kirk.stant wrote:
Water to get all dust, rock, animals off the plexi.

Plexus (or equivalent) before every flight, inside and out. Prevents
static that attracts dust. Makes canopy slick and easy to clean next
time.

Use a good cotton T-shirt or equivalent, wash often.


My theory is dust doesn't cause scratches; it's rubbing dust that causes
scratches.

The glider is usually kept in the trailer, so it's protected from dust
except while flying, plus 2 hours for rigging/derigging. I don't clean
the outside of the canopy unless the dust becomes visible enough to see
in flight. That's 5 to 10 flights, typically. I don't clean the inside
of the canopy more than twice a year - it just doesn't get dusty.

To clean it, I remove the dust by dragging a soft, wet, folded rag along
the each side (left and right), front to back, just once. A fresh side
of the cloth is used for each drag. I then spray on Novus 1 or 210
plexiglas cleaner, and gently polish the canopy just enough to clear up
the spray.
I never leave a canopy cover on for long (if tied down out west, put
the cover inside the cockpit, covering the instruments). Unless it's
blowing rocks, a cover does more damage than good, IMO.

I don't like to put a cover on, either, and I don't when it's in the
trailer. If I leave it tied down, I'll usually put the cover on it after
ensuring the canopy is dust free. At soaring camps, that might mean
cleaning it more often than when I put away in the trailer, as I do at
home. My cover is thick, very form fitting, has good elastic straps, and
does not move or flap in even strong winds.
After I clean the canopy (right after rigging), I put on a CLEAN
elastic cover to keep the cockpit cool until just before hookup (I
take it off from inside the cockpit while strapped in).

Instead of putting cover of on it, I put a shade inside to cover the
cockpit area. I prop open the rear of the canopy with a "firm" foam
block (about 2" open) so air can circulate. It stays cool enough,
particularly if there is a breeze, but not quite as cool as a full cover
and some air circulation.

15 years later, the canopy has very few dust scratches. There are some
handling scratches, especially around the sliding vent.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (netto to net to email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz