FenderBean

The first thing I worked on was the canopy lock and unlock, its pretty cool how it works but the stock wasn't properly done and I wouldn't trust it in flight. The setup requires one air cylinder to pull the canopy back and up, this pulls the two metal rods out of the front support holes. Then it also pulls it up which gives a gap for the canopy to open without binding on the back frame. I got some videos of how it works im uploading to my youtube page. I decided to dump the air and convert mine to electric, im using the Actuonix liner servos and actuators instead....This will save a lot of extra valves and accessories for this are, im also ditching the speed brake air cylinders and running two liner servos as well. All in all this setup saves weight, its cheaper and no air to leak out.

The canopy opens with a second air cylinder that im using a 100mm stroke actuator on and the unlock is on 20mm stroke. I just simply removed the unlock cylinder and glued in a small ply mount and attached the linear servo. I had to trim the metal wire that holds the canopy on because it would let the canopy move up and back far enough. After I trimmed it I was able to get an 1/8" gap to almost an inch, this will allow me to make longer metal rods to lock into the front frame and prevent the canopy coming open in flight. The front frame is very thin and will require some beefing up as well to prevent the rods from tearing the composite out.