rich wrote:

I wonder if a canopy could have a tinted reflective film applied like a
window. It might be more scratch resistant, keep things cooler, and
hopefully be replaceable.

That sounds rather dangerous to me, as it makes it impossible to see inside
the canopy from the outside. When I am thermalling and get another glider
close by, I *allways* try to make visual contact with the pilot of the
other glider, so I am *sure* he has seen me. I see the other pilot looking
in my direction and preferably giving me a short wave, I know he is aware
of my location.

Something silimar is the reason why dark tinted or reflective windows are
illegal in cars around here (the Netherlands): pedestrians and cyclists
have no way of knowing if the driver has seen them.

André