Canopy Care

On Mar 23, 9:08*pm, Eric Greenwell wrote:
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, Flarmhttp://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

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


I use a hose or carry a bucket of water and sponge to the glider and
eitehr hose down the canoy or squeeze a sponge above the canopy to wet
it. If needed I will gently wipe in a straight line with a clean bare
hand while appying the water. I'll then dry with a clean microfibre
towel again only using straight lines.

A wet sponge or dirty cotton material rubbed on a dusty canopy is just
wet sanding, but I see it done by others all the time.

If the inside is dusty I'll use a damp microfibre towel with straight
line wipes, turning the towel at each wipe to remove dust. Then small
spray with Plexus inside and out and wipe with clean microfiber
towels. The silicone in the Plexus really helps cut down static build-
up and dust attraction. Once dry and clean I put on a Franklin canopy
cap to keep the cockpit cool. That canopy cap is kept spotless clean
and only put on a canopy after the canopy has been cleaned and only
used briefly before flight (e.g. not overnight collecting dust in its
porous fabric) . Costco sells packs of microfiber towels and a usual
canopy cleaning I go through about four of them. They survive washing
well, but if I drop one in the dirt etc. I'll just toss it.

For the occasional fine scratch I'll use LP Aero acrylic polish (e.g.
I somehow scratched the inside of the canopy near the vent). Generally
avoid wiping the canopy unnecessarily.


Darryl

Due to a previous life where I had a plane captain give me a spotless canopy before every flight, I am particular about a clean canopy.
Our club Blanik is now 11 years old and the canopy is in immaculate condition. Any smudge is magnified when in the back seat and especially when landing to the west late on a summer day. It is always outside, the canopy is covered with a Bruce's canopy cover and it is cleaned at the start of each day of flying. We are on our second cover with the first cover lasting 7 years. I use a clean cotton T shirt and Pledge. I always clean in the direction of airflow. On my own PIK-20 using Sontara wipes and Plexus, I see no difference between the canopy conditions. There has been no yellowing of the Blanik canopy which some voice as an opinion for not using pledge.
In no case transport a glider with the canopy cover installed, I have personally seen the damage incurred.

- Barry Muhlenberg, CFI-G Cloudniners, O03