I was extremely concerned about the amount of outward "spring" in the canopy frame after the plexiglass bubble was drilled and clecoed in place, and the very clear warning note in the instructions advising NOT to try bending the frame after it had been drilled....."it will break."
Oh gee! The outward spring was enough to make for a very horrible "slide" on my sliding canopy. It would be better described as a dragging canopy.
I contacted Vans Support who were very non-committal on the matter, offering me suggestions on what else might be causing the canopy to bind, but zero comment on how to rectify the problem which was created as a result of following the instructions in the first place.
I turned to Vans Aircraft Builders on Facebook for advice, and amongst the many and varied responses I was heartened to hear from two builders who had been in the exact same predicament, and had succesfully bent the frame after drilling....... so I decided to try the same.
I took the plexiglass bubble off and applied my body weight to the frame ...... and it bent ever so slightly. So I did it again, and it bent a little more. After about 15 repititions I had bent the frame inward the required 12mm. Then, when I clecoed the plexiglass bubble back on it flexed the frame outward again such that the rollers now sit neatly in the centre of the guides, and do not bind.
To say I am a happy chappy would be a huge understatement.
I also decided to start fitting the Flyboys Supertracks canopy extension parts as well. This after-market add-on will give much easier access to the baggage compartment.
