New item from Vans: http://vansaircraft.com/images/open/12-canopy-switch.pdf
For those with the D-180, Van's new switch or similar could be wired in series with the magnetic spar reed switches.
Before every take-off, I say out loud..... TRIM, FLAPS, CANOPY.
You can guess why I am in this habit!
Not much info, does this mean when you feed a little throttle to taxi, the alarm will go off (which would make it worthless in my opinion)? Is it throttle position or RPM that sounds the alarm?
... The reason for the system being offered is the unacceptably high level of crashes that resulted from the pilot taking off with the canopy unlatched or not properly/fully latched. ...
Just out of academic curiosity, what are the flight characteristics (or lack thereof) with trying to fly with the canopy unlatched?
My DAR required that I provide a list of service notices and that I sign it indicating that I had complied with each notice. I consider any email from Van's with the subject, "NOTIFY", as being a service notice. I think that it is likely that a DAR or FED will require the canopy switch before an airworthiness certificate is issued. After all, this is a safety issue. At least 2, maybe more, RV-12s have crashed because the pilot was distracted by an open canopy. Common sense says to install the switch, regardless of any bureaucratic interpretation of the rules.
Joe Gores
Hi Ric & fellow builders , it wasn't quite that easy, but I did manage to get a draw string through eventually. Because the cross section of the roll bar is much larger than the control sticks, the speed of the airflow is slower (some may say not enough suck!) After many tries with string, I had success with very fine fishing line, with a piece of foam tied to the end, - the foam was compressed to get it through the little hole, then it expanded inside the rollbar & it was sucked through. It was also necessary to tape up all the other holes in the rollbar. This method may still be superior to trying to feed tiewire or thick fishing line through, as per Vans instructions.. Hope this helps those coming after, Cheers, DEAN...
Hi Ric & fellow builders , it wasn't quite that easy, but I did manage to get a draw string through eventually. Because the cross section of the roll bar is much larger than the control sticks, the speed of the airflow is slower (some may say not enough suck!) After many tries with string, I had success with very fine fishing line, with a piece of foam tied to the end, - the foam was compressed to get it through the little hole, then it expanded inside the rollbar & it was sucked through. It was also necessary to tape up all the other holes in the rollbar. This method may still be superior to trying to feed tiewire or thick fishing line through, as per Vans instructions.. Hope this helps those coming after, Cheers, DEAN...
And what was the result of flight with an unlatched canopy? Any detrimental effects other than noise?A recent Kitplanes issue has a story of a first flight with an unlatched canopy
Get that canopy switch installed. I consider it one of the most important mods you can make to a -12. Many of us have taken off with the canopy half latched. I have. Not anymore.
Not without a little re-wiring, but it's certainly possible on an ELSA or EAB RV-12 (see post above). The D180 has two contact inputs for stuff just like this. You could re-purpose either one. In fact, since the spar pin warning already has its own big red warning light AND it locks out the starter, I would rather see a canopy latch status on the D180 screen than a spar pin warning if you don't want to replace the stall warning with AOA.Van's says you can't use the canopy switch with the D-180.
Sure wish Van's would conduct a flight test at safe altitude: slow to 50 knots, drop half flaps, trim for takeoff, add full power and 70 knot climb, and have passenger unlatch canopy. I'd bet on a big pitch down.
That's why I plan to add the second, parallel switch on the throttle to disable the warning with less than 2/3 or so throttle. I want to set it up so that I won't get a warning while taxiing, but will if the canopy is still unlatched during runup.For the D-180 all you would have is a visual status indication. You wouldn't want to use an aural warning because it would be on the entire time while taxiing with the canopy opened.