After talking with the company that makes the RV-8 canopies, I decided to fabricate a couple saw horses with a cradle attachment to hold the canopy either upside down or right side up. I began by building two std saw horses about waist high. I then made a cradle attachment that just slides over the rail on the horse. The cradle is covered with some foam to protect the canopy. The rail on the saw horse is also covered with foam.
With the cradles in place the canopy can be held upside down. With the cradles removed the canopy can be laid right side up on the saw horses. I am finding these fixtures very useful in handling the canopy.
