Finish Kit Update November 2011 Updates
November 25, 2011
More on the Canopy Frame...... - 6.0 hrs

Moving slowly and methodically I started today with removing the old pin blocks. With them removed I could close the frame all the way to the roll bar and see the fit. Sides look great but the front is too high. It looks like if I remove a bit off of each front leg to bring it down to the proper height that the top of the sides should be level with the longeron decks.

With those moved I needed to drill holes in the new pin block frames. This had to be preceise because I don't want to enlarge the longeron holes. I put masking tape on the new pieces and while holding them in place I inserted a 3/16 bit from the bottom to make a center mark on the tape. Then I drilled on the press with a #40 bit for a pilot hole. Then enlarged to 3/16. This worked perfect. Moved on to the next side and finished that one as well.

Retested closing all the way to the roll bar and now its very evident that the left side is too high. The locking pins show to be entering the pin from too high on the left. Still looks like with the front legs trimmed it should work out.

Next I marked the track slider block and drilled to #40 and then used this to drill thru to the back of the canopy frame. Then unibited the frame to 3/16. On the press I used a regular 3/16 bit to enlarge the track block for the bolt. Installed and tested. Sweet. Last I used the die grinder with a course pad to round off the bottom of the track block per plans to minimize the contact of the fuselage.

Then one of our local T-34 pilots took off and I heard on the radio that he was making a 360 for the option.... this is code for I am coming back around for a highspeed low pass. In this case he even used smoke. I quickly grabbed the camera and got a pic as he came over the gas pumps and then as he pitched up and turned and then he was outa there.

Last I removed the screws on the track to check how much I needed to move it back to raise up the back of the canopy frame. Turns out the screw holes I originally drilled put the rear of the track at the dimensions per the plan so I am going to try that. It did move the top forward and raise the back what I needed but will have to see after I trim the front tomorrow.

This website was built to document my work in compliance with the FAA requirements needed to certify my aircraft.
My experiences and comments are by no means to be considered as instructions on how to build any aircraft.