jj_jetmech
Well Known Member
Canopies supplied by Van are supplied to them by Airplane Plastics they provide clear, lite smoke, or medium smoke, you can also get the lite smoke with an additional UV coating. This statement may or may not apply to all models.
If you do not specify when ordering you will get lite smoke which is the VLT% meeting FAA max tint limit according to Vans, ok so what! It looks really lite to me! Almost clear! I have asked a number of RV owners what tint their canopy is, most believe they have clear or don't know, or say it's what Van sells... I think most have lite smoke and don't know or know that there was any other option.. There seems to be some confusion in this area..
Called Todd's Canopies to see what he had to offer. He informed me that he does not make a 6,7 or 9 canopy and never has. I have had some 7 and 9 owners tell me they have a Todd's canopy in medium smoke and is great, further confusion, Todd told me personally that is impossible.. Super Nice guy by the way!
I'm building a 7 so okay next call is to Becky at Airplane Plastics, super nice as well, very helpful explains in detail the three options that they supply to Van...tells me that in her opinion the medium smoke is not to dark for night flying that it is the most popular for other aircraft makes in the experimental category and has never had one complaint that it is too dark at night.. She sends me samples...
Received the samples yesterday, I've done a number of comparisons with them and in my opinion the Medium is the way to go, it' really not that much darker, but I only have a 2"x2" sample to work with...
There was a Cirrus on my ramp today and the tint is definitely darker than the lite sample and probably almost identical to the medium sample I was provided.
Ok certified airplane with darker tint than the sample that Vans told me is the legal limit.
Maybe I'll stop by my Optometrist tomorrow to see if they can help me put a value on these samples..
Anyway..Knowing that the canopy is a lot of work I'm hoping that someone can comment on their experience with the Vans / Airplane Plastics Medium tint Canopy...If it's not a problem at night it would be a huge improvement during the day...
Thanks
If you do not specify when ordering you will get lite smoke which is the VLT% meeting FAA max tint limit according to Vans, ok so what! It looks really lite to me! Almost clear! I have asked a number of RV owners what tint their canopy is, most believe they have clear or don't know, or say it's what Van sells... I think most have lite smoke and don't know or know that there was any other option.. There seems to be some confusion in this area..
Called Todd's Canopies to see what he had to offer. He informed me that he does not make a 6,7 or 9 canopy and never has. I have had some 7 and 9 owners tell me they have a Todd's canopy in medium smoke and is great, further confusion, Todd told me personally that is impossible.. Super Nice guy by the way!
I'm building a 7 so okay next call is to Becky at Airplane Plastics, super nice as well, very helpful explains in detail the three options that they supply to Van...tells me that in her opinion the medium smoke is not to dark for night flying that it is the most popular for other aircraft makes in the experimental category and has never had one complaint that it is too dark at night.. She sends me samples...
Received the samples yesterday, I've done a number of comparisons with them and in my opinion the Medium is the way to go, it' really not that much darker, but I only have a 2"x2" sample to work with...
There was a Cirrus on my ramp today and the tint is definitely darker than the lite sample and probably almost identical to the medium sample I was provided.
Ok certified airplane with darker tint than the sample that Vans told me is the legal limit.
Maybe I'll stop by my Optometrist tomorrow to see if they can help me put a value on these samples..
Anyway..Knowing that the canopy is a lot of work I'm hoping that someone can comment on their experience with the Vans / Airplane Plastics Medium tint Canopy...If it's not a problem at night it would be a huge improvement during the day...
Thanks