Sailplane Canopy

El lunes, 20 de agosto de 2018, 17:32:05 (UTC-3), escribió:
I'm wanting to find out the manufacturer contact info of the sailplane canopies specifically a Libelle 201 that are located in Colochester. Gram Drinkell mentioned they can produce a 201 canopy for 400 pounds. I'd like to have contact info for this company.

I'd recently bought a front canopy and 2 sliding windows for a Fournier RF5 in Argentina, the company is called Plásticos Sampaolesi

http://www.sampaolesiplastic.com.ar/aero.php

Fair price (1/4 than Mecaplex), and actually surprisingly good optical quality. I know shipping may be an issue, but i think worth to ask for a quotation. Besides, they have lots of old gliders flying in Argentina, maybe they have the mould, or access to one.

Having owned 2 201 and 2 301 I would really like to know what the difference in the blank canopy is. Surely it cannot be a great deal if anything at all
Fitted a racing canopy to both and I am not sure I could tell you the difference

Here are some pics of that operation and a little more

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3...3VfZkdsdFV0cmc

It was a load of work but well worth it in the end

Google for "aircraft canopy makers". There's several.

On Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 2:42:32 PM UTC-7, Ross wrote:
Having owned 2 201 and 2 301 I would really like to know what the difference in the blank canopy is. Surely it cannot be a great deal if anything at all
Fitted a racing canopy to both and I am not sure I could tell you the difference

Here are some pics of that operation and a little more

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3...3VfZkdsdFV0cmc

It was a load of work but well worth it in the end

Beautiful Libelles Ross!

Fitting something like a libelle canopy that doesn't flow into the curvature of the forward fuselage is much more challenging than typical canopies. Lots of small cuts and trial fits.

Cheers,
Craig

Thank You Mr. Whitley and Mr. Leonard for looking into the canopy sourcing matter for me.

Ross I'm not certain what canopy is on you're Libelle. Is that the low profile canopy option Libelle canopy? Is that a canopy for a different type? I want to install the same as you've got. Looks better than the standard Libelle canopy! Yeah if you could tell me the canopy you used and I could get one for less than $1,000 I may go that way and you could give me tips on installation if there are important tricks or particular nuances of such.

On Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 8:15:33 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Ross I'm not certain what canopy is on you're Libelle. Is that the low profile canopy option Libelle canopy? Is that a canopy for a different type? I want to install the same as you've got. Looks better than the standard Libelle canopy! Yeah if you could tell me the canopy you used and I could get one for less than $1,000 I may go that way and you could give me tips on installation if there are important tricks or particular nuances of such.

Hi Brian,

Yes, the Libelle was offered with two canopy options. I believe they were "Standard" (now referred to as the "racing" canopy) and the "Tall", which is what most have gotten over the years. I agree with you that the "racing" looks a lot "sexier". Fitting in can be an issue for some, but I fit in the FJ-1 (made up of Libelle parts) with its racing canopy, seat back still installed, with a chute on. I am 6'2" tall but have a bit more of my height in my legs, so this gives me a bit more head room, but a tougher fit under the panel for my legs.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect Ross used a Mecaplex canopy, so not an under $1K option.

Steve Leonard