1977 M20J Windshield shipping cost & shops

[Maxx]

Thanks all for your input and suggestions.  I finally got the 3/16" Clear windshield from Great lakes aero products (GLAP) and they shipped via YRC freight.  

Installed at E&E Aviation, Hooks Airport in 2-3 days.  Contact Raymond Villalba, he's plain spoken, down to earth, honest and very helpful.

[ArtVandelay]

Any information on weather the upgraded 1/4” windshield required any type of modification to going into a m20j? My plane is getting ready to get painted and we discovered a couple stress cracks. Now seems the best time to change it. 

The instructions that came with the STC seem basically simple, remove retainers (screws or rivets), etc. I don’t see anything that requires a major change.

[Pinecone]

I wonder if I should plan on window replacement when my plane is in the shop for avionics and interior.

All of them are a bit cloudy.

[Aerodon]

On 6/29/2022 at 8:24 AM, jetdriven said:

I think it’s a little less noise and a little better protection from birds, but it takes extra several hours to install because you have to mill a step on the edge of the window down to fit inside the joggle  but not too far is to be visible from behind the plastic.

I see airline windows are nicely milled to make them flush.  I think it takes really good machinery and knowledge to machine plastics in a way that does cause them to break during the process or future.  It takes special drill bits that 'don't grab', and all edges need to be nicely sanded and polished.  The RV guys have endless problems with cracked windshields, the Evolutions that popped their windshields were traced back to scratches left over from sanding.  A local C414 is currently having multiple side windows replaced due to cracking.  Early Pipers have thin (1/8") windshields and I think replacements up to 1/4" are available.  I have witnessed the last screw being tightened on a Cherokee and seeing the windshield crack.  My friend's Lancair has a 3/8" windshield (maybe even 1/2").

What I am trying to say is make sure you do you research properly to ensure a thicker windshield will fit, and make sure your installer knows what he is doing with drilling, cutting, fitting, sanding, milling, sealants etc.  It's very nice getting a new thicker, tinted, UV protected windshield, but get it done properly.  Shipping is the least of your concerns...a lot of labour goes into this, and a lot can go wrong.

 

Aerodon

 

 

 

 

[ArtVandelay]

My AP mentioned having to trim the windows, but didn’t mention milling them. I took the trimming to be trimming the size of the windows.