Brief Description: New canopy stiffener spar & ribs.
Tim Ong, the Lancair engineer, recommended we add these additional ribs and a spar into the canopy stiffener's forward section to strengthen that area and keep it from flexing the canopy when opening and closing due to the gas springs which are attached just beneath.
Prepreg was used to fashion a spar that runs across the top of the stiffener. Prepreg ribs were made to cap off the spar at each end. Once these structiures were shaped to fit, they were bonded to the canopy stiffener using 2 BID carbon layups. After curing, foam was added betwen the spar and ribs to provide additional stiffness to the structure. The foam, spar and ribs were sanded down to the shape of the canopy skin that will be bonded on top of these new structural members.
Prepreg spar & ribs in forward canopy stiffener.
2 BID carbon used to install the spar & ribs.
Foam added around the spar & ribs for added strength.
