from above. Side view of the RV canopy, rises rapidly at one end, long, slow taper off to the pointier end. This looks to go up from the rounded end, then go closer to flat.

If the window cutout is level with the bottom, it is a Diamant canopy. If it is at a noticeable angle, it is likely an ASW-12 canopy.

P-51 canopy would be MUCH thicker, and would have flats with near 90 degree corners at the "open" end.

Steve Leonard

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

I took some additional pictures. See https://link.shutterfly.com/qI0hDPifPbb.

Some additional clues;

- I was wrong. The window does in fact have additional holes for the rails of a sliding Mecaplex-type window.
- The bottom of the canopy is not flat tip to tail.Â* Towards the "aft" (I think) end of the canopy the bottom edge tilts upward.Â* However the bottom edge of this portion is flat and does not have the curve of a leading edge. See two of the new pictures for reference.

Well, its not for a Diamant based on some Google image searching. This sailplane's canopy bottom is perfectly flat and has distinct large radius rounded transition to the vertical aft end. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFA_Diamant#/media/File:Glilder_diamant_16.5.jpg.

It seems to definitely not be of the DG lineage due to the angle of the aft end. DG's are almost vertical.

It is possible that it is for an ASW-12 (single piece canopy type) as it has the correct general shape. This model has a "DG" look to it with a pedestal type instrument pod. See https://www.alexander-schleicher.de/en/asw-12-wieder-zum-leben-erweckt/.

Any more glider models that use a looooong tip-to-toe canopy?Â* I would sure hate to throw this nice "NOS" canopy out.

Thanks, John OHM

[Mark Grubb]

Give it to Mr. Leonard!

If he does not own a glider that it fits, it will give him an excuse to purchase a new model. As if he needed an excuse. :). And he owns AS-W12's.

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

Steve Leonard identified this canopy as for an ASW12. It turns out that the two piece canopy of an ASW12 begins life as one long canopy.

Thanks to all that helped with this mystery.

[Mark Fisher]

Hey JJ. Can you please contact me off list?
I don’t have your latest email address. Mine hasn’t changed..
.......Mark Fisher


On Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 3:19:41 AM UTC+10, John Sinclair wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 6:35:37 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > Is the window cutout parallel to the bottom edge of the glass, or as an obviously offset angle? A couple of pictures of the front end would also be helpful.
> >
> > As JJ suggested, a "camera on the floor, straight side view" would be helpful.
> >
> > Possibly interested in purchasing said canopy.
> >
> > Steve Leonard
> Believe all of Vans stuff is side by side seating. It does kinda look like it may fit some of Burt Rutan’s designs, Early
> VariEase, maybe? It could work on many sailplanes if the curve is correct.. Most sailplane cockpits are about 24� wide, sides can be pulled in (or out) a bit, if necessary, but the side view curve must match.
> JJ