new ceiling for 4 place

[Mark Goldberg]

Here is what the new ceiling looks like on the kits being finished up now at the kit factory. It will be for two skylight panels with a center skylight panel very easily accommodated as well if desired.

Or totally fabric also. All options with no welding required. I know that this will not be exactly what every one of you wanted, but it is impossible to please everyone. This seemed like a good compromise. FYI - the pictures do not show this because it has not been done yet - but all these aluminum parts will be welded together. Mark

[AKKen07]

I like it!

[Mark Goldberg]

For builders with kits from before we did this change - it would seem pretty easy to convert to this ceiling. Mark

[Aero_tango]

Wow, nicely done. Too late for me but this is certainly an excellent improvement to the kit...Mike.

[svyolo]

That is pretty slick Mark. It looks like the glass is "captured" all the way around. No external fasteners required? Any chance. as an option, you could weld an opposing channel onto the longitudinal formers, that would also capture the glass if you wanted the center section glass as well?

Really, really nice though.

[Mark Goldberg]

Captured on three sides John. On the outboard sides above the upper longerons it is held down with fasteners through the square steel tubing like you have there now. The square tubing stayed the same. I would use some #6 screws with over size holes in the lexan with rubber or nylon tubes around the #6 screws. Mark

[svyolo]

Still very slick. I am probably a week or two from starting on my skylight.

[James]

Hi Mark,

I like it! I'll definitely be interested in retrofitting my kit down the track. It looks like the standoffs on the top of the fuselage might need to be modified - or just cut off one side to rivet them to the aluminium stringer?

There are specially made 32 thou aluminium washers that have a plastic grommet inside, made just for screwing down polycarbonate windows on black hawks. I'll try and get the part number from work, and find out if they make them for #6 screws.

I have a question for the wider flying public - I've never flown a plane with a skylight - does it often get too hot?
Does it make it harder to read your instruments at certain times of the day, or does the panel tilt always keep them shaded?

Ok, thanks guys,

James

[JimParker256]

Yes, at times the sun pouring through the skylight can make the cockpit pretty hot. But there are sun shades that you can find all over the place (including these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/DICKIES-TWIST-SMOKE/55322520) that solve that problem quite handily. Just buy the size that fits your opening, and pop them into place when you need them. You can get find this type of shade in material ranging from totally opaque to fairly translucent.

[corefile]

Those washers with the plastic grommet inside sounds like it might be a good solution - let us know what you find.

[quadra]

this looks great Mark, I am curious to see the fabric detailing for the center panel. Will this become standard on plans as well?

[Mark Goldberg]

The fabric just gets glued into the channels as has been done previously. Only channels on 3 sides rather than just the front. Mark

[Battson]

Great stuff Mark, this would have saved me a hundred hours for sure!

The skylight is very popular. It always draws comments.

[Nev]

Nice work Mark! A very workable solution.