Shannon,
I rarely reply publicly to articles I have read on the LML,
but need to share a thought that others may be interested in.
I think your canopy lock is really neat, but have two major
concerns that I would respectfully ask you to ponder:
1) Please
consider that any electrically actuated mechanical device could and will fail someday…….electrical
malfunction from age, contamination of some sort, chafing, vibration, bending/twisting,
rodents chewing, atmospheric elements, OR, just plain old wearing out of a
mechanical device, etc. What happens if this occurs at the absolutely wrong
moment? Like after an incident or
accident when you are still inside and are incapacitated (when the likelihood of
an electrical/mechanical malfunction is quite high)?
2) Your external “well
hidden” access will not be able to be located timely by emergency crews/non
aviation bystanders, etc. Expecting
the first person/s on the scent to have possession of a crash axe or other
means to cut through the canopy is a bit of a stretch. Typically, first persons on scene are
not trained experts, nor are they usually equipped with other than their hands
and feet. Waiting for trained well equipped
personnel at many airports may be an unacceptable period of time, and expecting
first persons on the scent to be in possession of tools that may cut through an
aircraft exterior and extract an incapacitated pilot and/or passenger may prove
to be “not such a prudent expectation”.
Personally, I like your neat lock design a lot, just think
it is not a good idea for a gravity defying machine. I’m one (read….older
than dirt, GRIN!) who has learned by earth shattering experience that safety is
best thought out beforehand….one “class sixed air machine” in
my lifetime is quite enough, and I managed to get out of that one by
myself! I didn’t have time to
think, let alone act before my air machine was reduced to small pieces, with
raw gas spraying in a long liquid stream onto hot engine and exhaust assemblies
(never did catch fire, HHHMMM?)….but, it got me thinking….long
and hard about tomorrow, and other days.
Fortunately, for me, I continue to count other days!
Just a respectful thought or two for
your “think tank”.
Ron Brice
N27RM Legacy #179