Canopy Covers help reduce damage to your airplane's upholstery and avionics caused by excessive heat, and they can eliminate problems caused by leaking door and window seals. They keep the windshield and window surfaces clean and help prevent vandalism and theft.
The Piper PA-23 Apache Canopy Cover is custom-designed for each model, as well as your aircraft's specific antenna and temperature probe placements, if applicable. The Canopy Cover is designed to enclose the windshield, side windows and canopy roof. The Canopy Cover attaches using adjustable "belly straps", which run under the belly and connect to the other side of the cover with a quick-release plastic buckle.
When requested, it is also sometimes possible to design Canopy covers that can attach to the aircraft fuselage using pop-riveted snap-heads at the rear and snap-head screws on the engine cowl.
The Canopy Cover is custom sewn and the corners are trimmed to match the colors of the airplane. The airplane's registration number can be imprinted onto both sides of the cover for an additional charge. A duffle bag is included with all Canopy Covers. Each Canopy Cover is normally made from Silver Acrylic Sunbrella or Silver Solution-Dyed Polyester and is lined 100% with a soft and smooth microfiber. Bruce's Custom Covers developed these materials especially for aircraft protection. The outer material is medium-weight and treated for water resistance, UV resistance and anti-static buildup. The inner lining is a very soft and smooth microfiber to prevent scratching. The materials are extremely reflective, and tests show that the cabin interior temperature can be reduced to near-ambient temperature on even the hottest of days. It is water, ice and snow repellent, yet breathable enough to allow moisture to escape from between the cover and the aircraft surface. Our materials do not contain hydrocarbon compounds that can harm Plexiglas windshields and acrylic finishes. Other colors are available. Please contact us for availability and price. We also have an ultra-lightweight material available for fitted hangar dust covers.
Canopy Covers are commonly referred to as Cabin Covers, Fuselage Covers, Canvas Covers, Canopy Caps, etc.
The Extended Canopy Cover takes our standard Canopy Cover design and extends it down to the wing root to overlap with the Wing Covers, an Engine Cover and an Empennage Cover. It is designed to cover the entire door. To ensure the most secure fit, high-quality shock cord is sewn in the hem of the cover. This chord is also adjustable for tightness. This is the Canopy Cover you would need as part of a full cover set.
The Extended Canopy/Nose Cover combines a Canopy Cover and a Nose cover. The Piper PA-23 Apache Extended Canopy/Nose Cover is designed to enclose the windshield, all side windows, canopy roof, and extend forward to cover the nose. It is a one-piece cover, which also extends down to the wing on the sides. The Canopy Cover is custom designed for each model, as well as your aircraft's specific antenna and temperature probe placements. The Canopy Cover attaches using adjustable "belly straps", which run under the belly and connect to the other side of the cover with a quick-release plastic buckle. To ensure the most secure fit, high-quality shock cord is enclosed in the hem of the cover to help keep the cover tighter against the airplane. Canopy Covers are commonly referred to as Cabin Covers, Fuselage Covers, Canvas Covers, Canopy Caps, etc.
Engine Inlet Plugs are custom fit for your Piper PA-23 Apache intakes, made with heavy-duty vinyl material, and stuffed with a single block of sculpted urethane foam. Each plug has a zipper that allows the foam to be removed and dried if necessary. Engine plugs have warning flags that are visible from the cockpit or 'remove before flight' streamers sewn onto the face of the plugs. Most plugs are embroidered with the aircraft registration number in black. Engine plugs may be inserted after flight when the engine is still warm. Engine Inlet Plugs are commonly referred to as Cowl Plugs, Intake Plugs, Cowl Blocks, Engine Blocks, and Engine Bungs.
Pitot Tube Covers, made of Naughahyde vinyl, are designed to cover the entire pitot assembly. Slipping on over the tube, the cover tightens around the base with a special Velcro strap detail. A "remove before flight" streamer is attached to the cover. Non-burning Pitot Covers are designed to withstand more than 500° Fahrenheit, and will prevent the pitot cover from melting onto the tube if the pitot heat is accidentally turned on with the pitot cover attached.
Engine Covers will cinch around or behind the spinner, cover the entire engine cowl area including the engine air cooling and induction air inlets, and fastens together with Velcro beneath the spinner down the front of the cowling. The Engine Cover is attached with a belly strap aft of the firewall, and can Velcro to the Canopy Cover.
The Piper PA-23 Apache Insulated Engine Cover is made with a thicker, quilted, water-repellent, and breathable material that is insulated on the inside. The Insulated Engine Cover works well in cold climates to help with engine preheating. It will cinch around or behind the spinner, cover the entire engine cowl area including the engine air cooling and induction air inlets, and fastens together with Velcro beneath the spinner down the front of the cowling. The Insulated Engine Cover is attached with a belly strap aft of the firewall, and can Velcro to the Canopy Cover if desired.
The Piper PA-23 Apache Propeller Cover is a one-piece design that form fits to the blades and spinner. The prop cover slips over the blades and spinner and is attached by a plastic all-weather zipper on the bottom of the blades. Propeller covers can be made for multiple numbers of blades, and for wooden, composite or metal props. The Propeller Cover is normally made from Acrylic Sunbrella or Solution-Dyed Polyester and is lined 100% with a soft and smooth microfiber. Insulated Propeller Covers works well in cold climates to help with engine preheating. These insulated versions are made with a thicker, quilted, water-repellent, and breathable material.
The Piper PA-23 Apache Wing Covers are a perfect solution to protect your paint from sun damage and prevent winter frost, snow, ice buildup, and corrosion. They are made from Solution-Dyed Polyester or Acrylic Sunbrella and form-fit to slip around each wing tip, cover the entire upper surface of the wing and wrap around the leading and trailing edges. The covers secure under the wing with adjustable straps from the trailing edge to the leading edge. The wing covers can also attach to each other with adjustable straps at the leading and trailing edges of the wing under the belly of the plane. In some instances, cut-outs are made in the trailing edge of the wing covers to accommodate static wicks. We have the ability to also accommodate wing tip modifications, such as STOL kits, droop tips, and vortex generators. Wing covers are labeled LEFT and RIGHT for your convenience. Wing Covers are available for winter use or long-term, all-year use. A Hail Protection version can be made which incorporates very dense closed cell foam into the entire upper surface of the wing covers to help prevent hail damage. Although these covers are bulky, they do help protect your wing and control surfaces against small to medium-size hail.
Horizontal Stabilizer Covers are a perfect solution to protect your paint from sun damage and prevent frost, snow, ice buildup, and corrosion. They are made from Solution-Dyed Polyester or Acrylic Sunbrella. They cover the entire upper surface of the stabilizers and overlap around the leading and trailing edges as well as the wing tip. The covers secure under each stabilizer with adjustable straps. In some instances, cut-outs are made in the trailing edge of the wing covers to accommodate for static wicks. Horizontal Stabilizer Covers for winter use or long-term all year use are usually available, and are normally made from Solution-Dyed Polyester or Acrylic Sunbrella. A Hail Protection version can be made which incorporates dense closed cell foam into the entire upper surface of the wing covers to help prevent hail damage. Although these covers are bulky, they do help protect your wing and control surfaces against small to medium-size hail.
Heat shield Interior Reflectors are made of a special laminate of metallized polyester film and closed cell foam. Less than 1/8" thick, the Reflector can roll up and store in a sleeve, yet is stiff enough when flat to stand up against the windshield using the sun visors and window framing only. On some designs no Velcro or suction cups are necessary. Heat shields are an excellent short-term remedy for cockpit overheating, but use the Canopy Cover for more effective and practical long term protection. Heat shields should not be used on polarized windows.
