The JP3 had a canopy that was wound shut using a handle connected to a cog & chain system. On one of my early solo flights - from an airfield somewhere in Lincolnshire - I was taxying out on a very warm day and decided to leave the canopy open a little longer to help reduce the ambient temperature a little. I finally lined up and wound the monster up to full noise, and then noticed that it was getting a bit windy, so had to take my hand off the noise handle and wind quickly to shut the canopy . The adrenalin must have kicked in at this stage, and the handle came off in my hand.
At about 90kt, I decided I had too much information to deal with and aborted the take-off. Things were quiet until I cleared the runway, and was then asked by the duty instructor as to why I had abandoned the take-off.
'uuuum. Delta 76 has just broken off the canopy winding handle...'
A ghostly voice immediately came over the ether
'ooooooo, you big strong boy, you ......'