Stjohn's RV-7

3 hours.
More canopy latch work. I buggered up the 6061 T6 tubing by tapping it with 1/4-20 instead of 1/4-28, the threads needed to accept the rod-end bearing and the latch idler clevis. I did get the latch hardware drilled and fitted, and it all goes back into the box for now.
Note: I’m publishing this on Dec 22, but the actual events happened on Dec 5. I had to go to Japan for a week, and it’s only now that I’ve been able to get caught up.

This is the canopy latch hardware temp-installed. This is truly a situation of kneebone-connected-to-the-thighbone. From one or two reference points, you have to spider your way down the decision chain through a series of matchdrills, and if you do it right, you get a setup that looks a little like this. The yellow handle pulls back and releases the claws on the canopy bubble.

Outboard, there are two metal tabs. when you squeeze them together, they release a spring-loaded ratchet. Once that’s done, you push the aft tab in and it exposes a lever, which is the same piece of metal the yellow handle’s connected to. This lets you open the canopy from the outside.