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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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> I understand what you are doing at the header tank, but can you describe
in a
little more detail what you've done at the rollover and along the longerons.
Where do you find air exits? Also, do you have a small area where you can't
seal the canopy against the longeron just rearward of the header tank (due
to
gas strut clearance)? If so, what did you do about it if anything? Where
have
you found the most likely spots for water to enter (flying in rain)?<
My weatherstripping process is well below the scientific level often seen in
the LML, but the end result has (so far) been very satisfying and looks
perfectly fine. I was resigned to doing what Graham Nutt did ("I spent a
bunch of time changing the shape of the fwd edge of canopy and trailing edge
of fwd deck so that it all compressed rather than wiped..") but am now
pleased with the seal enough that I will probably not.
My current system (after numerous test flights & piles of discarded
weatherstripping) uses all Manco Super V 1/4" x 3/8" (SV) strip and is:
-At the header tank, SV laid in the recessed groove, with the open side of
the V facing forward. I made this 3 pieces, with the 2 ends about 6" long
(as opposed to one long strip), as they will probably suffer the most wear &
can be easily replaced leaving the long center piece intact.
Then, a ran another piece of SV in front of that (it just fit between the
groove and the end of the recessed lip (again in 3 pieces) with staggered
gaps to the SV strip right behind it in the groove.
-On the sides (longerons), I simply ran 2 strips of SV on the bottom of the
canopy, with the open side of the V facing into the cockpit.
- The rollover is the area that I am not yet 100% satisfied with yet, and I
am still experimenting. I laid one strip of SV in the groove in the
rollover, with the open side of the V facing into the cockpit. This seal is
working fine. However, on my canopy the gap may be a little wide in spots
for 1 seal. So, I put another SV strip on the canopy side that would "mesh"
with the seal on the rollover until I have time to improve the fit in this
area. While this seems to seal quite well there is some shearing of the
last 2" on both sides of the SV seal on the canopy side.
- I also have an approximately 1 1/2" strip of SV at the very front of each
longeron (ie, on the top or fuselage side) to seal the area that I think you
are talking about there by the strut.
I have not flown in rain lately, but given how well it seals against air
leaks, I expect little problem there. I am hopeful that this system will
withstand the test of time and that I can avoid reworking the front area as
Graham did. I will try to get some pictures of my efforts posted in the
next several weeks.
Clark Baker
250 JF
LNC2 360
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