Hopefully this is the last lot of mods to the rotary canopy latch. This time there were a couple of issue to address.

The latch was interfering with my arm in the cockpit. This was always going to be an issue as there was just nowhere to put it except at my elbow.

The two parts showing in my hand were in the way. The oblong one was the tensioner that was replaced by the gold coloured screw. This is a much reduced profile.

That was in place to tighten the offset disc you see that has been replaced by a larger disk of green G10 material. I felt there was a problem that if the block became loose, which it tended to do, the catch was more likely to pop open. With a disc and a tapped middle hole that can’t happen. Given the latch, canopy and canopy seals are in their final positions I don’t need that adjustment anyway. It took a while, but definitely heads off a future problem.

Another issue was the crescent that the green disc sits against was bothering my arm with its size and sharp edges at the bottom. Its hard to see in the picture but I have made a radiused curve and reduced the height of that block considerably. Sure less than .5″ but now its not a problem.

Here we are with the canopy closed and the safety stop engaged. I have also reduced the length of the two arms on the latch. Maybe .25″ on both. Again what a difference. The latch is no longer the cockpit problem it was. OK it took two days work! Yes I know, I had to go slowly, fitting and refitting, as I didn’t have a good plan B if I stuffed up.

Then the next day I came back and thought I could get the locking tighter by moving the micro switch 2mm or so. It was ‘just’ inhibiting the last movement of locking. So I fixed that too. Now we have an even more positive lock and of course I have the safety pin as a fail-safe. OK, now I think we are 100% as good as I can make it on this latch!

For now all these extensive mods to a bought product are done and dusted.