[rebel-builders] skylights - pros & cons

[flypegasus628]

Thanks for the note Jeff. See my reply to Roland.


Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Micheal <westcoastkitplanes@gmail.com>
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Sent: Wed, Mar 9, 2011 11:06 pm
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] skylights - pros & cons


Hi Ray,
Regarding the eyebrow skylights that you made into 1. Just a note of
aution, opening the 2 eyebrow skylights to form 1 extra wide skylight just
eakened the structural integrity of your roof. I sure hope that you put
ome doubler's in to recoup some of the strength in that area.
Cheers,
eff
On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 2:26 PM, <flypegasus628@aol.com> wrote:
Fro what it's worth:

Having lived in the canyons and river drainages of Idaho and other locales,
I've decided that there are several things you can't have too much
of...........fuel, horsepower, and visibility. Regarding the latter.....I'm
upgrading a Super Rebel to a Moose and have opened up the two eyebrow
skylights to a single wide opening (makes a huge difference), and already
have the two overhead skylights which will remain. Have also added Lexan to
the lower panel of my recently converted gull wing doors. Rearmost side
Moose windows to follow. Not particularly recommending any of these, since
they are user/environment specific. However, in my particular case I just
like my head-on-a-swivel in these conditions to have more places to look in
the often tight quarters of this kind of adventure flying.

BTW, the lower window panel in my new gull wing doors gives an almost
vertical downward view............surprising the difference it makes to open
up that part of the scenery, and over the lap of any co-pilot passenger to
the other side, which without the extra glass is a visual dead spot.

Ray Watson

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Patterson <bobp@prosumers.ca>
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Sent: Wed, Mar 9, 2011 1:59 pm
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] skylights - pros & cons



i Ron !
Actually, I consider the 2 front skylights over the seats to be
ssential - definitely help visibility in turns. Even more important
or those who have moved the firewall back, or have long legs !!
I also like 2 (or 3) at the very back of the baggage area, so
can see behind ... And, of course, the side windows behind the
oors ! Can't imagine flying without those .... although some do !
Yes - the row behind the seats is good for sunburning the neck !
hey are also handy to put over a GPS antenna that you don't
ant outside in the rain. (I have an old one ...) They can be
overed with that automotive stick-on tinted film, as I do on
he front ones, on sunny days. Easy to peel off & store ...
ine are there to stiffen the roof - never look out them !
--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
bobp@pattersys.com
http://www.Pattersys.com<http://www.pattersys.com/>
http://www.amway.ca/BobPatterson
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other entities or persons.
Any action taken as a result of the contents of this email is totally the
responsibility of the reader.

n March 9, 2011 03:38:39 pm Ron Shannon wrote:
I've read the archives and list over the years on this, but on account of
I'm in the thick of it, I'd sure like an update -- from those who are
flying, and have or haven't installed roof skylights (eyebrows may be
different topic). I have just now installed one skylight over the baggage
area, where I do want some light. Several others have squawked about the
the drawbacks of the two positions behind the seats -- no utility and too
much sun on the back of the neck. So I won't bother with those. Of course,
any skylights add a little weight and work.

In short, I am trying to decide whether to add just two more, directly
over
the seats. I know some have opined those two aren't all that useful for
spotting planes in a turn, so I probably wouldn't add them for that
purpose. However, I've been thinking they could be useful in a turn in
tight corners when, even though I don't need enough resolution to read an
enemy "N" number <g>, I might nevertheless like to take a glance at, say,
an opposite canyon wall.

So the real question is one of overhead skylight utility -- for seeing
stuff. Does anyone really find the ones over the seats useful to see
traffic in a turn? (I suspect not.) How about to glance at large objects,
like nearby rocks?

Ron
N254MR




-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
----------------------------------------------------------------






-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------






----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
----------------------------------------------------------------






-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Bob Patterson]

Hi Roland !

I would be VERY careful about enlarging those openings -
that piece IS structural ! (Like the instrument panel !!)
Best to check with the factory for strengthening ....
MurTech@murphyair.com
There are already reports of cracks around the existing openings,
without enlarging. Several builders have added a doubler
around the existing holes.

In any case, enlarging the eyebrow windows is NOT important -
you will be looking UP in a turn, so need the overhead skylights !
You should be sitting high enough that the eyebrow openings
are not significant - they are a help, but not often needed ...

--

......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
bobp@pattersys.com
http://www.Pattersys.com
http://www.amway.ca/BobPatterson

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other entities or persons.
Any action taken as a result of the contents of this email is totally the
responsibility of the reader.


On March 10, 2011 08:31:17 am Roland Kriening wrote:

Hi Jeff,

I am at the point where I can put my skylights in. I too have considered
the eyebrow windows, but they seemed to be a bit small. Any suggestions on
opening up the eyebrow view with reinforcements. Would some wing stringers
suffice, or does it need something bigger?

Roland
Rebel 56

-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Wayne G. O'Shea]

You need to do steeper turns Mike !! LOL I'm looking up thru that set above
my head regularily.

Front's (that are under the windshield), above head.. skip the third set if
you want (like you say all they do is sunburn the back of your neck) and the
forth set are valuable for looking back to see if someone is following you
and extremely important when on floats as it allows you to spot boats
tailing you before doing a 180 for departure.

----- Original Message -----
From: <mbetti@uplogon.com>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 3:52 PM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] skylights - pros & cons

I find the ones above the front seats on my Elite useless for seeing
anything out of. Seems like there is very little field of view, that is
depending on how far your eye is from the lexan. I cut a couple of squares
of the aluminum skinned stuff they put in windscreens to keep the sun out
and put velco on them to block the skylights when the sun comes in. I
don't know how anyone in an RV can survive the oven they built during the
summer.
Mike

I've read the archives and list over the years on this, but on account of
I'm in the thick of it, I'd sure like an update -- from those who are
flying, and have or haven't installed roof skylights (eyebrows may be
different topic). I have just now installed one skylight over the baggage
area, where I do want some light. Several others have squawked about the
the
drawbacks of the two positions behind the seats -- no utility and too
much
sun on the back of the neck. So I won't bother with those. Of course, any
skylights add a little weight and work.

In short, I am trying to decide whether to add just two more, directly
over
the seats. I know some have opined those two aren't all that useful for
spotting planes in a turn, so I probably wouldn't add them for that
purpose.
However, I've been thinking they could be useful in a turn in tight
corners
when, even though I don't need enough resolution to read an enemy "N"
number
<g>, I might nevertheless like to take a glance at, say, an opposite
canyon
wall.

So the real question is one of overhead skylight utility -- for seeing
stuff. Does anyone really find the ones over the seats useful to see
traffic
in a turn? (I suspect not.) How about to glance at large objects, like
nearby rocks?

Ron
N254MR




-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Ron Shannon]

I'd like to find one more MAM skylight frame. If anyone has an extra, please
contact me off list. Thanks.

Ron
N254MR




-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------