Thinking

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:22 am

I'm sure you've all seen this photo:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-p ... 242940.jpg

I'm just wondering if there's an advantage to a slider over a tip-up canopy should you end-up on your back.

Thanks,

Tom

Post by **Spike** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:37 am

I would think so. I wouldn't begin to guess how much, but I think the chances of getting a tip up open without outside assistance is zilch. With a slider, depending on how the plane ended up sitting, you might have a prayer.

Spike

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:44 am

Yea, that's what I was thinking... On my Cherokee I always felt I could kick out a window if I had to. Anyone have any thoughts on "kicking-out" a canopy?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:10 am

I'll have to disagree with ya Spike...and not just because I have a tip up. If you were to open the slider ahead of time, know you might flip, you would have an easier out, but the risk of personal injury from debris is higher. But given the example picture, they had no clue they were going to flip over, and the result would be the same with either a slider or tipper. The slider frame is not going to budge with an airplane sitting on top of it, and the tip up obviously isn't going to open.

The only sure way to get out, assuming you are conscious, and not injured to bad, is to take a canopy cracker with you at all times. Breaking out the side of the canopy or the rear window in the case of a tipper is really your only real option in this scenario.

Canopy cracker.

Post by **Spike** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:15 am

Do we know of anyone that has tested a canopy cracker on the VAN's canopy?

I am building a tip up too actually. So it sounds like your position is that the slider isn't better cause you aren't going to get any of them open? I won't argue with you on that cause I don't think I can.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:22 am

Yep, that's my position. Neither will be able to be opened.

I *think* the guy that flipped in TX last year or so used a cracker...can't remember which canopy it was tho.

1:1_Scale · Post by **1:1_Scale** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:37 am

cjensen wrote:Canopy cracker.

Wut did yew call me??

Is there anything to keep a slider from slamming shut under rapid deceleration?

smittysrv · Post by **smittysrv** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:42 am

Here's a long thread on the subject:

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/s ... =emergency

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:44 am

Smitty,

Thanks for posting the link to that thread. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like it might be possible on a 7 or 9 to slide the canopy open if the airplane ends-up on it's back. If that's the case, then there may be a safety advantage to the slider. On the other hand, I don't think there's any chance of a tip-up canopy accidentally opening during flight and causing a problem. Nevertheless carrying a hammer or other device to break the plexi sounds like a good idea.

T.

RobDob · Post by **RobDob** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:16 am

That happened about 10 miles from my house. Lucky it was a 'fly-in' and there were lots of people to help. There is a sequence of shots somewhere on the net of the whole nose over, you can see the look of surprise & terror on the pilots faces. Must have been quite an un-settling experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULOdhTJ3uBg&NR=1