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Jims RV-8
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Date:  8-5-2017
Number of Hours:  5.20
Manual Reference:  9-1
Brief Description:  Canopy frame bending / shaping

I spent a lot of time tweaking the canopy sides and aft bow to get them to fit right. To see if the sides are fitting properly you attach strips of scrap aluminum to the ribs and check the contour down to the fuselage...there is supposed to be no gap in the contour. Initially, there were gaps on all 6 strips but using, "carefully controlled muscle power" (as the instructions say) I pulled the sides in with the arms, pulling in the canopy against my stomach/chest. The front bow took more muscle, but I didn't use the straps and just over-bent it with my arms to get to the right amount of movement. By "over-bent" I mean that to get a 1/4" of permanent change in the canopy width, you have to bend it maybe 4-5" inches - which is why I call it over-bending.

After getting happy with the strips and the side contour to the fuselage, I needed to isolate the aft bow of the canopy on the bench and bend it down. The aft bow needs to be between 3/4" and 5/8" higher than the canopy slide and it started out 2 1/4" higher - so I isolated the aft bow and applied some downward muscle until I got it to the 3/4" between the bottom of the bow and the canopy slide.

I also had Teresa help me and I un-installed the canopy slide, countersunk the front hole and then reinstalled it on the fuselage.

I spent the rest of the time - probably close to a half hour - trying to get the canopy rails set to parallel. This really shouldn't be that difficult, right? But I went back and forth over or under by 1/16” - probably just tired after a long session - so I will try again tomorrow.
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strips on the canopy ribs - checking the contour

strips on the canopy ribs - checking the contour

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isolating the aft bow for bending

isolating the aft bow for bending

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3/4

3/4" achieved!

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