Dave,
As a Southern
Jurassic RV4 and current RV6X
Slider owner, canopy type boils down to one thing,
comfort.
Having flown a
very well air conditioned Jet with a forward tilt-Up (F-16C) for 25 years, I appreciate how hot it gets in an RV on the ground or in the air in the summertime. Visibility is another thing, no canopy bow=better visibility, no argument there. The F-16 and tilt-up RV share that distinction and it is nice.
However comma, for me comfort wins. Taxiing the 6X on the ground with my arm on the rail is well, nice. My RV4 canopy was high enough to allow the same.
As far as jettison goes, my Four had a pin that held the canopy open well above the rail and I cut slots in my rail on the RV6X Slider so it can be removed/jettisoned if need be. The RV4 plans say it will "tear away" if slightly opened inflight as several owners inadvertently discovered. In the F-16 any landing gear EP included optional Canopy Jettison. That said,
I have slowed my 6X down enough to slide the canopy aft inflight. High AOA is the key, the higher the Alpha, the easier it is to slide open and potentially jettison.
I 've witnessed two RV
nose dragger flip-overs right in front of me, both from botched/buffooned landings turned PIO, nose-first touchdown, broken off nose gear. No anti splat device would have helped and both individuals would have been trapped a long time without help. Both, very avoidable.
The other scenario is a engine failure/forced landing off-airport in questionable terrain. My personal technique is I carry a Smith&Wesson 9/11 tool (glass breaker/cutter) and plan on canopy jettison if time/altitude permit.
V/R
Smokey