Ok. I fit the canopy with out the seal.

There're a few small gaps between the canopy and sheet metal.

Once I place the seal on the glass, the canopy still stays fairly well in contact with the tube/s. To me that means the seal loads the glass with preasure at the seal area. I asume this is normal but I am wondering how much is too much.

 

The gaps I am speaking of are in the nieghborhood of 3mm to 4mm. After installing the seal, the canopy lifts up and with a slight touch, the canopy does touch the tubes.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks - Rich

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Rich, I'm nearing completion on my XLB, and I haven't flown it yet. I have a similar concern about the canopy seal. In my case, it's at the rear of the canopy. I feel the tube that holds the canopy doesn't always quite fit the curve that it needs to fit.

When I get an engine run, and get into taxi tests, I think I will know if the canopy actually seals or not (it's that close). I have several concerns about the canopy not sealing:

1) Excessive cockpit noise

2) Inside temperature, especially in cold weather.

3) The potential for exhaust gas getting into the cockpit.

4) Air flow inside the airplane (wind) that makes it difficult to keep charts from blowing around.

I think the probability of the third one is relatively small, because I suspect the flow of air around the canopy will create a low pressure area that pulls air through the fresh air vents, under the unsealed area, and out of the cockpit. Since the fresh air vents are out of the exhaust area, this sounds like it will be safe.

My plan at the moment is to put an interior foam seal around the rear canopy base, should this become necessary.

Jim

For leaks, my actual concern is the LH RR side in the lower 20% zone where the bulb of the seal is what really makes contact to the outer skin.

I too will wind up with some form of secondary seal as well in this area.

My question though is how much preasure is too much which is apllied by the seal to metal contact after final assembly.

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