RV-4 taxi position lock for canopy
I have read some of the fixes for holding the canopy open for taxi.
I have seen some pilots with their hand between the canopy and cockpit rail while taxiing.
I like things that are easy. But that is a little TOO easy......
Here is a fix that has worked for me for 1200+ hours:
Follow the arc that your canopy locking mechanism rod follows along the panel
and your rear seat back bulkhead (likely both scratched some from the rod scraping your paint). Measure 1 3/8 inches up from the canopy lock hole on both your panel and the rear bulkhead following that arc. How far up you measure is dependent on where your locking hole actually is as all are likely slightly different. Make sure where your locking rod touches there without torqueing the canopy any and mark both places. Drill another hole (I believe mine is 7/16" but go smaller first to make sure the rod aligns with both, front and back) on both the panel and the bulkhead. Now you have holes that match up to your canopy locking holes exactly, just a little higher and will hold the canopy while taxiing, and even with a full throttle runup as the canopy is essentially locked as it would be in flight, just not
down and locked.
PLENTY of air gets through. In all the people I've taken flying, only one (a 12 year old Young Eagle said as we were taxiing out "is this gap supposed to be like this?
)
The FIRST item in my pre-departure check list (that I actually always say out loud, even solo) is:
canopy down and locked; seat belts locked; boost pump on; flaps 20 degrees; gas right/left tank; recognition lights on; nav lights on; timer. I also have a micro switch that the locking rod hits forward of the panel when the canopy IS down and locked that turns
off a yellow
CANOPY WARNING LIGHT when the canopy is, indeed, down and locked.
Simple. KIS. I have a nylon hole grommet on the panel and nothing in the back hole. Neither hole nor the rod shows any wear. Make sure when you drill the panel hole you are below the flange of the panel itself. Mine is just below that. There are no interference issues in the bulkhead. I have used this for so long I know exactly where it is without even looking at it as I raise (or lower) the canopy and lock it there. And you can see the hole when you are seated in the front office.
I could probably provide pictures if you need them.....my phone doesn't like to download photos to the computer.....
Hope this is helpful....works like a dream.........