(Some of the "history" of the canopy and its development have been deleted as of May, 2006.)
Ours is the first production canopy, but here is a photo of the prototype on an RV-6. Note it still has the front center brace, now deleted.
Perhaps a more appropriate description of the canopy system would be "The Composite Canopy System" as it isn't completely carbon fiber. It does have a steel roll bar, although this one out of a composite of spring steel, carbon fiber and kevlar. Some non-sturctural parts being made out of fiberglass as a cost saving. Actually, Boeing is using almost all of the available carbon fiber now, and a 25% savings not only will save money, but allow Gamut to build more canopies. The following advantages apply to the canopy system:
Approx 75 hr time savings
Out of the box, onto the plane
Greater strength
Approx 8 lb lower weight
Easier opening/closing
1/2" more head room (NEW FEATURE!)
Tighter fit, fewer drafts
No hand layups, pre-bonded plexi
Better visibility, no center braces
MUCH Stronger rear slide rail (NEW FEATURE!)
FIVE INCHES more access space to the luggage compartment (NEW FEATURE)
No exposed handle, less drag
NO BROKEN PLEXI ! ! !
SKIP the hardest part of building your RV! This is a direct replacement for the Vans canopy system. Deleting the canopy parts when ordering your finish kit brings the added cost to about $2000.
Installation takes less than one day. Only minor modifications are necessary for the latch, and the center brace supports may be left off during fuselage construction to save another few ounces. There is finish work to be done around the front of the windscreen and on the slider frame. Supplies are included with the kit.
The tighter fit insures fewer drafts and a better environment for you and your passenger. The internal latches reduce drag. By being located at the bottom of the windscreen rather than the top, latching actually pulls the rear of the slider down into a tight seal with the fuselage. This is truely a well conceived and engineered system, adding convenience, performance and value to any RV.
Other components are under development such as an improved intake airbox, tipper fairings, removable sun shade and improved cockpit venting. Contact Gamut Services with specific needs.
Bob, an RV-7 builder, reviewed the carbon fiber canopy system and quickly decided to replace his recently completed canopy. "The fit is so much better than I was able to do. I could have been flying earlier if I had had this. It is impressive."
Other options are planned, but will not be available until a later date. These include a thicker front section (lower noise and greater bird strike protection) and darker tinted slider section (sun protection with good forward night visibility.) This will depend on sourcing these items. These options will add an as yet to be determined cost.Introductory price is $3400, including packaging, all hardware, all composite supplies and complete instructions. Nothing else to buy except paint! Some final fitting/sanding will be necessary prior to painting.
You may contact the manufacturer, Gamut Services at:
Gamut Services, Aviation Div.
1337 North Creek Drive
Saginaw, TX 76179
(817) 832-1178
c.wilhite@att.net
(Customers site:)
http://www.missionmedia.org/RV-9A.html
Carbon fiber baggage doors are available for the RV-8/8A. This is a proven upgrade, offering less build time, lower weight and greater security. It is virtually impossible to take off with an unlatched baggage door using this door. Many are in use and may be purchased from Gamut Services for $220 plus shipping (add $4.00 for chrome.)
One of the most common questions I get asked about this thing goes something like, "What keeps it from coming off in flight? There aren't any screws holding the front edge down." True. Well, I centered everything and put in two "locator" clecos, used to hold it in place while drilling the two rollbar bolt holes. I couldn't believe it! I believe you could fly with it this way (Well, maybe I'll skip that test.) And there are over three square feet of 7600 psi epoxy holding everything down. It isn't going anywhere!May 4, IT IS HERE AND IT IS ON!! Finally we are getting things accomplished. The windscreen we had in late January had a HUGE optical flaw. I am so glad I pulled the plastic off before I mounted it and had to take it off!
Charles came up from Texas with the new canopy and help put the windscreen on. Actually, there were a number of problems he needed to help work out on my plane. They did take quite a lot of time, but they are all solved. The actual time to install the windscreen (not counting all the fairing in and smoothing out around the joint) was under an hour! It fit like a glove.
Charles is a perfectionist, and in aviation, that isn't a bad thing. The mechanism that lifts the back of the slider wasn't what he wanted and the slider had a "wobble" when it was sliding forward. Backward worked pretty well, but it was an obvious problem. Also, the seal at the rear wasn't tight enough. Together, we worked it out. The slider mounts on the sides were redesigned, etc. Let's look at the pictures and maybe it will be clear. . .
As you can see, I have already filled the front with microballoons and other "stuff." Charles gave me some West Systems 407 and some really good Bondo-like finishing material. If I was any good at all this would have saved me time, but it did take a number of coats to get what I would call a good surface. Actually, very good surface.
Here you can see that the slider really does open further than the standard one. Something over 5" more! And while I don't have pictures, I don't have to duck as I open or close the slider with Vna's seats in place. I am 6'4" with a 34" inseam, so I sit pretty tall. There is LOTS of headroom. I plan on measuring to determine exactly how much is gained.
This was the key to making it work! With the bearing mounted stiffly to the slider, any movement made them bind slightly. The rod end attachment allows for flexing and the up/down movement as the slider moves backward.
The lift mechanism is much more complicated than Van's, but it is far smoother. The front roller (you are looking from the back) is a ball bearing. The slider bearing is metal with some type of low friction insert that is rated at over 250 lb breakaway force. Solid.
This is how the windscreen overlaps the slider. This was redesigned as is obvious by the fresh carbon layup. This has to be worked into the tooking at the plant.
These photos were taken before any cleanup was done (that should be obvious!) and I am still filling and fitting on the slider. Actual installation time on the slider is probably around 4-5 hours, including the latches. The time it takes you to smooth out everything is a function of your skill and desires. Later production items will be better finished than this one, however.
Am I pleased? YES! Would I do it again? YES! Is it for everyone? Probably not as it does add to the cost. Other than that one negative, it is a really fine system. Sliding the canopy open or closed is a one-finger operation and it is going to be VERY tight. I am happy.
May 9, The slider is in place after some more re-engineering on the latches. Everything works as it should now. Charles was trying to get as much friction out of the slider as possible, and I believe it is there. Now, when I have the canopy partially open and push the tail down about a foot, the slider slides back! There will be "bumpers" at the rear for tail draggers so it won't slide back to hard.
I have yet to install the seals. Those will be after painting. The windscreen-to-slider seal will be air tight and I think the sides will be, also. Without the side seals, there is a VERY small clearance gap. It appears that the canopy sides are stiff enough to not require the catches Van's has at the rear to keep the sides from gapping. The double latches at the bottom of the windscreen are really the way to go!
June 1, The fuselage (including the slider) is painted! Everything looks great. New pictures will appear in a day or two. The plane now resides at its new home, North Vernon Airport (OVO) in a nice secure hangar. About the only thing remaining on the canopy is installing the seals. I took the paper off the plexiglass and it is distortion-free--REALLY glad of that.I won't be closing the canopy for a couple of days to allow time for the paint to cure.
June 13, Some pics of the painted version!
