Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob McDonald on March 16, 2009 at 6:50am

Thanks for the great pictures and suggested fix. As fate would have it my partner had trouble getting out of the Zodiac last evening after an afternoon flight. I will need to look closer to see if its the same issue, and apply a "fix" to allow exit in the event it fails to un-latch. Up until now I have been taking extra steps to keep the canopy latched closed.

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Tim Garrett on March 3, 2009 at 5:24pm

Matt - I worried about this also. I have a good size slotted hole that gives me good vizability to the latch. I also practiced using it. Could you do it in the dark if you had to? Try it first. Your fix looks good.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Bean on March 10, 2009 at 12:14pm

Good pictures, and a good fix. I have to use the slot on the right side of mine quite often, but not to open the canopy, but to make sure the right side is latched completely.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Edward M. Moody II on April 27, 2009 at 12:28pm

Hi Matt,

I don't know if you have already done this but I also drilled a hole on the outside of the canopy frame for the same emergency release purpose. I tapped the hole for threads to fit a hex socket plug which is Loctite secured in place. If the cable had failed and you were outside the aircraft, on the ground, could you have gotten in?

Ed

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Permalink Reply by Juan Vega on April 28, 2009 at 7:52pm

Matt
nice website. I noticed your POH and since we have identicle airacraft but mine has 220 hours, I want to share some POH speeds. You might want to recheckt eh Max manuavering, its closer to 103 mph. Best appraoch speed for me with no flaps is 70 and flaps is 59 mph. you can get it slower to about 52 mph, but its with a little power and there is no flare. Gets you into tight quarters. Just good luck getting out.

Juan Vega

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