All F-16 Canopies, as purchased new through Linder Design, are rejects for visual flaws only. All custom Lavin canopies, which are what many of the current canopy windows, are expected to be free of visual defects. Both are made at TexStar in Texas to Mil Spec's, and must withstand the frozen chicken cannon which fires the birds at 550 mph into test canopies. There is only one way to mount these canopies or windows and that requires using Texstar grommets spaced at precise distances from both the edge of the canopy and each other....otherwise the structure will be severely compromised. The mounting techniques must not only consider the canopy material but also the mounting surfaces must be of a certain minimum strength on the cockpit and deck....and...all seams between canopy and hull/deck must be filled and covered with a fiberglass cowling to absolutely prevent any water entry under any conditions. Water becomes a chisel at speed and will "wedge" any mis mounted canopy to shreds. It is in the mounting where many otherwise well respected major boat builders skip the fatal details.
Many canopies are out there at lower prices, but are not available from either Linder Design (The exclusive marine distributer) or TexStar. These are either used or discarded Military F-16 canopies that are mothballed due to age (ultra violet and infra red rays degrade the materials over time---- about 5 years is the mandated life span). The oldest F-16 canopies are thinner than the current models due to the "bird" requirements and are at least 20 years old at this point. It is also correct that above a certain speed the standard F-16 canopies cannot withstand the stresses. At that point the "windowed" canopies must be utilized and basically the windows must reduce in size as speed increases to increase the overall strength of these inserts.
The most suspect canopies of all, however, are the ones made as "pops" (yes it happens here as well). These are thinner material and not made of the same form of laminated plastics. These have less strength and other properties.
Under no circumstances are half canopies to be considered saftety devices as high speed water pressure through any portal or angle will easily rip them off making them nothing more than another sometimes fatal (and sharp)projectile.
All of this probably annoys many of you....but facts are facts.
T2x