Canopy

[Rick Barber]

I had an unfortunate incident when my one-man-rig fell on my canopy. Does anyone know of a canopy or canopy and frame that can be purchased in the US? Hopefully this is a good reminder to everyone to watch out where you place your canopy when it's not on the plane!
PS, Thermotec USA doesn't seem to be an option.

[Johan van Ravenzwaaij]

Ai! That hurts; wing okay?

There are some shops in europe for canopies. There was a topic about it here: http://www.asw15.org/index.php/topic,1015.0.html

[Rick Barber]

Johan,

It sure did hurt! There was no wing on the one-man-rig when it fell. I thought I had placed the canopy far enough away from anything but I was two inches too close when a gust of wind blew the rig over.

I had looked at the other posts you forwarded. I tried Mecaplex but they said they didn't make 15 canopies. By the look of the posts Weiss might have been where they finally got the canopies but I have not been able to get a response yet. I'm keeping that as a last resort due to the high costs of shipping.

Thanks for your help,

Rick

[Pete]

Rick
Tim Mara (wings and wheels) and I bought 2 ASW 15 canopies last year from Thermotec but it was kind of a flakey deal that took months to complete so I understand.  At the time, I think Tim told me that a canopy bubble from another glider make (standard cirrus??) would work but I cant remember the make.  I also know that he did not install his but sold the glider first.  Its a long shot but maybe the buyer might be parting out glider.  By the way, the ASW 15 and the ASW 15 B use the same canopy bubble.

Pete

[Rick Barber]

Pete,

I had contacted Ray at Thermotec and both his email and voice conversations were very disturbing. It seems he is going through business, marital and possibly mental issues so I have no confidence that he could deliver a canopy. Have you, or anyone else had any experience cutting down an oversized 20 bubble to fit a 15? I have an opportunity to get a 20 canopy through Todd's canopies in Florida. Todd seems to think that it is flexible and large enough to be cut and to fit the 15 frame. I put my canopy on a 20 and the difference is about 2 inches in the front and back sides and about 6 inches in length.

Thanks for your very infomative responses to both canopy questions!

Rick

[Pete]

Rick
What is the width of the 20 frame at the front, middle and back as compared to the 15 frame when installed on the 15 fuselage?  I would be tempted to make a profile cut out using foam board of the front and back and mount it to the 20 canopy to verify the profile is not too far off.   Before i did anything, I would call Tim at wings and wheels, he has forgotten more on this subject then I will ever know!

[Rick Barber]

Hi Pete,

I contacted Tim yesterday. He couldn't currently help me but he is working on a source for older canopies. I also talked more with Todd and if I send my canopy back to him, he will cut the bubble to fit my frame so that is probably how I will proceed after this season is over. I was able to cement my canopy to get me through this year.

Thanks again,
Rick

[Pete]

Let me know how it works.  I dont think Thermotec is an option any more and I know canopy accidents happen! (I accidentally jettisoned mine on  my first flight!  The canopy release is in the same place as the cable release in the Blanik trainer).  Good luck!

[steverusinowski]

Pete

What did you do about your frame when you lost your canopy???

[steverusinowski]

2 years ago I also lost my canopy - frame and all.

I have a new custom made composite frame and ordered a canopy from Todd's in Florida. Todds canopy bubble arrived after a couple months, and it does not fit my 15 frame. I also own an ASW19B and it seems to be pretty close, so I guess he thought a 19 or 20 canopy bubble can work for a 15. Not So. Todd is vary helpful and is great with tips and help, but the 15 and 20 bubbles are not the same. 

I now have a mold from another 15 and am planning to take it to a local plastics fabricator. I want him to make a bubble for me and will likely have him make some spares.

Once I get it all together I will post here with the results.

Anyone else need a 15 bubble?

Anybody need a 19 or 20 bubble? (by Todd)Quick delivery on that.

Steve Rusinowski

[Rick Barber]

I'm sorry that Todd's bubble didn't work out for you. In case anyone else would like to try one, here is some info from my experience with Todd's bubble that I think may be helpful for anyone considering a Todd's canopy. First, Todd's canopy is almost twice the size of the 15 canopy. It requires a lot of cutting to get it to fit the 15 frame. This allows you to move the bubble to the most ideal location for fit. The bubble is also flexible enough to fit even better once glued to the frame. The bubble is cut while off the glider but needs to be fine fitted and glued to the frame while the frame is on the glider. If you just fit the bubble to the frame while off the glider, the canopy may be distorted and won't fit the glider. The hardest part of using Todd's bubble is that there is no window in it, so you must cut one out and make the new holes for the window slides. I have attached a couple of pictures showing different stages of the work.

[Tom]

we have a canopy here in state college

[David Prather]

When Ray from Thermotec replaced my canopy several years ago he measured the curve and found it to be the same as a Standard Cirrus, just cut down a little.

David Prather
N484SA  6J