side windows

[Flybyjim]

Has anyone not put in the glass in the side windows and just covered with fabric. Have you found a good advantage of having the windows, any problems with water leaking?

[Greg79]

If you are talking about the side triangle windows, I have been thinking of just covering them over myself. Be interesting to see if anyone else has done it.

[Shadowrider]

Curious why? Are you just thinking one less thing to do or prefer the look? I have heard of many just use 3m two sided tape to stick them in. I covered mine before cutting them out for the ease of covering. Looked like a covered window, not my favorite.

[DesertFox4]

Put the little windows in.
You can thank me after the first time you fly with one or more other aircraft.

Flown several “taped” in quarter window Kitfoxs with no leaks.

[efwd]

I show friends video of Kyle Franklin flying the Speedster at Airventure and not one person has ever viewed without commenting about the wide open views. It is absolutely one of the highlights of the design. Why would you omit it?

[atosrider]

I'm getting the fuselage ready for recovering, and will soon be making a larger frame for a longer side window. Right now the plan is to go back 28 inches from the door post, 12 inches high, and it might also become the side wall for the turtle deck. Besides the extra visibility, any future maintenance and inspection will be easier.

[aviator79]

I taped mine in with the 3M VHB tape. It's easy, and a very clean look. I haven't flown it yet, but if you haven't used that tape before, believe me, those windows aren't going to leak or pop out. That stuff does not like to unstick.

Unless you object to aesthetics somehow, I'm not sure why you'd skip those windows as easy as they are to install.

[jiott]

I also used the 3M double stick VHB tape with great success.

[Flybyjim]

Thank you for all the responses and the comments. The reason I asked was to see how many of you thought these were very important to the visability out of the plane. So this is confirmed, it must be a bit of a challenge to look back to see traffic without these windows. I fly a tandem plane now and it is easy to see all around and back. I will be cutting the fabric out tomorrow for the future install of the windows.

Great forum.

[jiott]

Actually to be honest, I really don't use those triangular windows much for traffic or scenery, but I like the looks of them and the ability to see in that direction if necessary. After 5.5 years of flying they have become much less optically clear than the other acrylic windows and doors. I suppose its because they are Lexan rather than acrylic and tend to scratch and haze more easily.

[Lawdog]

Would any of you fine gentlemen be able to post a few close up photos of the triangle window retrofit ? I have been thinking about this mod to my KF Sport. I could see the value of some additional side vision during close flight. Much appreciated.

[Maverick]

I am at this point also. I put them in during the first build I did but, I am considering the question of whether or not I need them. Someone mentioned visibility when flying with others. A quick side slip can give you a view to the right and I've never needed to look through the left window because you're there already looking out of the door window. Is there anyone that has left these out and do you have a picture you could share to get a sense of what it looks without them?