ramalama137
I'm New Here
Any 14 flyers using this kit? If so, thoughts/comments?
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Are Jet Shades Ultra-Thins worth it?
- Thread starter ramalama137
- Start date
Ordered a set during OSH. They arrived a week ago. Documentation supplied was for RV-6/7/9. Cannot reconcile the contents with parts list. I have contacted the company for 14 specific parts list snd instructions. Cannot identify several parts. Still waiting. Disappointing. Will advise on performance when I get some support from vendor. Also, be advised this is a kit. Will require considerable effort.
Rdog420
Well Known Member
I have installed like 25 sets of jet shades. They are a pain. I hate them, i don't like them. I would use wing view tint that actually gets applied to the window. On a new RV this probably won't matter as much........ BUT Jet shades work by putting pressure on the surrounding trim.. If you cut them too small, the owners will complain that they intermittently fall out.... So then you start adjusting the fit so they are more snug.... Now the owners complain that the trim starts to crack on their 1976 Beech. all and all, i hate them, they are labor intensive, and i hate them.. and i don't like them....
this is my unbiased opinion as an installer.
ramalama137
I'm New Here
Do you have knowledge of any RV-14 installations of Wing View Tint?
Rdog420
Well Known Member
Wing view is a different animal. It’s appli to window like regular tint. In experimental that’s the way to go. I’m not sure how they handle the certificated side because there’s a reg that says you can’t have film on the actual window.. that’s the reason jet shades does their removable panels
Not an RV14, but based on experience with an RV7 I would not consider them. Extremely poor fit and even worse customer service - save your money!
Look into Covercraft out of Brazil. I have been very happy with their shades for my 9A, and the price was great. Can't link to them here as they aren't an advertiser I believe.
ramalama137
I'm New Here
Great feedback, thanks y’all. Anyone have knowledge of Wing View Tint application on -14, -7 or -9?
ramalama137
I'm New Here
Does Covercraft have tinted shades for use while operating? All I found were shades for blocking the sun while the aircraft is parked.
The ones I have stay on and cover the top portion of the canopy. They are easily removable if wanted, but I leave mine on. Keeps things cooler in the cockpit as well as reduces glare on sunny days.
I have a set of the Wing View Tint shades.....absolutely love them. I bought them on a whim at Oshkosh last year. They looked gimmicky but I thought "what the heck". I absolutely love them!
I've had three RV owners in my -14 and all three purchased these shades after using them in my airplane.
Highly recommended.
I've had three RV owners in my -14 and all three purchased these shades after using them in my airplane.
Highly recommended.
ramalama137
I'm New Here
You must have the Slap Shades. I might do that but I’m really interested in having the Wing View Tint film permanently installed on the top and back of my bubble canopy and windows. Does anyone have knowledge of a builder/owner doing something similar?
UPDATE: With the proper mounting brackets shipped for the -14, I attempted to get the JetShades installed before flying to Sun-N-Fun. Only got the right aft window done. Huge investment of my time to get this far. By the time I returned home, many of the mounting brackets had failed and it was clear the shade would not stay in place very long. I gave up on this project. Not worth the effort.
More recently, I took another approach and had some success. I purchased a role of Gila static cling vinyl window tinting from auto parts store (PN JS246). Very inexpensive. 24" x 77" was enough to cover both sides of the aft window. The process of cutting and fitting the material is tedious. I started by using the exterior window as a pattern and marking with a china pencil and fine tuning the fit from there. The material is floated onto the window with a solution of distilled water and mild soap, ration 64:1. Getting it fitted and conforming to the curvature of the window is trial and error and patience, but the material is flexible and it can be done. I used a credit card to squee-gee liquid and air bubbles out. Doing all this from inside the baggage compartment and upside down is also a challenge. Took about an hour for each side.
This material provides 20% light transmission and claims to block most UV and substantial IR. Being static cling (no adhesive) this material can be removed. The optical clarity is not great, but not important for the rear windows. I am going to search for an alternative with better optical clarity and experiment with the canopy next. Even if only the rear is covered, this should block out a lot of unwanted heat from the green house we fly in.
More recently, I took another approach and had some success. I purchased a role of Gila static cling vinyl window tinting from auto parts store (PN JS246). Very inexpensive. 24" x 77" was enough to cover both sides of the aft window. The process of cutting and fitting the material is tedious. I started by using the exterior window as a pattern and marking with a china pencil and fine tuning the fit from there. The material is floated onto the window with a solution of distilled water and mild soap, ration 64:1. Getting it fitted and conforming to the curvature of the window is trial and error and patience, but the material is flexible and it can be done. I used a credit card to squee-gee liquid and air bubbles out. Doing all this from inside the baggage compartment and upside down is also a challenge. Took about an hour for each side.
This material provides 20% light transmission and claims to block most UV and substantial IR. Being static cling (no adhesive) this material can be removed. The optical clarity is not great, but not important for the rear windows. I am going to search for an alternative with better optical clarity and experiment with the canopy next. Even if only the rear is covered, this should block out a lot of unwanted heat from the green house we fly in.
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ramalama137
I'm New Here
Fantastic update, thank you, jsisk. Consider product from windowtint.com, Exterior Plexi 2 Mil Silver 20% VLT Window Tinting Film. I stumbled across it recently and am considering installation when the time is right. If you get to it before I do, please share your experience.
