Light Aircraft Association

Does anybody know who there is in the UK that can make canopys, I have the mould. I was told that there is a guy called Bob Reece but can not find any contact details. Can anybody help. Thanks

Stephen Hipwell

Paul, thank you, do you have a telephone number for the guys at Thruxton? I telephoned the airfield but got nowhere. I have been thinking about having ago but would need to biuld an oven first.

Stephen Hipwell

There was a terrific article on blowing a canopy (Corby Starlet) in a past LAA magazine. It was so good that I would copy the method to make one if needed.

Bill how can I get a copy of the article?


Stephen Hipwell

I'll have a look through the back issues to get the article for you.

Thanks for your help.

I'm still looking Stephen - in between the lambing - just in case you thought I'd given up.

Stephen, I've been almost going delirious thumbing through a pile of back issues of our mag looking for that article - gone back ten years thus far. I have one or two copies that are missing (having loaned them out) but I know it was in the mag and the canopy was for a "Starlet". In the meantime perhaps Brian can recall the item or have an indexing system that can retrieve it - or a call to HQ. I'm going to continue to search for it as it was a good article and if Brian can nudge the maintenance course manager this would actually make for a very good one day course - it was a valuable piece as the guy had done a lot of "R+D" to get the process right. I'm chocker that I can't find it.

from the Auster forum:

Auster Screens
Richard and I have managed to find someone to mould Auster screens again and they are now available more or less off the shelf depending on which type. Front, top and rear are available.

The contact address is [email protected]

Auster Screens, Eggesford Airfield, Chulmleigh, Devon, EX18 7QY

I saved their details in case I needed one for the Tcraft but have never contacted them myself, may be worth tracking down though. If you have the mould they could presumably do the job.

Wasn't the piece describing this Starlet canopy on the old bulletin board, rather than in the mag? Can't find my link to the old board, so can't search...

Nick, it was definately in the mag as it was quite a lengthy article accompanied by some very good photos of the set-up. Basically, the author had made a mock-up of the frame plus a bit of "green" and as I remember it he heated the perspex to get it slightly plastic and it was clamped around the frame with a host of grippers. The air in the space underneath was heated (by air circulation), then slowly "inflated" then held at pressure until things cooled down. He reported that it was very flaw free. The method could be employed for most types as I would think quite a few must be getting scratched or have mini cracks. There have been other methods described in the mag along the way including one by Geoff Farr away back when the mag was in black and white.

Thanks to everybody for thier help, the Auster Screen guys know of two places I can get it done. One in Cormwall and one near Elstree. I will post the contact details here when I get them.

Thanks

schipwell wrote:I will post the contact details here when I get them.

And some prices, please.

I seem to recall that people have been willing to have a stab at making their own as getting others to do it was ruinously expensive.

The contact details. WEP in Borehamwood, telephone number 0208 236 0444. George is the owner and has been very helpful. He says if it has been made before they can make it. Cost is going to be around £350 for the complete canopy trimmed to the to match the old one.
Thanks to everybody for there help.