Tint or No Tint Skylight

[Kerbs]

I am getting ready to install a skylight and was curious if people at experience with using either tinted or clear acrylic? The clear would be great for visibility but I am concerned I may bake in the summer.

[Robert Lees]

I would recommend clear, largely because I thing tinted would look really strange!

You could use an automotive static window shade in the hot weather (the ones that look porous, and "stick" on with static electricity. AOPA used to give them away at events.

Rob

[Ryan]

Ours is smoked 30% if I remember. We never have the bad greenhouse effect.

[LostnSpace]

Seems like mine is 30 per cent also, haven't noticed any problems, no one has told me it looks strange, course I don't fly with anyone from across the pond,

[Laz]

I used tinted great on mine and it is just fine.

[Hank Jarrett]

Is there a tint that provides UV protection? I like my dermatologist, but would rather not see her with a scalpel.

Hank

[Clark]

I have seen in a couple of different photos where people have utilized what looks like a curtain arrangement between skylight and tubing that can be moved back and forth. I've also seen panels which can be installed or removed.

[Hank Jarrett]

I will be putting in curtains on my 45 that use Velcro to hold them in, but wonder if anyone has a source for UV filter Plexi or a source for the film that blocks all UV.

Hank

[Mark Bowden]

A handy 3M product, clear or variety of tints.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/automotive-window-solutions-us/solutions/block-uv-rays/

Generally have to go to a 3M authorized auto film shop which are common. You can search their site by zip code. Believe it has lifetime warranty. No metal in the film so it won't (shouldn't ) block signal sources or transmissions.

Mark

[Hank Jarrett]

Just talked to a tech person at a 3-M distributor and they said NOT to use the UV film on Plexy. Kind of surprised me but they said that the UV film should only be used on glass because in the process of filtering the UV out the film makes the carrier material get hot and that Plexy would craze and be weakened. I need to do some more research. I know that the sailplane canopies we use are UV protected but don't know what process they use. I know they don't craze or loose strength.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

OK, looks like it is the FILM that is the problem. There ARE UV blocking Lexans and Plexy. If someone else doesn't beat me to it I will let you know what I end up with.

Hank

[Mark Bowden]

Yes Hank that is a bit of surprise that it would warm it up that much. Also a bit of surprise he didn't have a plexi product to suggest, usually a 3M tech will have some sort of alternative.
I'll dig a bit too.

[Hank Jarrett]

He was a "she" and said she was really only used to the film on glass, usually cars and homes. She didn't say she had much experience with plastic and none with aircraft.

[Kerbs]

In my search for the skylight, I found UV filtering acrylic at tapplastics.com however it wasn't available in a tinted version. I believe professionalplastics.com may have had some UV filtering as well.

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/cut_to_size_plastic/acrylic_sheets_op3_uv_filtering/512