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February RV
Wallpaper of the Month

Life with a Van's RV
A site championing the fun and friends that come with
Van's RV aircraft ownership.
Published weekdays by Doug Reeves. Home of the VAF Forums (register).  Online since 1998.


random photo by doug reeves (unless noted on image)

Mon 02.08.10 1234z
  
Good morning!  Yesterday before the weather rolled in, which is staying around for a couple days at least, I Miata'd out to 52F while the getting was good and took the RV up for a bit.  The mission was maintaining proficiency.  It had been six days since the last flight, I was starting to get a little twitchy for it, and needed to get my fly on pretty quick or it was going to get worst (the weather and my skills).  We were OVC at 1800' with viz in the five mile range, but that was plenty good for some touch 'n go practice.  It was in the high 40's on the drive out, and that calls for the coat and cap on, the top down, and the tunes and heater cranked up.  Love driving like that.
  Had the field mostly to myself and spent my time in the pattern practicing landings in various energy states and flap settings.  Didn't dork any of them up too bad - some were even acceptable.  Spent the rest of the day doing house stuff and on my @ss watching golf and the Super Bowl.  Made some good progress on the garage slash aircraft shop project - didn't take a picture like I said I would, but I'll get to that today.
  Congrats to the Saints, their fans, the crew of Endeavour and those that make her fly.  Hope you had a VFR and safe RV-filled weekend and that your Monday goes smooth.
    Doug Reeves

First Flight: RV-12 s/n 120186 ...Vern Hendershott
   7 February at 1230 EST Capt. Mike Kelly (Retired United Airlines, EAA Flight & Technical counselor, RV-8 builder/owner, and A&P) test flew RV-12 Sr. No. 120186 N397JC for its first flight at Spruce Creek (7FL6) Florida, the aircraft flew very well and Mike commented that the control balance was better than a RV-8. This RV-12 was built by Vern Hendershott (retired aviation executive, EAA Technical Counselor, commercial pilot and A&P) and his partner Chester in about a year with some time lost while waiting for the next kits to be released. The aircraft has been sold to Jim Corley of Spruce Creek who built the fin, rudder, stabilator and anti-servo tabs from another RV-12 kit and these units were used on his new aircraft. Vern Hendershott will complete his second RV-12 when the rest of the kit previously started by Jim Corley arrives this month.
  

Trip Write-up: Central America 2010
   The following is my daily log of my third January trip in my RV6A to Central America. Joan decided not to go this time so my friend Bob Each joined me for this adventure. We flew to Guatemala City with friends in a Bonanza, Bruce & Tobey Taber. We left on January 13 and had a rough plan of where we would stop and what we would do, but we had to be flexible as life intervened. For instance we were not able to join Darrel Shy and his 3 passengers in Roatan due to unexpected events which will be revealed. 
continue
  

Sean Strasburg's Door Latch S.B. Replacement for the RV-10 ...Sean is 'Strasnuts' in the VAF forums.
   Here is my new latch mechanism for my doors. I ran through soooo many ideas and finally came to this....
  

Embedded video of it in use.

direct link to video HERE.
related: The RV-10 forum

First Carbon RV-10 Panel Specifically Designed for the Garmin G900 Out of the Mold ...Geoff Combs
  These panels will use all the same lower console pieces as our standard panel.  It will also fit with the carbon center armrest console as well as the throttle quadrant kit.


related: The RV-10 forum
 

Technically-Oriented Model-Specific Thread Activity

VAF Family
Seattle Area RV-12 Builders Gather
   Three Seattle area builders got together yesterday to compare notes on our RV-12 projects. Gary (L) has empennage in progress in Maple Valley, Tony (M) is on powerplant kit in Burien, Hal (R) is just starting the fuselage in Spanaway. 
more
  

Helpers ...Hans Conser
   I continue to improve my plane on a regular basis, and find helpers to be so useful. Someone to bounce an idea off of is nice, and certain helpers have special skills; like electrical.

Motivation
Winter Air To Air - Starring Sky Pig Deuce! ...photos by Pete Howell

Recent RV Travel Stories Recent Photo Albums Recent Videos:

Video
ASV Videos of Sensenich Prop Overhaul ...fascinating stuff!!!

Troubleshooting
Paint is going to be the end of me ...Randy
   I am in the middle of a painters worst nightmare. A little background. I tried spraying the fuselage myself, and that turned out pretty bad. I tried to fix it, and that turned out bad as well. I took it to a paint shop, followed their instructions, they shot it with basecoat again, and all the flaws are coming back up. So the only thing to do is strip all the paint off and start again. My Bad. You live you learn, I think I have taken the whole experience in stride pretty well. But, I helped the painter prep the wings, VS, and HS. Those got shot a couple days ago, by the painter, in a paint booth, and he is a pretty good painter. The next day we pick up the parts from the paint booth and right off the bat, there was more orange peel than I would have liked but nothing a little elbow grease can't fix up, till we took the parts outside. Severe tiger strips, and the clearcoat doesn't even flow out over the basecoat where it was put on too light. I am not really looking for painting advice per say, but I must ask the question.
   Has anybody else gone through this kind of painting HELL? I have countless hours into this paint and I feel as if I am getting further and further away from flying with every spraying. Has anyone had to get out the stripper and strip their fuselage. I am not looking forward to stripping the fuselage as I am afriad the stripper is going to get inside the fuse and cause me further grief.

VAF Calendar 60 Days Out (go to Main VAF calendar)
  02-27-2010: Ottawa, Canada - Mo's Fly-in, (KHEG) Fly-IN BBQ Herlong JAX, FL
ADD and EDIT your own area's RV events.

Building Tips / Techniques/ Mods
RV-10 Parking Brakes Illustrated ...Bob Leffler
   Here are a couple pictures of my parking brake valve installation.
  

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
Slick questions ...Paul Dye
   Well, it looks like the left Mag on Louise's RV-6 is finally calling it quits - best we can tell from the logs, it has 1800 hours since new, and the only things done to it along the way have been timing checks. It has been getting harder and harder to start (ignition key that grounds out the right mag in the start position), and we'd rather not get stranded. I took it off and did an E-gap check (close) and internal visual inspection (looked good) today, but now I can't even get it to time right. I consider these to be 2,000 hour mags anyway, so i figure I'll order a new one Monday morning. A couple of questions came up though thought I'd throw them out to the brain trust...
   1) The O-360-A1A has a 4373 on the left 4370 on the right. My TMX-0360 has a 4371/4370 combination, which I thought was standard....but looking up the Unison App table, it calls for 4373/4370. the only difference I can find in on line references is the lag angle 4373 is 20 degrees, 4371 is 25 degrees. Anyone know if this really makes a difference? My Mattituck built engine has preformed exceptionally with the 4371....
   2) What would make a mag check fine on the bench for E-gap and point opening, but not do a thing on th e"buzz box" when hooked back up on the airplane? That's what I've got now - "It's dead, Jim....". It bugs me that it appeared to be working a little when I took it off - now I can't get it to do anything.
   3) Anyone know of a good deal/great price right now? I need to get one first thing Monday morning - Louise uses it to commute, and I'm gonna lose my airplane if her's isn't flying!

Miscellaneous
Wanna Be In The New RV Marketing Video?...from Ken Scott at Van's
   Hey, Dougie...
   I need a couple of RV builders, far enough along to have recognizable airplane parts, to volunteer to let a film crew video their project.  We're upgrading the RV Story video and need some hands-on builder's shots within fifteen or twenty miles of Aurora.  I'd like to get this done in the next few days.
   Of course, if any RV builder elsewhere wants to send us footage (HD) of work happening, we'd be glad to archive it and use it where we can.
   Prospective movie stars can call me at Van's.  (503) 678-6545 8:00a-4:30p pacific time
Thanks,
Ken

Airplanes in the 'Virtual Globetrotting' Web Site ...and other stuff.



Fri 02.05.10 1300z
   Friday!!!  Worked in the garage slash aircraft factory three evenings this week.  About 2/3rds of the walls/shelves are painted now and most of the shelf contents are on two freestanding shelves up in the attic.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to put down a light gray epoxy floor from UCoatIt.com ($249) with matching color latex on the ceiling.  It's going to be a MUCH more conducive place to work on the RV-3B project (and the cars for that matter).  Matt Johnson, your shop pics lit a fire in me.  I'll get a updated progress pic over the weekend.
   Wishing you a VFR, happy and safe RV-filled weekend.

 
  Doug Reeves

Acts of Charity Section (using your RV) Created...in the forums.
   Haulin dogs around.  Delivering blood/supplies to areas that need it, etc.  A place to talk about using your RV to give back.  I'd ask the moderators to start moving these threads over into that section as they come across them (with the 'Leave Expiring Redirect' option set to one month).
  
        arrow shows location

RV Airlift Duty ...Vern Darley
   An elderly gentleman from another state who spent 42 years in the USAF/ USAFR has proven difficult to get to various family events and doctor/ lawyer appointments UNLESS he is flown there!  I've been called upon to fly him to these important events. He is unable to get in/out of my 6A by himself so I must arrange for helpers on both ends. He has proven ornery and difficult for family members but when he gets around me and my plane, he is charming. So, my little occasional airlift duties have allowed the family to manage his affairs. It's a small thing in return for someone who served our nation from 1946 onward.
Vern Darley
  

A Milestone Day ...RV-12 Tony Tessitore (Seattle)
   First install of the wings today with the help of retired airforce pilot Randy G. (on the right) and match drilled the Flaperon Torgue Arms.
  
   (more pics)

Highest altitude in an RV  ...in the lead is 49,000', but that RV was slightly modified <g>.

Forum Posting Rules
   Every so often I like to put a spotlight on the rules for posting.  I took a few moments yesterday to clarify a few things and fixed a few grammar errors.  If you haven't read the posting rules in a few months (or ever), please take a moment to give them a glance.  It won't take but two or three minutes.
   It continues to amaze me that with over 11,500 (mostly) alpha male pilot types in the same room typing away there is so little friction.  Very unusual for an online community, and a testament to the caliber of the RV community.

Construction
RV-8 Panel Powered Up ...name not given, but a pretty shot.

Advertiser's Corner...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
Tina's Pilot Shop News
   Here is the latest offering from Tina's Pilot Shop.

   Our OEM LightSpeed Headsets....prices going up March 1, 2010 from $20.00 to $35.00 depending on model.

   V-11P Passive Only ~~~ $89.99 ~~ Retail $109.99
   V-12P Passive w/ Cell adapter ~~~ 129.99 ~~ Retail $159.99
   V-ANR w/ Cell & Audio ~~~ $249.99 ~~ Retail $279.99
   All Headsets purchased will include a free mic muff & headset bag, as well as FREE Ground Shipping.

   Also for February, License Plate Frame~~ White Plastic with Blue lettering "I LOVE FLYING"
   Retail $9.99 Special while they last ONLY $5.00 includes free Ground Shipping.

   Embroidered on both sides 'REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT " key chains Retail $5.99 Only $3.99
    www.tinaspilotshop.com and/or (817) 490-0046.

JDAir Pedal Extensions
   JD air is excited to announce the release of our next new product, pedal extensions for the RV 4/6/7/9 series.
   The Pedal Extensions improve the RV rudder/brake foot geometry so it’s much easier and safer to taxi, take off, and use full rudder defection without inadvertently touching the brakes. The improved angle prevents “dragging” the brakes causing premature brake wear and over heating. The pedals were designed by Jason and CNC machined utilizing aircraft aluminum. Jason also did the machining. Each piece is hard anodized in black to minimize wear. The pedals are great looking and install in minutes.
   I was skeptical as to how beneficial the extensions would actually be. Well, after flying them for just a few hours, I don’t know I flew without them. Before the extensions I was always concerned about dragging the brakes, especially with a tail wheel airplane. Now, rudder control is positive with the possibility of brake interaction during normal rudder use eliminated.
   Keep in mind, the pedal extensions aren’t to get your feet closer to the pedals but to improve rudder/brake geometry and improve safety. Once you experience the pedal extensions from JDair, I think you’ll agree.
   We have the extensions in stock and ready for immediate shipping. The special introductory price is $65.00 per pair plus shipping. Visit www.jdair.com to order. Several new products are in the works to make your building and flying more enjoyable and safer.


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