Wendell Folks RV-8 Project - Page 66.

October 15, 2007:  The Saturday session saw a continuation of the canopy skirt fitting.  Trimming of the trailing edge of the skirt is the focus today.

The right front skirt has been trimmed a bit where it overlapped the forward skin below the windshield.  Spacers are being tried to insure a good alignment with the forward skin in the closed position.  Some holes have been drilled through the skirt, plexi bubble and into the canopy frame near the top edge of the canopy skirt to insure a good fit of the skirt where it overlaps the clear canopy.  The adhesive will ultimately secure the canopy skirt to the frame and the clear canopy, but some clecoes are needed to insure the best possible fit.

Some areas are "bowed out slightly" and will require a bit of fiberglass laid up underneath and the outer surface sanded away to insure a good fit with the fuselage side skin.  I have sketched on the fiberglass how to put some layers of glass and epoxy on the inside of the right canopy skirt for Wendell's next work session.

Up at the front edge of the right canopy skirt is the same problem that will need some glass underneath and sanding on this side.  The glass below the long straight line will be removed after the layers underneath are added.

With the canopy closed and locked, the alignment needed becomes obvious from this camera angle.  Removing the fiberglass below the long line will align the canopy skirt lower edge with the overlapped forward aluminum skin.  It will also minimize how much the canopy skirt sticks out.

A view from the front further defines the problem alignment with the skirt and the side of the fuselage.

The last photo of our Saturday session is where we started the day.  The aft edges of both skirts were gradually trimmed away until what appears to be a good fit has been achieved.  I demonstrated to Wendell how the canopy frame closure and locking would pull this area to one side and how simulated engine vibrations would allow the skirt to settle into a "closed" position fit on the fuselage.  We worked together to refit the ends of the skirt together over the aluminum plate underneath.  New cleco holes were drilled to insure a close fit.  When the time comes, the plate will be riveted in position, then covered with fiberglass layers and prepped for painting.