Brilliant Idea

[Colin]

Okay, whose is this? Parked in Santa Barbara, KSBA, at Atlantic.

The vinyl keeps the black of the glare shield from heating up. Cooler inside, probably less reflection on the interior. Very slick looking with the design and pattern.

[Chris B]

Okay, whose is this? Parked in Santa Barbara, KSBA, at Atlantic.

Hi Colin -

I don't know if he is on DAN, but a quick search reveals that the aircraft is owned by Jean-Marc Gilson from Santa Barbara. The search actually reveals considerably more detail, which is quite sobering.

Something like this would certainly be cooler. Though I wonder if it would obscure part of the view for taller pilots.

Chris

[ihfanjv]

I think that this kind of arrangement could replace the glareshield altogether. I have always thought that the glareshield is the second most dangerous thing in the DA40 - the overly sharp bottom edge of the panel being the most dangerous thing. The way the glareshield juts out always left me with the impression that it could cause injury in an accident.

Can you legally fly a DA40 with the glareshield removed, or trimmed to that it does not extend past the panel?

[smoss]

Seems like might be a nice touch, but I'd be worried what would happen to the acrylic underneath after the adhesive bakes in the sun. Might be a very permanent installation!

[Antoine]

I think that this kind of arrangement could replace the glareshield altogether. I have always thought that the glareshield is the second most dangerous thing in the DA40 - the overly sharp bottom edge of the panel being the most dangerous thing. The way the glareshield juts out always left me with the impression that it could cause injury in an accident.

Can you legally fly a DA40 with the glareshield removed, or trimmed to that it does not extend past the panel?

In order to be legal the plane has to be 100% conforming to the type certificate. I do not believe the TC foresees that the glare shield be removed. The funny part is that it is legal to remove the wheel fairings... go figure...
Now you can probably get someone to sign it off, just as the people who had theirs leather clad.

I have removed the glare shield and a friend has too.
I still scratch my head and wonder what the purpose of this part is. I now have significantly less obstruction on the right side and more room in the cockpit.
The only issue that arose was that the instrument panel cover below the glare shield turned out to be slightly reflective - very annoying and even downright dangerous when landing westbound at sunset.
I sprayed this with a high temperature matt black and it is fixed (issue to be kept in mind when ordering the leather interior upgrade)

Back to the original topic. Beautiful plane and nice workmanship, that's for sure. Legal? Hmmm...
I would still want a textile cover on top though, in order to avoid UVs attacking the clear canopy material.

[rwtucker]

Antoine,

How much of a difference in instrument visibility have you seen under unfavorable sun angles?

[Don]

I have had the glareshield off my plane for the past 5 years for the following reasons:

1. I have a vertically challenged pilot wife and she gets more straight out visibility with it removed.
2. I think it is a dangerous obstruction waiting to do body harm in the event of an off field landing scenario.
3. It is much easier to clean the inside of lower canopy.

I have never once encountered a direct sunlight situation where the screens were even slightly difficult to read.
I have often thought why it was put there in the first place.

[smoss]

Don, with the glare shield removed, aren't you then directly heating up all the avionics when the sun shines on the panel cover? Considering how hot my glare shield gets, I'd imagine without it all the goodies back there get significantly hotter--not sure that's so good in the long run.

[rwtucker]

Don, with the glare shield removed, aren't you then directly heating up all the avionics when the sun shines on the panel cover?

I was wondering about that but if the glare shield is not required to be legal, there are other ways to isolate the avionics from the added heat from the sun.

[Antoine]

Antoine,

How much of a difference in instrument visibility have you seen under unfavorable sun angles?

robert: same as Don, zero problem.
The point about heating up the instruments is absolutely valid in my opinion. i am counting on the fans to deal with the additional heat.
But the benefit of more visibility is major, and I am not a small pilot...