Identifying a Canopy Blank's Glider Model

Have you contacted Van's?

Boggs

On Monday, November 30, 2020 at 6:42:24 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
Have you contacted Van's?

Boggs

Contacting Vans or the Vans Airforce group is the next step.

Is the window cutout parallel to the bottom edge of the glass, or as an obviously offset angle? A couple of pictures of the front end would also be helpful.

As JJ suggested, a "camera on the floor, straight side view" would be helpful.

Possibly interested in purchasing said canopy.

Steve Leonard

On Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 6:35:37 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
Is the window cutout parallel to the bottom edge of the glass, or as an obviously offset angle? A couple of pictures of the front end would also be helpful.

As JJ suggested, a "camera on the floor, straight side view" would be helpful.

Possibly interested in purchasing said canopy.

Steve Leonard


Believe all of Vans stuff is side by side seating. It does kinda look like it may fit some of Burt Rutan’s designs, Early
VariEase, maybe? It could work on many sailplanes if the curve is correct. Most sailplane cockpits are about 24� wide, sides can be pulled in (or out) a bit, if necessary, but the side view curve must match.
JJ

JJ,

The RV-3 is exclusively a single seater with a rear canopy (two piece version) that could be what I have. There are also several other RV models that have a "centerline" seating arrangement and two piece canopies. See https://www.vansaircraft.com/which-rv-is-right-for-me/.

In the next few days I will have more/better pictures and more/better measurements. I will then ask for help with this identification conundrum from RV groups.

Maybe I will get really, really, lucky I'll find out its a P-51 canopy. Cha-ching!

Thanks, John (OHM)

John,

I am betting on Diamant. I have an RV-3 canopy in my garage, and it looks nothing like that. RV-3 canopy is blown bubble, with sort of a teardrop shape when viewed from above. Side view of the RV canopy, rises rapidly at one end, long, slow taper off to the pointier end. This looks to go up from the rounded end, then go closer to flat.

If the window cutout is level with the bottom, it is a Diamant canopy. If it is at a noticeable angle, it is likely an ASW-12 canopy.

P-51 canopy would be MUCH thicker, and would have flats with near 90 degree corners at the "open" end.

Steve Leonard

I took some additional pictures. See https://link.shutterfly.com/qI0hDPifPbb.

Some additional clues;

- I was wrong. The window does in fact have additional holes for the rails of a sliding Mecaplex-type window.
- The bottom of the canopy is not flat tip to tail.Â* Towards the "aft" (I think) end of the canopy the bottom edge tilts upward.Â* However the bottom edge of this portion is flat and does not have the curve of a leading edge. See two of the new pictures for reference.

Well, its not for a Diamant based on some Google image searching. This sailplane's canopy bottom is perfectly flat and has distinct large radius rounded transition to the vertical aft end. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFA_Di...amant_16.5.jpg.

It seems to definitely not be of the DG lineage due to the angle of the aft end. DG's are almost vertical.

It is possible that it is for an ASW-12 (single piece canopy type) as it has the correct general shape. This model has a "DG" look to it with a pedestal type instrument pod. See https://www.alexander-schleicher.de/...leben-erweckt/.

Any more glider models that use a looooong tip-to-toe canopy?Â* I would sure hate to throw this nice "NOS" canopy out.

Thanks, John OHM

Hey JJ. Can you please contact me off list?
I don’t have your latest email address. Mine hasn’t changed..
.......Mark Fisher


On Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 3:19:41 AM UTC+10, John Sinclair wrote:
On Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 6:35:37 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
Is the window cutout parallel to the bottom edge of the glass, or as an obviously offset angle? A couple of pictures of the front end would also be helpful.

As JJ suggested, a "camera on the floor, straight side view" would be helpful.

Possibly interested in purchasing said canopy.

Steve Leonard
Believe all of Vans stuff is side by side seating. It does kinda look like it may fit some of Burt Rutan’s designs, Early
VariEase, maybe? It could work on many sailplanes if the curve is correct.. Most sailplane cockpits are about 24� wide, sides can be pulled in (or out) a bit, if necessary, but the side view curve must match.
JJ