Redundant canopy latching

Noticed a few cosmetic cracks in the fiberglass surface near the
canopy's hinge area.

Will monitor this area and repair when needed as,

If indeed there are cracks in the fiberglass matrix then these need to be
repaired now. If the cracks are in the paint/gelcoat then inspection by a
competent mechanic should be conducted to see if these extend into the matrix.


When you shut your car door, it is latched shut automatically. To
open, you have to pull the door handle. How hard would it be to
design a canopy that would latch shut automatically each time you
close the canopy?

It would not be difficult, but it would be a lot more complex, heavier and more
costly.
Pilots might treat their canopies like car doors and just let them slam shut
probably breaking them in the process.

Almost any safety device you can think of can be added to a glider. It just
takes market demand, money, and willingness to deal with the added complexity,
failure modes, and added weight.

Problems with the Grob canopies is a bit more complex. I fly a G 103 and have
looked at a lot of G 103 latching mechanisms. Not all Grob latches are created
equal. Some have a detent, some do not. I have not figured out why yet.

Robert Mudd