Is it ok to leave the plexiglass off the side panels of the door etc? what about the plexiglass at the rear of the turtledeck. I like to hang my hand out the door like a redneck and feel the summer breeze.  

I had a HiMax years ago and never flew it with the side windows installed but I never flew without the rear window.

I made a hinged flip down window and the door on three hinge sections so I could pull the pins and remove it in seconds, I didn't fly much that way as I am more of an enclosed kinda pilot. When it was hot I flew with the window open until I reached altitude where it cooled off and then closed it anyway.

There was a guy at Sun 'N' Fun once who flew his with only a windshield.

Something like this ?

http://www.lonesomebuzzards.com/blahdocs/uploads/paramax2_2282.jpg

Quoted from 71

I made a hinged flip down window and the door on three hinge sections so I could pull the pins and remove it in seconds, I didn't fly much that way as I am more of an enclosed kinda pilot. When it was hot I flew with the window open until I reached altitude where it cooled off and then closed it anyway.

There was a guy at Sun 'N' Fun once who flew his with only a windshield.

One of the guys I used to fly with flew a skyranger was a enclosed pilot like yourself. The skyranger doors can be removed for summer flying. I wasn't flying with him at the time and he told me about how his door flew open in flight and nearly gave him a heart attack. I am not a fan of heights myself but somehow I feel less vulnerable straped into a airplane.  

Quoted from Keith103

Something like this ?

http://www.lonesomebuzzards.com/blahdocs/uploads/paramax2_2282.jpg

exactly keith

All those additional exposed round struts must add a ton to an already draggy airframe.

Curiously I don't remember seeing any report or evidence of this plane flying

The Paramax hasn't flown yet.  I hope it isn't draggier than the Leohle Sport Parasol.  I'm prepared to go to a more powerful engine if needed.