The time was right to begin finishing up the canopy. There are 2 things left to construct on the canopy frame in order to move on to final filler and primer. First, a means to keep the canopy latched in both the closed position as well as a partially open position for those HOT days taxiing. I started by cuting 2, 3.5" pieces of 1/8" aluminum stock and drilling a 5/16" hole at the end. When finished, these extrusions will be floxed inside the canopy rails and have 2 sets of holes. 1 for closed and 1 for partially open. I will be using a Ball lock pin that will run through the latch, into the extrusion then on into the longerons providing not only a means of fresh air while taxiing, but also a secondary security measure for keeping the latches closed. The second task a system that will keep the frame from expanding outward. In the Plans, Rutan uses a crossbar at the mid section that helps in that area but I have a different animal. I looked at adding a "arrow stock" crossbar but when getting out of the airplane I noticed how annoying it would be to squeeze around it. I therefore decided on 2 pins that would insert into the longerons. I first made a hardpoint from 1/4" thick aluminum and countersunk it. I then cleared out the wood in the longerons and bonded them in place with 5 minute flox. On the canopy side, 2 pins will be installed the same as the locating pins on the canard. 2, an4 bolts with their heads cut off and rounded, then floxed into the canopy rails. The countersunk entry on the longerons will serve as a guide to pins.
