View Single Post
  #13  
Old August 27th 18, 04:00 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
kirk.stant
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,260
Default Canopy opening in flight

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 4:35:35 AM UTC-7, Tom wrote:
Anyone know of an occurrence of a forward hinged canopy that opening in flight? Any possibility of this happening if the forward hinged canopy was unlocked on a flight?

Thanks Tom


No issues in the LS6, at least during tow. Mine has a tendency to mis-locate the locking pins if I rush a takeoff (yeah, blame the glider.. ;^), and it's no big deal to slow down after release and lock the canopy correctly. As a precaution I only unlock and relock one release at a time, but I doubt even that precaution is necessary.

Grob-103 canopy latches are evil. Had a rear one start to open on me during the takeoff during a ride (I was flying from the back with the pax in front) and managed to grab it before it opened more than an inch or two, but single handed on tow could not latch it or force it closed. Had the pax release at a safe altitude and flew a no-spoiler approach, then closed it on rollout to use the brakes to stop. In retrospect I could have tried slipping at low speed to close it inflight, but I don't plan on having to do it again (but of course, you just can't trust gliders...)

Kirk