This weekend I worked on the front (port and starboard) canopy arms for the flip-back canopy. Image 1 shows where the canopy arms attach to the cockpit. The angle bracket is riveted to the bottom-aft frame using two of the three rows of rivets normally used for assembly. I then added another row of rivets.
Image 2 shows the starboard arm with the canopy closed. I think the arm will be low and forward enough to be out of the way.
Image 3 show the port canopy arm with the canopy open. Having the 'bend' in the arms puts the canopy another 4 inches back to make more room to enter/exit the cockpit.
I have attached the canopy latches and installed the spring used to keep the latches forward and have discovered a problem; it’s a pain to keep the latches pulled to the rear, and left up because as soon as the centering stud is pulled out of its mating hole in the longeron, the springs pull the latches forward (or more accurately, since the centering pin is released, the springs pull the canopy rear-ward. I'll have to put some sort of lock to keep the latches in the full rear position, once I put them there.
I haven't finished the canopy aft-center arm yet so I can't test it, but I think I'll have to do some slight modification to both of the canopy latches and the centering stud as well because the canopy isn't going to close straight down; it will close at a slight aft-to-forward angle. I think these modifications will be minor.
