Canopy
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September 17, 2020
Sailplane Canopy Seal
Editors Note: V–Seal is generally used on the inside of the vertical stabilizer to seal the rudder. This works well and is easy to install on both the right and left inside of the vertical stabilizer once the rudder is removed. With some trimming and great care, you can use V-Seal on the front and aft part of your canopy making your cockpit significantly quieter.
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January 03, 2019
Improve performance and reduce noise
It is an art. Back in the day before kids, I was into tuning my trusty new-to-me Discus 2AX. In the evenings and on rainy days I sealed it. I spent roughly 100 hours sealing the glider. How much did it help? "If you make the ship one percent better, you fly five percent better!" Klaus Holighaus from George Moffat's book, Winning 2. If you have not
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March 03, 2016
Canopy Care
Flying into the sun near the end of the day you quickly determine the quality of your canopy.
A well polished canopy could make the difference seeing another glider or bird circling. It might be the difference seeing the other traffic and avoiding a mid-air. Someone walking out on the runway might be completely invisible.
It is a good idea during your winter maintenance
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January 26, 2016
Along with our theme from last week we can look at many accidents attributed to not locking the canopy. Flying with an open canopy isn't the problem, it is when you stop flying the glider to deal with the canopy.
Also, You can loosen or crack a canopy fast. We lost one canopy to a winter jacket that snagged on a rail as someone reached inside to touch the stick.
Nothing makes me cringe