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Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 13:36:24 -0500
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Subject: Canopy open on TO
From: JON ADDISON <jraddison@msn.com>
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Lancair should not, of  course, be discouraged from exploring a secondary la=
tching mechanism, however don't count on it being "fail safe."

In 100's of hours of flight simulator experiments on a wide variety of aircr=
aft configurations at NASA/Ames "fail safe" gave way to only probability fac=
tors.  Even a two pilot command and response checklist was far from fail saf=
e.  (Remember the Boeing copilot called out "pitot heat" and the captain res=
ponded "on," and the plane crashed from stalling with a frozen pitot tube.)
It turns out that a well placed RED warning light trumps even a 2 pilot chec=
klist for high probability factors.

The single pilot checklist fared more poorly, of course.

One of the key factors was to (a) not have too many warning lights and (b) c=
ommand that any light was an abort without questioning prior to V1.  The 24 s=
eries Lear Jet had  lights for everything including your birthday, it seemed=
, and all at the same prominent position.

In Realville, the red warning light for canopy not "down and over center loc=
ked" is a solution that is well within reach of any owner for the $20 and a s=
hort days labor that is required.  The best engineered secondary latch, whil=
e a positive assist, will be a Bridge Too Far for way too many early Lancair=
 owners; and thus the accident rate that hurts lives and insurability will m=
arch on.

That isn't to say an open canopy on the early Lancairs and Legacy is a cause=
 to die.  If a takeoff is continued, as has already been stated, keep airspe=
ed modest, avoid configuration changes until at a safe altitude to determine=
 controllability, and return to the field using your findings, which happens=
 to be exactly what the Air Force and Navy advertised in the 60s and 70s.  A=
nd in fact, it can and should be tested in a e.g. Legacy.  I nominate Len Fo=
x.  There are safe methods for such a test.

If the 1/2 inch very bright light is deemed too small, Spruce has a Mamma li=
ght at 3/4 inch, and if you can feel the hot breath of the wolf at the door,=
 Spruce has the Papa red light that weighs in at a whole inch.

Lancair would be well advised, however, to at least design a secondary latch=
 into the new production kits as they might deem appropriate with tests, dat=
a, and probability studies.... as long as they include the red light too.   A=
nd please no more icons on the efis(!), as in architecture, form is supposed=
 to follow function, put the death defying bright red light(s) above the sli=
ck looking but crowded efis.=20

Safely is mostly between the ears, but never turn down luck or a beautiful r=
ed sexy light.

Jack Addison

Red light installation photos and now a video free for the asking, I'll even=
 help you install it if you come to S39, all free of course.  You buy the Ja=
mison. If you stay over nite, that's free too. =20

Sent from my iPad=