If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Canopy tinting service
Anyone knows of a professional serve of this type in North America,
for an existing canopy with frame? Udo |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Canopy tinting service
Udo.
I make a bunch of transparencies for race cars as well as a few canopies now and then. My experience FWIW, is that it is a bad idea to tint canopies to make them darker. I suggest that the driver or pilot buy the correct darkness of sunglasses for the conditions. On overcast or murky days, you cannot magically "untint" a canopy to see better, but you can either take off the glasses, or get lighter ones. NOW if you are getting roasted and can't cool the cockpit, you do have the option of using dark static cling tint to "provide shade" and keep the temps down. The stuff is pretty inexpensive and available at Home Depot. -- Have a great day Scott "Udo" wrote in message ps.com... Anyone knows of a professional serve of this type in North America, for an existing canopy with frame? Udo |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Canopy tinting service
Hi,
I don't have a strong opinion on this subject, but I can add one experience point. I was once part owner of a very nice Schweizer 1-35c that had a new tinted canopy when I bought into it. It was tinted a medium to dark grew. It looked fantastic from outside the glider and worked well in bright sunshine. However, there were times when under dark overcast layers that I wished it wasn't tinted. It wasn't a big problem at all. I would think that a very light mirrored tint would be nice - as long as it is not too dark. It would keep heat out on hot days and look very cool. Paul Remde "pbc76049" wrote in message ... Udo. I make a bunch of transparencies for race cars as well as a few canopies now and then. My experience FWIW, is that it is a bad idea to tint canopies to make them darker. I suggest that the driver or pilot buy the correct darkness of sunglasses for the conditions. On overcast or murky days, you cannot magically "untint" a canopy to see better, but you can either take off the glasses, or get lighter ones. NOW if you are getting roasted and can't cool the cockpit, you do have the option of using dark static cling tint to "provide shade" and keep the temps down. The stuff is pretty inexpensive and available at Home Depot. -- Have a great day Scott "Udo" wrote in message ps.com... Anyone knows of a professional serve of this type in North America, for an existing canopy with frame? Udo |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Canopy tinting service
The 2 seat Lark that I did cross-country instruction in last year had a
brown/gold tinted canopy. It was fantastic. It was not quite as dark as my brown/rose sunglasses. It significantly enhanced vis in all sky conditions (never flew at night however). It probably lowered cockpit temps but I don't know. The first time I flew it I thought the altimeter was malfunctioning because the ground looked so much closer than what I was accustomed to. Other pilots noticed the same illusion. Perhaps it's a "blue blocker" effect. It's important to understand that the brown, rose, and gold tints produce a very different result than gray. I would never want a gray canopy unless it could be varied as needed. That's a ways off technolgically I imagine, and brown would still be better. Everyone who flew that Lark loved that canopy. I have no idea how to tint an existing canopy but I'd sure like to know! Matt Michael |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Canopy tinting service
I am looking for an after market service that can do the job similar to
the original factory conopies if that is all possible.. Udo wrote: The 2 seat Lark that I did cross-country instruction in last year had a brown/gold tinted canopy. It was fantastic. It was not quite as dark as my brown/rose sunglasses. It significantly enhanced vis in all sky conditions (never flew at night however). It probably lowered cockpit temps but I don't know. The first time I flew it I thought the altimeter was malfunctioning because the ground looked so much closer than what I was accustomed to. Other pilots noticed the same illusion. Perhaps it's a "blue blocker" effect. It's important to understand that the brown, rose, and gold tints produce a very different result than gray. I would never want a gray canopy unless it could be varied as needed. That's a ways off technolgically I imagine, and brown would still be better. Everyone who flew that Lark loved that canopy. I have no idea how to tint an existing canopy but I'd sure like to know! Matt Michael |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Tinting vs sunglasses
Tinted glider canopies are usually blue or blue/green
to reduce IR transmission (to reduce the direct sunlight heat onto the pilot) rather than brown to cut the blue/UV end of the spectrum (like pilot spectacles). At 20:06 16 December 2006, Eric Greenwell wrote: wrote: The 2 seat Lark that I did cross-country instruction in last year had a brown/gold tinted canopy. It was fantastic. It was not quite as dark as my brown/rose sunglasses. It significantly enhanced vis in all sky conditions (never flew at night however). It probably lowered cockpit temps but I don't know. The first time I flew it I thought the altimeter was malfunctioning because the ground looked so much closer than what I was accustomed to. Other pilots noticed the same illusion. Perhaps it's a 'blue blocker' effect. It's important to understand that the brown, rose, and gold tints produce a very different result than gray. I would never want a gray canopy unless it could be varied as needed. That's a ways off technolgically I imagine, and brown would still be better. Everyone who flew that Lark loved that canopy. I have no idea how to tint an existing canopy but I'd sure like to know! Was it better than wearing sunglasses tinted the same way? Or simply more convenient than having that type of sunglasses? -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA * Change 'netto' to 'net' to email me directly * 'Transponders in Sailplanes' http://tinyurl.com/y739x4 * 'A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation' at www.motorglider.org |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Tinting vs sunglasses
Was it better than wearing sunglasses tinted the same way? Or simply more convenient than having that type of sunglasses? Well my sunglasses are prescription so I'd wear them anyway. With or without it improved vis, reduced fatigue, just made the world easier on the eyes. I think the optics of the plastic were really good too and it was not very scratched so detail in the distance and contrast seemed remarkable. My front seaters always enjoyed it regardless of whether they had sunglasses on or not. After you closed the canopy you'd forget it was tinted in about half a minute. Only when you looked out the slider vent windows on the side did you realize the difference. The world looked like it was being projected on 2 really crappy 6 inch black and white tv monitors. It always made people laugh when I'd point that out because it was so true. With that kind of immediate comparison it made you wonder why anyone would ever want a clear canopy. MM |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Tinting vs sunglasses
wrote:
Well my sunglasses are prescription so I'd wear them anyway. With or without it improved vis, reduced fatigue, just made the world easier on the eyes. I think the optics of the plastic were really good too and it was not very scratched so detail in the distance and contrast seemed remarkable. My front seaters always enjoyed it regardless of whether they had sunglasses on or not. After you closed the canopy you'd forget it was tinted in about half a minute. Only when you looked out the slider vent windows on the side did you realize the difference. The world looked like it was being projected on 2 really crappy 6 inch black and white tv monitors. It always made people laugh when I'd point that out because it was so true. With that kind of immediate comparison it made you wonder why anyone would ever want a clear canopy. Perhaps because hardly anyone gets to fly a glider with such a canopy? I do wear brown tinted sunglasses, and I like them, but that doesn't help me understand how having the whole canopy tinted like my sunglasses is better than the sunglasses and a clear canopy. -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA * Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly * "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4 * "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Tinting vs sunglasses
My Saab 900 Turbo had factory gold tinting on all of its windows. I
always felt alert in that car, loved driving it long distances (12-14 hours behind the wheel), and I never felt tired at the end of such a drive. By contrast, my BMW 530 with factory grey tinting on all windows isn't quite in the same league as far as alertness and fatigue at the end of a long drive goes. Both cars were driven with clear glasses as well as neutral gray sunglasses. I can't really insist that the difference is all due to tinting color, but I think it's a factor. -John Eric Greenwell wrote: Perhaps because hardly anyone gets to fly a glider with such a canopy? I do wear brown tinted sunglasses, and I like them, but that doesn't help me understand how having the whole canopy tinted like my sunglasses is better than the sunglasses and a clear canopy. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Persian Tomcats in service | DDAY | Naval Aviation | 36 | May 12th 06 03:31 PM |
Seeking canopy covers for V2C | [email protected] | Soaring | 3 | September 28th 05 03:51 AM |
CANOPY TINTING | Gordon Schubert | Soaring | 4 | February 4th 05 09:35 PM |
Which Military Service is best? | ArtKramr | Military Aviation | 33 | September 19th 04 04:12 PM |
Duo Discus canopy problems | David Starer | Soaring | 4 | June 20th 04 11:09 PM |