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Canopy Question

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DaveG601XL

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Cincinnati, Oh

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:17 am Post subject: Canopy Question

I am now working on the canopy and I mirror the comments before me that this is one of the more frustrating parts to work on.  But I am chugging on and making progress.  



For the outside flashing piece it is attached to the frame, but extends past the frame to the aft edge of the canopy bubble.  On the prints and pictures I have seen, there appears to be no fasteners attaching the flashing to the canopy as it extends to the aft edge.  I can't imagine just the rubber seal strip being the only thing to hold it down.  How have you guys kept this piece from flapping in the breeze?



Thanks,

_________________
David Gallagher
Cincinnati, OH area

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

While I haven't trimmed my flashing down yet to match the rear of the canopy it does seem that glue and the rubber seal will be the way to go. The main reason is clearance between the canopy and the fuselage skin.



BTW. I have had to trim the rear of the canopy at least an inch and a little more near the bottom of the rear edge. I seem to have made the rear arch a little short and the canopy was spreading when I tried to close it.



FYI a Drammel tool with 60 grit seems to work real well at this. but it does look like it snowed under my plane.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

DaveG601XL

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Cincinnati, Oh

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

Another thing I am struggling with is the overall height of the canopy.  I got mine from Todd's Canopies and it definitely comes oversize.  After sitting it on the airframe, I liked the headroom it gave without any trimming of the forward and aft ends.  At this height, it looks to higher than anything I have seen pictures of.  The biggest construction downside of this is that there is very little canopy for the outside flashing to attach to at the aft end.  Has anybody else who kept their canopy on the high side have any problems with it?



Thanks,

_________________
David Gallagher
Cincinnati, OH area

Jaybannist(at)cs.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:38 am Post subject: Canopy Question

Dave,



On this point, looks are secondary. Best to find out what your "real" headroom requirements are before doing any cutting down.  Pad your seats (if you don't already have the final seating in place), put on your cap and headset. Then sit with the canopy bubble in place. You will notice that the critical clearance is at and just above your left ear. Mine is a little short here and requires me to lean a little toward the right.  The ZAC bubble is spherical and I assume that Todd's is the same.  An elliptical side to side would be much better, but, I guess, harder to form. Bottom line, we have to deal with the lack of headroom where we really need it.  IMHO on the XL, there is no such thing as too much headroom.



Jay in Dallas     



"DaveG601XL" <david.m.gallagher(at)ge.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Another thing I am struggling with is the overall height of the canopy.  I got mine from Todd's Canopies and it definitely comes oversize.  After sitting it on the airframe, I liked the headroom it gave without any trimming of the forward and aft ends.  At this height, it looks to higher than anything I have seen pictures of.  The biggest construction downside of this is that there is very little canopy for the outside flashing to attach to at the aft end.  Has anybody else who kept their canopy on the high side have any problems with it?



Thanks,



--------

David Gallagher

601 XL, working on final assembly.





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=178143#178143

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

Another quick issue on working with the canopy. I don't remember where you live Dave but if it is still cold there wait to do anything. The minimum temp is 70F but the warmer the better. If I had it to do over again I'd wait until the middle of the summer to work on mine and I live in South Arkansas where it is HOT.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

DaveG601XL

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Cincinnati, Oh

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:02 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

Gig,



I am in Cincinnati, Oh.  I waited until now to even order my bubble for the very reason of temperature.  It seems like summer will never come since it has remained cool here a lot longer than normal.  



I have sat under the bubble, but need to do it a few more times to make my final decision.  I do not remember having any issues in the AMD 601XL I flew a few weeks ago.  Although at 6' 0", I do not consider myself tall, I have some tall friends and a brother who is 6'6" and it would be nice to accommodate them also.



Thanks,

_________________
David Gallagher
Cincinnati, OH area

bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:43 am Post subject: Canopy Question

I just used 3M weather strip adhesive between the flashing and the 

canopy and used the same stuff to glue on the seal strip. I haven't had 

any trouble with it.



For the front flashing, I used some 3 automotive trim tape between the 

flashing and the canopy along the top edge to fill the gap that wanted 

to appear there.



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I am now working on the canopy and I mirror the comments before me that this is one of the more frustrating parts to work on.  But I am chugging on and making progress.  

 

 For the outside flashing piece it is attached to the frame, but extends past the frame to the aft edge of the canopy bubble.  On the prints and pictures I have seen, there appears to be no fasteners attaching the flashing to the canopy as it extends to the aft edge.  I can't imagine just the rubber seal strip being the only thing to hold it down.  How have you guys kept this piece from flapping in the breeze?

 

 Thanks,

 


	


-- 

Bryan Martin

Zenith 601XL N61BM

Ram Subaru, Stratus redrive

Do Not Archive

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

dgardea(at)gmail.com

Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 50
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:14 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

Reading these posts reminded me that when I ordered my fuselage kit a couple months back I purposely excluded the Zenith canopy from the order since I intended to order one from Todd's Canopies. Since I pick up my fuselage kit at Zenith next month, I thought I'd call Todd's Canopies yesterday to see what the lead time was for ordering a 601XL canopy. Todd answered the phone promptly, was very polite and helpful, and mentioned he will soon be supplying his canopies directly to Zenith and that the 601XL model is no longer available directly from him. He also apparently built a couple new designs for Zenith that they are evaluating for incorporation into the kit. He described the prototype as slightly longer overall and potentially two piece, i.e., the larger portion may hinge forward with a portion remaining aft incorporating a roll bar. When I make my trip to Mexico, MI in a couple weeks, I hope to get some information from Zenith about the timeframe for availability.



Regards



Dave Gardea

601XL - wings and tail done / working on Corvair conversion

http://home.comcast.net/~davegardea/



do not archive

_________________
Dave Gardea
CH650 - Corvair - flying!
http://n631dg.t15.org/home.html

jboglilaw(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:23 am Post subject: Canopy Question

Jason Bogli

The Law Office of Jason Bogli LLC

198R Salmon Brook Street

Granby, CT 06035

860 653 7701

860 413 9342

www.jboglilaw.com

---

DaveG601XL

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Cincinnati, Oh

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

Dave,



I just got my canopy from Todd's.  It took about 2 weeks as advertised and it arrived in great shape.  If he is going to be the Zenith supplier and no longer shipping direct to customers, I would order right now.  His price was a little over half of what Zenith currently charges.  I ordered the hardware portion of the canopy kit from Zenith and Todd's canopy fits it just fine, so far.  The canopy I received from Todd was longer and higher than those I have seen on other finished 601XL's.  Maybe this is the 'prototype' size you mentioned.  I only trimmed it a little bit, leaving it on the large side.  I hope to be finished with my canopy install in the next week or so.  I am looking forward to information on the new two-piece design you said Todd mentioned.  It would be nice if it was easily retrofittable to current 601's in case I decided to change sometime down the road.



Good Luck,

_________________
David Gallagher
Cincinnati, OH area

dgardea(at)gmail.com

Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 50
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:30 am Post subject: Re: Canopy Question

David,



Yep, I wish had ordered a while back for that reason exactly .. buying from Zenith will be more expensive. Yesterday Todd was not willing to sell directly to me as he now has a deal with Zenith, as recently as Sun-n-Fun, to be their supplier for the 601XL canopies. When I head out there in two weeks I hope to talk with Sebastien about their plans for and price on Todd's supplied canopy. 



Regards,



Dave



do not archive

_________________
Dave Gardea
CH650 - Corvair - flying!
http://n631dg.t15.org/home.html

jmaynard

Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 394
Location: Fairmont, MN (FRM)

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:47 am Post subject: Canopy Question

On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 09:30:08AM -0700, dgardea(at)gmail.com wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Yep, I wish had ordered a while back for that reason exactly .. buying

 from Zenith will be more expensive. Yesterday Todd was not willing to sell

 directly to me as he now has a deal with Zenith, as recently as Sun-n-Fun,

 to be their supplier for the 601XL canopies. When I head out there in two

 weeks I hope to talk with Sebastien about their plans for and price on

 Todd's supplied canopy.


	


Interesting. I wonder whether AMD will be using Todd's canopies, and when.

-- 

Jay Maynard, K5ZC                   http://www.conmicro.com

http://jmaynard.livejournal.com      http://www.tronguy.net

Fairmont, MN (FRM)                        (Yes, that's me!)

AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC (ordered 17 March, delivery 2 June)

_________________
Jay Maynard, K5ZC
AMD Zodiac XLi N55ZC

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