Windshield / Canopy and Performance Modifications - Mustang II Experimental Airplane

Windshield / Canopy Lowering Mod
and other performance modifications
Mustang II Experimental Airplane N727RH

Updated October 5, 2003
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These photos incorporate deviations from the plans.
Use of this information for Your aircraft is obviously AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Canopy Profiles
of a few inspiring, outstanding Mustang IIs

Phil Funk, Larry Kinder, Paul Cox

Phil Funk Larry Kinder Paul Cox

Modification complete

	New canopy (54 KB)
New canopy Right rear (35 KB)	New canopy Right profile (47 KB)	Front view (34 KB)	New canopy Left profile (35 KB)	New canopy Left rear (50 KB)

Although referred to as a "new canopy", actually the original canopy was retained and cut down, but a new windshield was required for the modification. The windshield angle was lowered from 40° to 28° from the HRL.

Canopy Modification

New windshield 28° angle (vs. 40°) (36 KB)	Canopy mod Roll bar back 6" lowered 2 1/2" Canopy rear raised 1 1/2" (55 KB)	Canopy mod New fairing lines in tape (50 KB)	Roll bar attach brackets - still "in the rough" (26 KB)	Roll bar attach brackets complete Now 6" aft of plans (49 KB)
Roll bar brace lengthened 2 1/2" (25 KB)	Canopy frame pieces It used to be one piece (40 KB)	Canopy frame mid section (42 KB)	Canopy frame That tough-to-make back corner (25 KB)	Canopy frame Station 99-114 curve (30 KB)
Canopy frame prior to welding (62 KB)	Canopy frame prior to welding (67 KB)	Canopy frame prior to welding (58 KB)	Canopy frame modified (73 KB)	Perfect ?! temperature for working Plexiglas (43 KB)
Canopy Skirt line right front (49 KB)	Canopy Skirt line right view (52 KB)	Canopy Skirt line right rear (47 KB)	Canopy Skirt line left view (54 KB)	Roll bar and seal plate Top of seal plate is 20 3/8" above top stringer (p/n 240.369) (60 KB)
Roll bar top view (50 KB)	Roll bar left view Bottom of roll bar is 18 3/8" above top stringer (p/n 240.369) (38 KB)	Forward seal Not latched Latching moves canopy 1/8" further forward (55 KB)	Canopy seal at bow (37 KB)	Canopy seal rear piece to go against rubber seal (33 KB)
"Forced labor" (Linda selected this caption) (45 KB)	Rear seal prep adhesive for seal applied (36 KB)	Canopy retainer forward right (31 KB)	Canopy retainer forward left (43 KB)	Canopy retainer forward left (30 KB)
Interior pre-skirt (67 KB)	Interior skirt (64 KB)	Left fairing (53 KB)	Canopy Tail (38 KB)	Right fairing (39 KB)
	New canopy latch (43 KB)	Canopy latch catch (30 KB)

Notes: The frame was cut and re-welded. New roll bar mounts were required. All original retainers (forward, sta. 99 and sta. 114) were kept. The rear seal had to be moved since the aft end of the canopy was raised slightly. New windshield and canopy skirt fairings were required. Fairings at the roll bar were discarded - roll bar and canopy bow are now visible through the Plexiglas. Latch was modified and a retainer pin added. On the forward retainers, a nylon 'cube' is used instead of a metal roller. Nylon pieces are glued to the retainers for smooth sliding. Silicone spray lubricant is used.

Wheel pants / brake fairing Modification

Brake caliper moved to forward position (27 KB)	Brake caliper ground to fit (11 KB)	Wheel pant attach bracket (42 KB)	Left brake fairing balsa for mold (67 KB)	Left brake fairing mold layup (63 KB)
	Right brake fairing finishing final part (55 KB)	Right brake fairing note that wheel pant width was reduced 5/8" (63 KB)	Wheel pants and brake fairings Final parts (77 KB)