I built a small aluminum bracket that holds my canopy open when I'm on the ground and want ventilation and when I'm parked on the ramp and want to keep the cockpit from getting so hot.  Here are the photos:

 

 

This view is from inside the cockpit, sitting in the right seat and looking aft and left.  The canopy roll bar is on the left and the aft end of the canopy is at the top.  The aluminum bracket is centered on the roll bar side-to-side.  

 

I started with a lightweight piece of aluminum, cut it to the width and length that I thought might be right, and bent it in a vise.  At the top I riveted a short piece of piano hinge left over from the nose gear doors.  I screwed the other leaf of the hinge to the canopy.  At the bottom of the bracket, I drilled a hole and attached a #10 bolt.  The end of the bolt sticks out and fits into a hole drilled in the canopy roll bar.  So long as the bolt is in the hole in the roll bar, the canopy is latched in place. 

 

The black ring at the bottom of the bracket is a piece of bungee cord material that I hook over the cup hook shown.  This holds the bracket tightly against the canopy roll bar, so that a sudden gust of wind can't blow the canopy open.

 

The bungee cord is required because if I lift slightly on the canopy, gravity causes the bracket to swing forward enough that the bolt pulls out of the hole in the roll bar and the holder opener disengages.  I thought about attaching a spring to the hinge to hold the bracket back against the roll bar so that I wouldn't need the bungee cord ring.  But I like the convenience that the holder opener automatically disengages when I lift the canopy slightly.  If I'm taxiing and there isn't a strong wind or the threat of prop blast from another airplane, I don't use the bungee cord.  But I always use the bungee cord retainer if I'm leaving the canopy latched open when I'm parked on the ground or when taxiing in strong winds. 

 

Here's a side view photo showing the canopy position while the holder opener is engaged:

 

  

 

I get plenty of ventilation when the canopy is latched open like this, so long as the prop is turning.  While parked in the sun, the cockpit stays much cooler than if the canopy were closed. 

 

I added this after paint and my first flight.  It's a little crude, but it works.  I intended this to be a prototype for the "real" version, but improving it hasn't worked its way to the top of the list yet.

 

Best,

Dennis

Legacy, flying three years and over 300 hours.