Koger Sunshades

Koger Sunshades were developed in 1996 by Ralph Koger, of Boone, Iowa. While flying his award-winning RV-6A, he had trouble seeing his digital instruments because of the sun reflecting in the cockpit. Having flown training aircraft in WW2 with built-in shades, an idea was born. In an effort to increase instrument visibility and reduce cockpit temperature, he started to experiment with new, lightweight retractable sunshades built to resemble those that he had used in WW2. The KOGER SUNSHADE was born, made especially for the home-built airplane market.

At age 93 Ralph retired and sold the business in 2016 to Jeff and Peg Lorimor. Jeff is a retired engineer from Iowa State University. Peg, a superb seamstress and quilter, retired from sewing RV seats for DJ Lauritson in Boone, Iowa, to help out with their newly acquired sunshade business. Jeff is himself a veteran pilot and homebuilder with an RV-6 in his history and an RV-12 in progress.

Summer of 2021, Jeff and Pegs niece Kathy and her husband John joined the Koger team. They have experience running their own small business and are thrilled to continue this family-run business. John has experience in radar maintenance on C-130s and is currently an avid Para motorist.

All Koger Sunshades are handcrafted by Jeff, Peg John and Kathy. Jeff and Peg work from their shop in Earlham, Iowa, off I-80, just west of Des Moines. John and Kathy have a shop in the mountain town of Buena Vista, CO.

Although Koger Sunshades were originally designed for Vans RV-series aircraft, they have been adapted to fit many other aircraft models, including: LSAs, gliders, high-wing aircraft, gyrocopters, helicopters and even vintage military aircraft including a B-25. Koger Sunshades can be made to fit almost every type of aircraft – give us a call and try them out.