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davecove
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 Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: Greenhouse cockpit |
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For years, my wife and I owned and flew a Grumman AA5 that had a slide-back canopy with a solid top and side windows. The solid center 'stripe' provided lots of welcome shade.
Now I am seriously looking at starting a 650 but my wife looked at that giant bubble canopy and said 'greenhouse'. She is right of course, here in Houston that giant bubble will allow us to pop popcorn for in-route snacking.
I am sure some of you south of Mason-Dixon have struggled with this and found good solutions. Would you mind sharing? How does one mitigate all that surface area?
Also, is it possible to taxi with the canopy partly raised so that the big fan keeps things cool in the cockpit while on the ground? (in the AA5 you could actually fly with the canopy opened about 8" (as per POH), very refreshing)
Dave
Houston, TX
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steve.freeman(at)syntaxds
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| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:34 pm Post subject: Greenhouse cockpit |
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I fly with my buddy Don in a 601HDS out of DVT in Phoenix AZ in the summer
and while it is hot on the ground once at altitude it is fine. YOU can taxi
with the canopy propped open. I saw a guy at an fly in who developed a neat
little solution for keeping his canopy open. Normally me or Don will just
hold the canopy open with our arm on the arm rest and canopy resting in our
hand. Not a big deal but I am sure there is a better way.
Steve
650B fuselage still in the canoe stage but making good progress.
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bryanmmartin
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:44 pm Post subject: Greenhouse cockpit |
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I installed a Koger Sunshade in my 601. Available from ACS, Cleveland Tool and direct from Koger. It does a good job keeping the cabin cooler. I also installed a pair of Vista Vents in the lower front corners of the canopy. They do a good job of ventilating the cabin in flight.
With the old style canopy latch, it is fairly easy to prop open the canopy during taxi. I bought a striker pin from an auto parts store and bolted it to a piece of metal bar stock with a hole drilled in the opposite end. I insert the pin on the bar in the latch on the canopy and slip the hole over the pin on the rail. I suppose something like this could be made to fit the 650's latch mechanism.
On Apr 29, 2011, at 11:37 PM, davecove wrote:
| Quote: |
I am sure some of you south of Mason-Dixon have struggled with this and found good solutions. Would you mind sharing? How does one mitigate all that surface area?
Also, is it possible to taxi with the canopy partly raised so that the big fan keeps things cool in the cockpit while on the ground? (in the AA5 you could actually fly with the canopy opened about 8" (as per POH), very refreshing)
Dave
Houston, TX
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Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL,
RAM Subaru, Stratus re-drive.
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_________________
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Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive. |
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klaus(at)utdallas.edu
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject: Greenhouse cockpit |
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p { margin: 0; }p { margin: 0; }Hi Dave,
When we first started on the 601HDS, we had much concern about
heat in the cockpit due to the bubble canopy. As countermeasure, we
selected the tinted canopy. Now, 15 years and 1300 hrs later, that concern
has turned out to be unnecessary. We are based in Dallas, and often fly
west to New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. As soon as we are in the air,
there is so much air blown into the cockpit that it is comfortable.
We had one exception. Flying midday into Laughlin/Bullhead City at the
southern tip of Nevada, we had to close the vents during the descent
since the incoming air became too hot, 115 Deg F!
Happy Flying,
Klaus
[url=http://www.utdallas.edu/%7Eklaus][/url]
[quote][b]
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don.honabach(at)pcperfect
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| Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:02 pm Post subject: Greenhouse cockpit |
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Bryan -
Thanks - Darn You - You just cost me $230 
When I flew out in my 601HDS to Oshkosh from Arizona, the sun was a killer -- I've been looking for inside canopy shades but didn't realize that Koger had a non-RV model available. Way too expensive (at least that was my initial reaction), but if it fits reasonably well and helps to manage the sun on those hot, no cloud days then great!
Don
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