Author: rv7@... Time: Mon Aug 27, 2001 10:52 pm PDT Link
Does anyone have any info on the canopy installation that's been done
using a powered side door slider from a Dodge Caravan or Ford Windstar
or something? I remember hearing that someone had rigged up a powered
slider, that made use of a keychain remote to activate it. The
clincher was that the entire setup was supposed to be *lighter* than
the stock Vans sliding installation (I think this used different
tracks, but I could be wrong).
Anyone have any info they could share? Being able to open the cockpit
as you walk up would be very cool... especially if it is indeed
lighter than a non-powered installation...
-RB4
rv7 "at" b4.ca
-----------------------------
Stop dreaming... Start flying
Author: "Ian Jessen" <ianbear99@...> Time: Fri Aug 31, 2001 5:22 pm PDT Link
I too have dreamed of a powered sliding canopy. How cool would it be
to flip a switch on the panel and have the canopy slide shut as you
take position on the runway? However, I have a few safety
considerations. One, the motor has to be weak enough so that if it
is engaged in flight by accident, it wil not put too much strain on
the canopy lock. One must also be able to overpower the system by
hand so that the canopy can be opened if the motor gets stuck in
the "close" position. Also, if the canopy is accidentally engaged
when someone was standing (getting in and hit the switch with a knee)
and it starts to close, it cannot crush them. I imagine all this
would be true for the system in the Windstar (after all, it is
a "certified" vehicle) but remember, the sliding door of a caravan is
a lot more massive than the sliding plexiglass canopy, thus the motor
will be much more powerful.
-Ian Jessen
RV-7 emp ALMOST ordered
--- In vansairforce@y..., rv7@b... wrote
> Does anyone have any info on the canopy installation that's been
done
> using a powered side door slider from a Dodge Caravan or Ford
Windstar
> or something? I remember hearing that someone had rigged up a
powered
> slider, that made use of a keychain remote to activate it. The
> clincher was that the entire setup was supposed to be *lighter* than
> the stock Vans sliding installation (I think this used different
> tracks, but I could be wrong).
>
> Anyone have any info they could share? Being able to open the
cockpit
> as you walk up would be very cool... especially if it is indeed
> lighter than a non-powered installation...
>
> -RB4
> rv7 "at" b4.ca
> -----------------------------
> Stop dreaming... Start flying