Escaping glider on the ground with stuck canopy?

The manual for a glider I recently flew for the first time states that if the canopy releases fail the pilot should kick out the Plexiglas.

Seeing how often the canopies of club gliders get broken, I suspect breaking out will be easier than you expect.

Mike

Of all the single seaters I've flown, I doubt I could get my feet out
from under the panel to do any kicking.Â* I like the suggestion to keep a
baseball cap with a button on top in the glider.Â* If the canopy gets
stuck, simply change hats and, viola!

On 5/19/2019 4:21 AM, Mike the Strike wrote:
The manual for a glider I recently flew for the first time states that if the canopy releases fail the pilot should kick out the Plexiglas.

Seeing how often the canopies of club gliders get broken, I suspect breaking out will be easier than you expect.

Mike

--
Dan, 5J

On Sun, 19 May 2019 08:22:17 -0600, Dan Marotta wrote:

Of all the single seaters I've flown, I doubt I could get my feet out
from under the panel to do any kicking.Â* I like the suggestion to keep a
baseball cap with a button on top in the glider.Â* If the canopy gets
stuck, simply change hats and, viola!

I've never worn a flying hat with button on top, but I hear it can be
painful, so maybe fitting a thickish leather or rubber disk under the
button would be a wise precaution.


Being a Libelle driver, I don't expect my canopy would ever fail to
release but suspect I would not enjoy flipping over.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

My take away from this tread is to check and see if your emergency release works.
Next time I've got a couple of savvy strong guys I'm going to stage them to catch my canopy and pull the release and see if it works with me in the plane, then clean and lube the emergency release system. I've had my canopy off several time over the years but never with it closed with the rear pins engaged.

Closest I know of....a certain VA fall site......close to airport.....crashed ASW in trees, many saw lost sailplane.....fuselage was upside down, nose between rocks....skinney pilot, broken canopy, side fuselage structure kept cockpit from crushing....pilot wiggled out and was found by local PooPoo walking off mountain......
Decades ago, a husband/wife team (from our club) gave me and Hank (the real "UH") a short/stout Spyderco pocket knife "just in case".....never needed it, always with me, one hand operation if need be......glad I have it, never hope to need it.....if I think I am going to die, dang straight I will try to waste a canopy....cost is an afterthought.......

On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 8:55:56 AM UTC-7, Nick Kennedy wrote:
My take away from this tread is to check and see if your emergency release works.
Next time I've got a couple of savvy strong guys I'm going to stage them to catch my canopy and pull the release and see if it works with me in the plane, then clean and lube the emergency release system. I've had my canopy off several time over the years but never with it closed with the rear pins engaged.

Isn't it supported to come off at each annual?

On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 10:53:27 AM UTC-4, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sun, 19 May 2019 08:22:17 -0600, Dan Marotta wrote:

Of all the single seaters I've flown, I doubt I could get my feet out
from under the panel to do any kicking.Â* I like the suggestion to keep a
baseball cap with a button on top in the glider.Â* If the canopy gets
stuck, simply change hats and, viola!

I've never worn a flying hat with button on top, but I hear it can be
painful, so maybe fitting a thickish leather or rubber disk under the
button would be a wise precaution.




Being a Libelle driver, I don't expect my canopy would ever fail to
release but suspect I would not enjoy flipping over.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

Do any of you pilots remember the German army helmets from WW I ?

Do you think that maybe this is what we need ?

On Monday, May 20, 2019 at 11:01:41 PM UTC-4, rj wrote:
On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 10:53:27 AM UTC-4, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sun, 19 May 2019 08:22:17 -0600, Dan Marotta wrote:

Of all the single seaters I've flown, I doubt I could get my feet out
from under the panel to do any kicking.Â* I like the suggestion to keep a
baseball cap with a button on top in the glider.Â* If the canopy gets
stuck, simply change hats and, viola!

I've never worn a flying hat with button on top, but I hear it can be
painful, so maybe fitting a thickish leather or rubber disk under the
button would be a wise precaution.




Being a Libelle driver, I don't expect my canopy would ever fail to
release but suspect I would not enjoy flipping over.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

Do any of you pilots remember the German army helmets from WW I ?
The ones with the small spike on the top.
Do you think that maybe this is what we need ?