RE: functional canopy
On my Jug I put the canopy on the flaps with a 3-position switch.
Flaps:
0= flaps up, normal flying
1= flaps 20 degree, take off
2= flaps 40 degree, landing
I have my sliding canopy on a retract servo. This makes it possible to adjust the flaps where I want. The retract servo reacts on the lowest and highest settings, that means if I flip the switch from 0 to 2 the canopy opens and I can set the flaps for takeoff.
I can taxi the plane with a open canopy. On the runway in position I flip the flaps to 0 and the canopy closes. Ready for takeoff with a closed canopy.
You can takeoff with a open canopy, no problem whatsoever. It just looks cool when you taxi out and close the canopy before takeoff.
Happy landings
G-Pete