the LE canopy cannot be ejected.
I seem to recall there was some discussion in early CPs about how to do this.
Basically, attach cables to the hinge pins, then route the cables to a pull tab on the inside of the aircraft.
I don't think I would pull the pins without first opening the canopy. The canopy would probably slide back and decapitated the pilot. (OUCH)
A Plans canopy and Plans canopy stay will normally not survive a opening in flight, The canopy will swing open hard and fast and smash against the strake after ripping out the canopy stay.
The gas cylinder canopy stay that I use will probably allow the canopy to open to its normal open position while in flight.
With that said, here is my plan. I practice it, and hope I never need to use it. Obviously, this all depends on altitude.
NEED TO BAILOUT
There are four scenarios that I can think of that will require bailout:
A) Immediate structural failure - i.e. mid air while performing ACM or Formation flights.
B) Immediate Structural failure - Test flying, and something breaks.
C) Imminent structural failure - i.e. in-flight fire with such severity that structural failure will occur be for a safe landing can be made.
D) Forced emergency landing where survivability of the landing is highly questionable, i.e. mountainous terrain, pitch black night landing over questionable terrain.
For A and B, the aircraft will be uncontrollable, so these steps will most likely need to be performed while extremely disoriented.
For C & D the aircraft will be somewhat controllable, but a decision needs to be made early in the emergency.
1) Pull power to idle and mixture to cutoff.
2) Loosen belts and harness, a lot.
3) VERIFY PARACHUTE HARNESS TIGHT.
4) Head down, eyes closed, cover face, OPEN CANOPY.
5) Pull legs from cutouts and attempt to squat in the seat.
6) IF W&B device available, throw it overboard. If it cleans off the prop, great, if not, we take our chances. (SEE NOTE)
7) IF UNCONTROLLABLE, Release seat belts, push off as hard as possible.
If CONTROLLABLE, Pull nose up to 45 degree, roll inverted, release and push off.
My W&B device is a 20 lb chain. Sometimes when I an performing a first flight, I need to have the CG forward, in the first flight box, Considering that I'm a light person, I sometimes need to carry ballast. The Ballast comes in the form of a 20 lb chain.
I practice this procedure before engine start on flights that I'm wearing a chute.
I Hope we never need to go beyond the planning phase of this.
Waiter
