August 17, 2018.   Issue #4,634.
  I have the RV White Pages, the RV Hotel and the Donations page all updated and current as of 8/16 22Z.  THANK YOU!!! to those who help our family keep this small little niche business online and afloat.
  Hope some pictures surface Monday from Homecoming this weekend.  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend! 
 

Milestone ...Av8torTom 9A

Got my engine hung today. LOTS of bad words were expressed trying to attach the engine to the dynafocal mount, but finally managed it... whew!

Video: OSH'18 ...David Rohrlick's pretty kick@ass 12 min. video

"A little bit of my Oshkosh Airventure 2018 With emphasis on RV-12 Aircraft."

Status Report ...jcarne 7A

Well school is back in session so looks like my progress will slow down a bit. Oh well, still trying to work on the plane every night. After riveting some things like the top deck and gussets it is time to work on the top skins.  ...

Status Report ...SpeedyMedina

Here is mine in Puerto Rico in process of painting! here some pictures of the construction I will update the ones painting later!

Brake Master Cylinders Bolts and Nuts Torque  ...Tilford RV14A

Good morning folks,

I know this note on page 33-04, "Tighten the nuts and bolts until they are finger-tight DO NOT use standard torque values," applies to the nuts and bolts attaching the rudder pedals. Does it also apply to the nuts and bolts attaching the brake master cylinders, or should those be torqued to standard values?

RV-10 Air Horn ...Justin

Had a chance to wire up the airhorn I bought for the plane. Sorry for the shotty production quality, just thought it would be fun to have the kids help with the test. My daughter almost dropped her phone....

Status Report in Pics ...#56 RV7ForMe

First day of aileron construction!

It has been a while since I have posted or worked on the plane. They say you should work on it a little bit every day. Well I must admit I didn't do much of anything for about 1 month.

Coming back to the shop and getting all the parts out needed for the ailerons was quite exciting.

VAF Charity Hat Sighting ...Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Full size (about the cap)

2018 Independence Fly-In and Vans Homecoming

"The "Wings Over the Willamette" fly-in, Van's Homecoming and a STOL expo are all on slate this weekend, August 17-19, at 7S5 - Independence, Oregon. Come on out and Join Van's staff in the fun. We will be flying some of our factory airplanes down and look forward to seeing you there!

Speakers at the event this year from Van's will include Chief Engineer Rian Johnson and President Mitch Lock. In addition, other speakers will presenting on topics related to RVs, including Nigel Speedy on the topic of spin testing RVs and John Stahr on his amazing artwork that can be seen painted on some very special RVs. Other presentation topics include FAA updates, aeromedical information, electric airplanes, and use of experimental avionics in certified airplanes. A STOL contest on Sunday promises to be a lot of fun, too."

August 16, 2018.   Issue #4,633.
  First day of school for the Tater Wednesday - pics below 7th grade in '13 and as a senior this year.  I'm both happy and sad - and proud.  Very proud of the man he is becoming.  What an honor to be this young man's father.
  Lawn's lookin' pretty good, too...

Alvord Desert ...rph142

I checked a longstanding item off of my bucket list this past Sunday when I landed on the Alvord Desert Lake Bed. The flight up was quite smoky from the huge norcal fires. I touched down on the northwest corner of the lake because it looked the hardest, but I'm sure nearly anywhere would be fine. Next time I plan on practicing real engine outs.

Another reason to own an RV. ...a25afm

Flew the RV to fly the RC jet. Fits nice in the back without the rear seat.

Plenum Cowl Input ...DanH

There is no "perfect" size; any size covers an operating range. All the data says low Vi/Vo is superior, so when in doubt, go larger. Experimentally, six inches diameter seems to work well with the 390 and 540. The external diffusion (pressure rise in front of the inlet) is frictionless. The practical limit seems to be set by external drag, i.e. flow separation as the excess air flows from in front of the inlet, to outward and around the inlet....something like this

Right Brake Won't Bleed, RV-6A  ...petehowell

Here's the situation. Buddy has an RV-6A. We found a leaking, cracked flare at the right caliper and fixed it. Having a whale of time getting the air out of the right side brake system when we bleed. Pilot side brakes only. Has a soft pedal that can be pumped up to solid, then goes soft in a short amount of time. Left side has solid pedal, no problems.

Here's what we have done. Garden sprayer pressure bleeder from the bottom up. We've run several qts thru the system and out thru the reservoir. No bubbles coming out at the reservoir. Still a soft pedal.

We took the pressure side line off the master that goes over the top of the pedals and tried to get any air out of that - then rebled from the bottom up - soft pedal.

Replace master cylinder on the right side, re-bled, still soft pedal.

There is section of pressure side line that goes from the flex hose to to solid tube then up and over where the battery box used to be then on to the gear leg bulkhead fitting. That area looks ripe to store a bubble, any ideas how to flush it out better?

There are no fluid leaks we can see anywhere. Any tricks we are missing or areas to inspect further?

Thanks for any Ideas.......

About to Make First Cowl Cut - Seems Extreme? ...IowaRV9Dreamer

I'm finally going to start work on this cowl from 2010. The first step is apparently to get the front and back to mate and form a 13" circle. The manual provides some high level guidance - basically trim it till it works.

How to "Keep Up" with a Piper Tomahawk ...AlexPeterson

A friend visited us this past weekend, flying up in his club's Tomahawk. When he left, I decided to escort him on his way in the RV6A. I gave him a couple minute's head start, and took off, keeping him in sight. OAT was around 90F, so I knew I wouldn't be able to stay behind him at only 70 knots long before engine temps climbed. After a minute or two, while he was climbing at 70KIAS, I sped up to 120 or so and zig-zagged behind him, all the while climbing above him. I reported to him that he was looking at a headwind of 30 knots at 3.5'k. I climbed to 5.5'k and reported to him that the headwind diminished to about 10 knots there. I then descended back to his altitude, flew on his wing at 70 knots again for a minute, then buggered out back to base.

Here's the ground track:

A Little More Playing Around w/the DIY Lifting Creeper Idear

...updated pic

F=M*A.   What kind of pulling power is going to be needed to raise it when the chair is (almost) flat.  I would think it might be pretty hard, if not impossible, to lift from flat with a person lying on it.  Stuff to work out...

Some more picture detail with fixtures from an old garage door.  Fun to play with...

From Ed at Pecan...

FMI: http://eaa983.org/wp1/community/annual-fly-in/

RV IAC Aerobatic Competition Standings - 2018

Galen Killam and Charlie Teeuwsen both put up some decent scores recently. Charlie placed third in Sportsman at the Can-Am Championship, securing a third place overall standing in the RV Competition Standings. Galen is holding onto 4th place in the Standings now.

There are still plenty of contests this season. I count 15 regional contests left, plus the US National Aerobatic Contest in Oshkosh (Sept 22-28).

Motherhip Ping...

August 15, 2018.   Issue #4,632.
  Has anyone in the RV world built a DIY lifting floor creeper?  Something like the guy here, but with a twist.  There are a few threads about people buying lifting creepers, but I was specifically looking for a DIY, made with 2 X 4's and bolts type thing.  Workbench like...
   My little mod idea:  I would like to have a boat winch type setup on the right side just about where my hand would rest.  This so I can crank it while laying down to lift the creeper bed slightly. I don't see why the crank assembly couldn't stick up a little bit to accommodate a standard winch/handle. Something like the Photoshopped Frankenstein here that I hobbled together.  Obviously the creeper wouldn't be this polished - more like a wooden workbench.
  You know how you need different heights when you're wiping the leading vs trailing edges of your taildragger RV?  And the bottom of the cowl vs the underside of the HS?  Trying to address those things using the RV Community Brain Trust.....and wood.
  Something like Sam did with his DIY tail lift project, but laid down over on its side.  Absolutely if I can work up some plans and a prototype with the help of others, I'll host the parts list and plans here somewhere if nobody else wants to.
   I started a thread on it to hopefully get the ball rolling.

VAF is World of Friends : Alabama / Italy ...lucaperazzolli hat sighting

Chris, his wife and father in law visited us at hangar. We had a good lunch then we spent the afternoon in historic center of Trento town. It was a great day and yes, we had our VAF hat on.

I've got a Builder Number! ...Kenny Cahill

After a few weeks of tooling up, bench building, and and working through the practice aileron kit, I've placed my order for my empennage. I'm extremely excited about what lies ahead.

I'm also registered for the sport air workshop on RV assembly in September (Frederick, MD). Hoping to continue sharpening my skills there but also get the bigger picture of the end game (finishing, paperwork, inspections etc.)

Jason Ellis got the referral for his awesome youtube series filming his RV-10 build. I watched most of his content as I deliberated if this was the direction I wanted to go.

Look forward to participating in this community!
__________________
Preparing to build an RV-7

RV-12 Build and Maiden flight.

Enjoy the video.  https://youtu.be/pULILLv7F90
__________________
Lukla
Glendale AZ

Houston Gang

Panel Update ...mwardle7

Greetings! I thought I would post a few pictures from a recent panel upgrade for those of you who may be looking for ideas on how to expand the features available on your RV-12 panel.

I have the G3X Touch with autopilot, but I do not have a separate control box for the autopilot. I like the utility of the Blue "LVL" button that is available on the separate control box for engaging the autopilot in straight and level mode, so I added a switch that is wired to a discrete input on the G3X for AFCS Level mode. The switch is the blue version of the red autopilot disconnect switch that Vans uses; here is a link to the part number on Mouser: OTTO LP9-11112J26. I had custom labels made a local trophy shop.  more

Oshkosh 2018 write up ...Bruce Hill

I finally found some time to create another blog entry about our trek to Oshkosh.  You can also skip ahead to the photo album here.  Another great time at Airventure, except for the arrivals.

August 14, 2018.   Issue #4,631.
  'Dirty Belly' entry, sent anonymously.  Being cleaned now I'm told. 

Step 0.1: Book the trip to Aurora ...joe gremlin

I've had a hankering to build some kind of RV ever since I started working on my private cert back in the late 90's. Never had the means or the time or the space to really consider it.

Going to be turning 50 next month and I'm finally to the point where I've got the time and the space. The money? Well we'll figure that out as we go. Wife has about a year of school to go on 2nd masters so not planning to start anything until next summer.

I've already booked us a room in Appleton for OSH next year so we can see all the Vans stuff as well as the competitors. But today we just booked a trip to Portland for my birthday next month. The plan is the to do a factory tour. At the very least we want to see how we fit in the 9 vs the 14 vs the 10 while we're there and take a demo ride if able.

Planning to go see the Spruce Goose while we're there and then spend a couple days seeing the Mt St Helens area.

Is there anything I should make sure I see/do while at Vans and is there anything else we should try to see or do in the area while we're there?

 

RV-3B Status Report ...David Paule

Serious Control System Issue ...jwilber RV-10

Doing my first annual. When checking the elevator control in the tunnel I found the jamb nut was loose about 6 turns. Upon further investigation I found that the F-1065 cross bar was scraping the safety wire which in turn had worked the jamb nut loose. This happens only when the stick is pulled all the way back and while all the back it moves left/right -- exactly what you do when landing.

I know for a fact this was not scraping when I finished the build. I believe the push tube just twisted enough to bring the safety wire straight up top. So this had to be fixed. My plan was to first remove the bearing from the assembly, loosen the other end and roll it to put the safety wire on the bottom so it could never interfere again. Then I was going to adjust the segments as necessary to prevent any lingering interference. .... Well, as soon as I started removing the nut/bolt holding the rod-end bearing, the safety wire fell out. The safety wire loop on the bearing side had broken and the safety wire was being held only by being compressed in the assembly. In other words, it was not doing anything at all.

This part in the RV10 is on-purpose designed to have the rod-end stick out far more than half the threads in order to prevent interference with the tube itself. The safety wire is meant to prevent the tube from ever turning and working loose. I know I built this to plans and had it checked by another builder at the time.

Based on this experience I'm not happy with this design. In my case the tube twisted enough to put the safety wire on the top where it was then the cause of the interference. Further, I believe the constant working of that safety wire back and forth during landing (especially when forward CG - like flying solo for the first 40 hours) caused the safety wire to work harden and break where it went around the rod-end. I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do to prevent this from happening again, but I'm considering safety wire on both sides in such a way to prevent the push-rod from rotating in either direction.

I'm not special so I'm assuming I'm not the only one where this has (or is) happening. I suggest everyone have a careful look at this next time you have the tunnel exposed.

In my case I caught it while doing a control system check with everything opened up for my first annual. When I had the stick full aft and moved side to side I could hear something scraping. And that lead to this find. ...

RV-7A Status Report ...jcarne

On to installing a bunch of little things on the fuse. First take: it's fun. Second: it's a lot harder to reach things now but I refuse to build a rotisserie. haha.  Time for some leveling.

Oil leak help

It looks like there is an oil leak coming from under the lower hold-down clamp of my right mag (slick). Looks like the oil is seeping through the stud and out from under the hold-down nut. I recently changed oil and adjusted the timing of the right mag. I have not flown since then. After finding the leak on the floor - many drips worth over the course of several days, I cleaned it up, hoping it was just some drips from the recent oil change. Days later the tiny puddle is back. I torqued to 17 ft-lbs after adjusting the timing according to the lycoming manual. Yesterday, I loosened the nut, cleaned up the oil seeps again and re-torqued it. Haven't checked it yet today.

Does it make sense that oil would seep from this spot? I read on the Google that there has been some issues in the past with torque on these hold-down nuts and cracking somewhere. Any suggestions or thoughts?

The Gouge on Ironflight's 60's BD Next Month.

Lycoming 1000 Hour Borescope - Vans RV9A

The video below shows the inside of our IO-320 at 1000 hours, just shy of 8 years in service. We used the VIVIDIA ABLESCOPE VA-400 INSPECTION BOROSCOPE that is available from ACS. Worked pretty good, just wished the resolution was a little higher. See for yourself and feel free to comment:
https://youtu.be/BliuUqHs0Yg

August 10, 2018.   Issue #4,629.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!  
 

Nerds of the World Unite! ...dr

A ten minute fuel run over the KXBP with as many landing waypoints on the nose as minutes in the flight plan.  Harder than I thought to pick out some of the really small strips from 2,500'.  I didn't know some of these were here.  Described in more detail at the link...

New RV Owner

I have finalized the purchase of an already flying RV6A, and will be going out to pick up the plane this weekend. Thanks to all who have helped me get connected with a ferry pilot/transition trainer. He will be flying most of the way back home (from California to Louisiana) with me and doing the training along the way. The plane is a 2013 completed model with skyview touch PFD/MFD dynon AP with a GTN650 navigator. I can't really describe how excited I am about owning my first plane and the trip back to get her home.

I wanted to start this post so I could post pics of the pickup and the trip back.

Build Status Report ...jcarne 7A

On to installing a bunch of little things on the fuse. First take: it's fun. Second: it's a lot harder to reach things now but I refuse to build a rotisserie. haha

Time for some leveling.

Multiple fuel flow transducer failures

I have the EI FT60 'Red Cube' flow transducer mounted in the center tunnel up near the firewall, just forward of the electric boost pump. It's the most inaccessible component on that entire airplane, and I neglected to install an access panel when I had the chance.

It failed after only 20 hours. I spent nearly 3 weeks taking everything apart to get at it and replace it, and the new one functioned just fine after several tests. That is, until I got the entire airplane put back together and had it out on the tarmac for engine startup. That's when the new transducer failed, with essentially zero hours on it. I had to walk away before I took a crowbar to that **** airplane.

This transducer is not in a high heat area (125 degrees F has been the max tunnel temp so far) and vibrations aren't excessive. Does anyone know what would cause these things to fail so quickly? I consider the flow sensor as a mission critical piece of equipment - the plane won't fly if it's not working.

P.S. - Do yourself a huge favor and install an access panel in the tunnel everywhere you have a critical piece of equipment. You will thank yourself later.

__________________
Jack and Dave Groat, father and son
RV-10 N1861G

Goofed Nose Rib - Next steps? ...RV-14

Section 8 (Horizontal Stabilizer) Page 08-11, Step 3.

Hi All,
I reached out to the mothership a few days ago, and while awaiting a response, I'm very interested in what you all think.

I’ve riveted the middle four HS-905 nose-ribs to the right and left skin.
On the last of the four ribs, the last rivet, I didn’t like the flushness of the manufactured head so I drilled out the rivet.
The head snapped clean off and when I used the punch on the rivet body, it bent out the flange on the nose rib a bit.

I tried using gorilla tape to hold the flange to the skin when re-riveting, but not with much luck; it sticks out. When I re-rivited, it bulged between the two parts.

What should I do about that last rivet? The only thought I had is to drill out the entire rib and replace with a new rib, but I’m quite concerned about ruining the entire skin by having to perform so many drill outs. And then making a small problem a really big, painful, expensive problem.

 

Those pesky leading edge rib to spar rivet-conquered!

Those "solid" rivet call outs for riveting the leading edge assembly ribs to main spar...most folks acquiesce and pull LP4 pop rivets or such. I challenged this task and I engineered a way to stick with the vans design! ...by driving the impossible to reach SOLID rivets in the leading edge ribs.
QA results: No smiley faces. No bent over shop heads. No gaps between ribs n spar.

What? How?: I drew up and tolerance'd a big steel block that holds five AN470 rivet sets. Imaging a rectangle block approx. 7" x 2.5" x 2.5" weighing about 13lbs or so. Placed this engineered tooling inside the leading edge assembly. Imagine if you have the wing in a jig/stand at this time, like you are supposed to at this phase, then this block lays inside and on top of the main spar. Then I back riveted vertically from the wing's aft side with a 12" offset back riveting set. Pretty awesome.
I was able to coax the Vans team into sharing with me actual dimensions for hole locations! Then I tolerance'd the tooling for the machinist.

Essentially this process is a heavy steel block (heavy mass desired) to back rivet against. And use a medium sized automotive ball-joint spreader as a pry bar. This remedied the long reach and clamping need. Basically my mission was to harness the easiest rivet method...back riveting, for purpose of best possible Quality.

I'll try to add photos here. But I am willing to align with anyone and lend you this tooling...even give a helping hand.
Sticking to the drawing and managing quality results equals finesse. An awesome feeling.

Formation stuff Oct 5-7

RAF camping trip at Creighton Island - Sept. 28th & 29th ...Bill

On the weekend of September 28th & 29th the RAF (www.theraf.org) will host the final Creighton Island fly-in camping trip of the season.

You are all welcome to come but I do ask that you RSVP to brepucci (at) theraf (dot) org. (Yes, No, and Maybe is acceptable.)

The island has good, clean drinking water and showers with hot and cold running water; however, you will be responsible for tents, sleeping bags, chairs, food, etc.

We hope to have a Pig Pick’n with a locally harvested swine on Saturday night. If we don’t have any luck, we will run into town and pick up supplies for a low country boil.

In addition, if you are a musician and can bring your instrument(s), please do so. We are trying to arrange some entertainment but the more the merrier!

As I said before, all are welcome but we ask that you RSVP, review the safety briefing, and watch this video of the approach, landing, and takeoff. (The camera ship was a certain blue and white RV-9.)

The runway is bumpy but I have seen an RV-9, two RV-10's, and an RV-4 in there.

We hope and pray for good weather and good times.

VPX and Contura rocker switches

After several threads on this subject showing some confusion, I made this schematic to help the non-expert in wiring builders connect Carling Contura switches to a VPX unit.

The big secret is to use double pole switches - labeled DPST - to remove any use of diodes with the VPX, and two independent lamps/LEDs if you want illumination.

I hope this schematic will help others -

August 9, 2018.   Issue #4,628.

RV-9A Around The World Update ...John

Due to concerns of potential damage to the plane from Hurricane Hector at Hilo, I relocated "May" to the island of Maui. Thanks to the VAF community (Ed, Scott, Eric, and Brad) I was able to secure a hanger at Kahului Airport (PHOG).

The winds aloft forecast for the Hawaii/California flight does not look favorable for the next two weeks. I decided to fly home commercially, rest and prepare for the final leg of the trip. When I return to Hawaii on August 21, I will complete work on the aircraft, fly back to Hilo, and wait for right moment to fly the 2000+nm to California.

John

Sky King Featured on the Garmin Blog

I'm proud to say I'm one of I think 3-4 people to solo this particular RV-8.  Yes, it's a pretty awesome flying plane.  Don't compliment him too much if you read this piece - it'll go to his head and we'll never hear the end of it at lunch ;^). 

McCauley Hub Question ...AX-O

I have been doing research on the McCauley hubs. Lots of info here but seems to be potentially obsolete based on the dates of the threads, people gave up on trying the combo on RVs or folks figured it out. I also found info on the McCauley website.

I am working with Catto propellers to develop/test a constant speed prop for RVs.

I cannot find any engineering drawings showing dimensions between the prop mounting flange, spinner back-plate mounting flange and/or the differences in dimensions between hubs. All I can find in their 500-plus-page doc is 4.5 or 6.5 inches from prop flange to center of the blade. I did call McCauley but long story short, no help.

Does anyone know where I can find that info? I was thinking of using the maybe the C211 or C214 hub, or the C220 hub since I have a 4-inch extension on my plane.

Thanks for any info that you can provide and for minimizing the thread drift.

Craig has been running the first constant speed prop on the test engine/stand for several weeks now. Hope to be flying the RV version in Jan if I can figure this stuff out (fingers crossed).

Looking at the -12, couple questions ...Eric B

I *was an RV-10 builder, but life came along and now those little feet need something to do. Why not build a plane?

First, I sold all the tools along with the kits and components a while back but the longeron yoke was my favorite for the pneumatic squeezer. Would a pneumatic squeezer be a benefit on he RV-12? I'm thinking of all the nutplates. Would a longeron yoke be useful for those?

Secondly, how much room is there behind the panel before you get to the subpa el? Looking to add an IFR navy to the mix, maybe Avidyne and the dimensions say it is 11" deep.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to getting back. Hopefully.

OSH'18 Pics ...Steve's co-pilot

Time for the 2019 Van's Calendar Photo Submissions! ...mothership

It's that time of year again! Please submit your greatest photos of RVs for consideration to be included in the 2019 Van's Aircraft calendar.

Please be sure to tell us where the photo was taken, who shot the photo, and about the plane(s)/pilot(s) in each photo. While we are mostly looking for photos of flying aircraft, send us what you've got and all will be considered. Also, we plan to get the calendars produced a bit earlier this year, so don't wait too long!

Submit your images is hi-res format to media@vansaircraft.com.

A panel will choose which photos are published in the calendar, and we will also look at including some of the photo submissions on our web site when we complete the revamp of vansaircraft.com later this year. By submitting your photos, you assure you are the photographer and that it's okay For Van's Aircraft to use your photo for calendar and web purposes.

Thanks!

 

Gas Tank Update ...DrillBit

Since a mod moved this to an archived forum* (originally posted to the temp section), I best finish the story in case you, Dear Readers, are wondering what happened...

To get gas to the boost pump, I slid some tygon tubing over the right tank vent and gently pressurized it, blowing into the other end of the tubing. After a short time, gas came siphoning out. Switched the fuel lever to off and let things sit awhile. Fired up the pump (wired as it was originally--the right way round ) and shazam, the pump was pumping.

However, despite the healthier sound coming from the dry pump, fuel flow read 0.0 gallons per hour (could have been firkins per fortnight, for that matter). Tried switching the Dynon EMS configuration to the second flow meter input pin in the Skyview EMS and once again, I had not hooked it up wrong. Easy to try since a software setting is easier than cut wires to reverse. (Besides, the second pin is for a tank return line and reads the opposite of fuel used!) This time, I was smart and decided to read up on troubleshooting Red Cubes before cutting wires or taking apart any plumbing.

In the meantime, I went ahead with baseline fuel flow tests with the a/c nearly level, about +1 degrees. Weighed the receiving jerry can with a fish scale before and after a timed pumping interval. Right tank: 1.9 lb in 30 sec = 228 lb/hr; left tank: 3.6 lb in 60 sec = 216 lb/hr. For an FI 160 HP engine, FAA recommends 1.25 x 0.55 gal/HP/hr x 160 HP = 110 lb/hr. Plenty of margin when level--we'll see what happens when tested at the "anticipated maximum angle of climb."

OK, what about the dang flow sensor? Dynon fora recommended grounding the yellow wire sensing line that goes to the Red Cube. If all is well in the EMS unit and wiring, tapping ground sends pulses and causes the fuel flow counter to advance--which it did. OK, if 12V and Gnd are good (red and black wires, respectively), then the Red Cube has a stuck impeller, dead electronics, or whatever. In the course of cutting the heat shrink away from PIDG knife splices, the red wire pulled out of its knife. Turns out the terminal had cracked too. Odd, first time I've had a bad crimp, or mishandled the terminal, or it had a latent defect to begin with?

Anyhow, the upstream black wire was solid to FoT ground and the red wire had +12.2 V with the bus turned on. I decided if one knife splice was bad, they all may be, so I changed to Dsub barrels and pins to make new splices. Once it was all together again, the fuel flow sensor was alive, and showed nearly the same flows (+/-1 gph) as the measured values above. My supposition is the sensor wasn't getting power before; works like a champ now.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice. I didn't try pouring fuel back through the fire wall, since I had rigged up an overflow line and lashed it down with tywraps.

----
*I suspect it may have been the Lord Mayor of VAFdom himself, DR, since the flow issues made the VAF News front page. Note to self: for maximum VAF exposure, compare RV systems with health issues of men of a certain age...  [ed. It be I.  v/r,dr]

Fuel Pump Update ...Steve Riffe RV-8

After a flight last week, I noticed a drip from the fuel pump overflow. It appeared to have leaked enough to leave a small streak on the lower fuselage, although I never had any indication of a fuel pressure fluctuation. After reading this thread, I could hardly wait to replace the pump (NOT). I picked up a new pump at Air Power in Arlington. I removed the cowling and set about removing the old pump. Access is rather limited, so I removed the scat tubing for the cabin heat and removed the lower line from the oil cooler. I removed the pump overflow tube and the fuel lines from the pump. I zip tied all of these lines to various places on the engine mount--this helped free up some space. I cut the safety wire and removed the bolts. I found that a ball end hex tool was the only way I could get on the bolts. So, old pump off, then cleaned off the old gasket material from the engine with a scraper and some disc brake cleaner. At this point, I called it a day. The next day, I ran some string around the rod that operates the arm on the pump and clamped the free ends to the plate where my GPS antenna is mounted. I held my finger on the rod and slowly rotated the prop until the rod was fully retracted. Looks like the string will hold it in place. I used the old pump as a test to determine how best to position it for the installation. After I was satisfied I had found an acceptable method, I proceeded with the new pump. I coated a new gasket with permatex #2 and stuck it on the pump. I also coated the bolt threads with permatex thread sealer. I inserted the pump and rotated it about 30 degrees counter clockwise. This allowed the arm to fit under the plunger and the inboard bolt to engage. I gave it about 3 turns. For the outboard bolt, the pump has to be rotated clockwise to line up the bolt hole. This was the difficult part because the plunger rod must slightly depress the arm on the pump--and that arm has one stout spring! After several tries, I got the bolt started. I pushed the pump flush against the engine to ensure the arm was under the push rod, then tightened up the bolts until there was less than a 1/4" gap between the pump and engine. I pulled the string out and finished tightening the bolts. The safety wire wasn't much fun either, but I got it done. Re-attached all lines. Ready to test run and check for leaks, but now it's raining--will do it tomorrow. I spent about 4 hours on this project--I stand in awe of the gents that did fun task in 15 minutes and 35 minutes. Thanks to all for the tips found on this thread!

August 8, 2018.   Issue #4,627.

First attempt to follow airplane with DJI camera drone...

360° Video: First Flight of EAA One Week Wonder RV-12iS N2018

On July 30th 2018, following a one-week marathon airplane building project by volunteers and experts at EAA's AirVenture 2018, Vic Syracuse took the controls of the "One Week Wonder" Van's Aircraft RV-12iS light-sport aircraft for its successful first flight. Ride along with Vic as he takes the aircraft up and executes the first-flight testing. This video was show using the amazing Garmin VIRB360 camera!

RV-3B Status Report ...David Paule

Well, with a bit of help from Sam Ritchie, local RV-10 builder, we glued the RH forward side skin on today. This is the cockpit side. This was the culmination of considerably more effort than had been apparent. Among the things that delayed this were:

The skin had been primed. The paint job turned out to be extremely rough, so I removed it completely, as I've mentioned.

With all the various overlaps of the construction, I had to add a lot of shims in a number of places. You may have noticed that.

I had to decide what I was going to do about the forward turtledeck later one. This is the one that goes between the firewall and the panel on top. According to the plans this overlaps the side skins and is attached with #8 screws and I believe the RV-4 is similar. If I were going to accept the overlap there, I’d have to fit those #8 holes in between the -4 rivets at the forward end and those rivets are spaced about 3/4” apart while the screws are roughly 2.5” apart. Worse, I’d have to drill, countersink the longeron and dimple the skin. That would only add a day’s delay. Still, the panel attachment meant that the position of the screws at the aft end would need to be a SWAG and the integration of the cowl cheek flanges would not happen for a considerable time down the road.  ...

 

Time for the 2019 Van's Calendar Photo Submissions! ...mothership

It's that time of year again! Please submit your greatest photos of RVs for consideration to be included in the 2019 Van's Aircraft calendar.

Please be sure to tell us where the photo was taken, who shot the photo, and about the plane(s)/pilot(s) in each photo. While we are mostly looking for photos of flying aircraft, send us what you've got and all will be considered. Also, we plan to get the calendars produced a bit earlier this year, so don't wait too long!

Submit your images is hi-res format to media@vansaircraft.com.

A panel will choose which photos are published in the calendar, and we will also look at including some of the photo submissions on our web site when we complete the revamp of vansaircraft.com later this year. By submitting your photos, you assure you are the photographer and that it's okay For Van's Aircraft to use your photo for calendar and web purposes.

Thanks!

 

Aileron - Repair or Replace?

Hi All,

This weekend, my left aileron experienced what I want to call “hangar rash”. I had the aileron off of the airplane, laying on a table, gust of wind came thru the hangar sending it to the floor. Damaged the outboard trailing edge and a small dent with a crack in the skin on the inboard end. For the dent damage, i figured I would stop drill and fill with some sort of filler (not Bondo). What is more challenging is how to repair the trailing edge that appears to have taken the brunt of the fall. I attempted to "pull out" the crumpled aluminum edge ever so gently but in doing so, a crack/tear appeared along the trailing edge. So, I stopped. Here’s what I am facing. First the trailing edge of the aileron;

Stick Bending

Hi Guys,
I'm looking at getting my stick bent with the 1.5" offset but I'm
a little concerned with making it work with the otto grip.

3 questions

How far aft does the stick go in relation to the seat pan?

Does the stick travel underneath the bulkhead brace forward of the panel?

Judging by the photos and the bottom side of the grip am I going to create problems with the seat cushions later or can they be recessed out to suit?

With the stick mocked up with conduit I can get my thumb on the top hat and clear the bottom side of the panel but not the forward brace.

Mothership...

8/5 Status Report ...j-red

Finally had a chance to get my engine built and hung. This is the second lycoming i've assembled and it was definitely much less intimidating this time. Just follow the overhaul manual carefully and check off each step as it is accomplished.

The engine assembly isn't completely finished, but done enough to get it out of the church gym so that VBS can commence next week!

List of things to do include:

• Purchase 5 shorter pushrods for valve clearance
• Install intra-cylinder baffles then oil drain tubes
• I'm going to hold off installing the superior cold sump until a new fuel pump gets here... should make it a little easier to keep the plunger in the right spot while putting the pump in.

need 5 shorter pushrods for valve clearance, and am waiting until my fuel pump gets here before installing the sump

Next major job: the cowl!

AeroLED Shielded wire and routing

There's a crop of my light section of wiring. The Yellow, red and blue lines off to the right go to VPX pins. The jist is the VPX controls the wig-wag, recog stuff so each Landing light is wired separately to the VPX, however the Taxi wires will be joined and put to a single pin.

For the Nav lights and Strobes all three get wired together to include the green sync wire and put to a pin for Strobes and a pin for Nav.  ...

7A Rebirthing Status Report ...kentlik

August 7, 2018.   Issue #4,626.

Pretty Awesome Ground Pic ...Chattin35

Another flying RV ...Claude Pitre

Shortly after 9:00 this morning, on a beautiful day, RV-9A C-GCPT did what it was designed and built to do - fly! I rode along in the left seat as my engine builder - who has 14,000+ hours in about 170 different aircraft - handled all of the flying. We backtracked runway 17 here at CYQF (Red Deer, AB) to have all 7500' available. We only needed the first 1000' and then we were off and flying. The aircraft flew true hands off on the climbout and handled very well through the hour long flight. As expected, the new engine ran hot (CHT ~425F) for much of the flight but settled down near and below 400F after 40 minutes or so. Flight was done at or above 75% power.

We ran into an engine issue as we started our descent that resulted in losing power in cylinder #1. This was quickly diagnosed as a leaking injector line and we mitigated the fire risk by keeping the airflow high in the descent. Power came back as we landed without incident. A quick check after the cowling was pulled revealed that the nut at the flow divider had completely backed off and slid down the line. The flared end was still firmly against the fitting, so the worst it got was leaky. Certainly a serious issue that should have been caught by either of us.

Not much else for snags, we'll get it fixed up and back out for flight number 2 later this week.

Not much luck with video, but here are a few pictures from just before the flight.

Airflow Performance pump failure ...Greg 9A

Well, actually not so much a pump failure, as a pump failing due to something else, but I still ended up with a dead pump.

I run 91E10 mogas in my system, and thought I had cleaned out all the natural rubber seals and components on everything to avoid problems with the fuel attacking the natural rubber seals. I missed ONE O-ring on one of my fuel filters, coming in from the right tank prior to the pump, and after 285 hours it finally degraded to the point where it was leaking. At first I noticed a very faint whiff of fuel smell, weak enough I could have dismissed it as a figment of my imagination. A couple flight hours later I noticed my fuel pressure dropping rapidly on the right pump (dedicated to my right tank). It normally runs 45 psig constant - now it was dropping into low thirties and high twenties. Friday of last week I took it for a post-maintenance test flight and the pump would only provide 11 psi on runup.

I called BS and went back to the hangar and sure enough, the pump is cavitating - and temps were cool enough that the fuel is not going to be vaporizing from heat. I checked my fuel filters for blockage that could be causing the cavitation, and that's when I found one of them with the natural-rubber O-ring that was badly deteriorated. I remembered some discussion prior from Ross that said these pumps were quite allergic to cavitation and it would destroy the pump quickly, so I rigged up a test set and fed it clean fuel with no restriction on the inlet, and sure enough it would only give about 15 psig output - so the pump is nerfed.

Anyway - just a datapoint - cavitation (or air ingestion) is bad juju for these EFI pumps and natural rubber O-rings are only good for a couple hundred hours of exposure to 91E10. I'm in the process now of raping out the entire fuel system and installing an Andair full-duplex valve plus the SDS pump module and fuel regulator.

 

Weekend flight photos ...erich weaver

Had a nice local flight yesterday with smooth as glass air. Temperature inversion kept it hot down low so climbed to 8500 feet to escape the heat.

Looking west toward Point Conception, where the east-west coastline of So Cal changes to north-south:  ...

Empennage Ordered ...bkmerrill

Well, I made the jump and placed an order for an RV-10 Empennage Kit! No turning back now! Have spent the past several months going back and forth between building or buying a Bonanza. Finally decided I should quit wasting precious time and start the build. If I get the flying bug too bad a year or so from now, I may buy something to fly while I finish up the build. That said, I’m also very excited about building. Was at Oshkosh this year and love the community that we all get to enjoy through aviation. Look forward to several years of advice from you all. Will document our build at the (newly created) site in my sig below.
__________________
RV-10 — Empennage In Progress
Texas
https://merrillfamrv10.wordpress.com/

Status Report ...jcarne 7A

Well here it is.  The month of July: 158 hours building.   When the aft fuse first went on it's back: July 17th.  Total build time so far: 932.1 hours.   Rolling the canoe: August 5th.  A big thanks to my dad for spending many hours on the bucking bar.

Puppies in a RV8-It Can Be Done ...Mark Dickens

Several years ago, I was active in Pilots N Paws when I owned a Bonanza. It was a great plane to haul almost any size dog. In fact, I hauled so many aged and injured Pit Bulls, I took to calling my plane "the Pit Special"...ha. I sold the Bonanza and aside from a brief interlude with a Cirrus, I didn't have a plane to continue hauling animals and gave up on it temporarily.

Behind the Panel Avionics: How I Did It ...Jesse

This is how I mounted everything in a recent -10. The transponder if to he right of the right rib in a hole in the sub-Panel so it slides out aft.

RV-14 Panel: Am I Missing Anything? ...azflyer21

Before committing I wanted to get feedback or suggestions on the layout These are HDX panels, thanks.

Mothership Stats as of 8/6

August 6, 2018.   Issue #4,625.
  Quick gas run over to Bridgeport Saturday morning, then house stuff and work.  Hot.  Chimed in the 'RV-15' thread Sunday with some of my thoughts - fun to think about and discuss the possible future!  Hope you all had a great weekend.
 

Central Australia Trip ...rgmwa

I recently flew my RV-12 from my home airfield near Perth in Western Australia, east along the coast into South Australia, and then up into the Northern Territory, finally coming back home through the`top end' of WA.

While it's hard to complete with Vlad when it comes to informative and entertaining trip write-ups, I thought the unique country down here might justify the attempt.

One Week Wonder Time Lapse Video ...you're gonna want to watch this

Finished RV-14 Post ...Bootscooter

Still buzzing from finishing RV14, can't speak highly enough for the quality of the kit and plans, this aeroplane is good for GA, it gets a quality build on the ramp to a larger audience. I can see a big future for this model.

RV-8 Status Report ...j-red

I’m way behind on posting. July was pretty much a wash between work taking kids to camp and family vacation. This week I’m building the engine and will take a few photos for the records and share them, but here’s what happened in July...

More fiberglass! I’ve contjnued to spend inordinate amounts of time with the wheel pants. The gear leg fairings were assembled with their hinges and the transition fairings, which I bought from rvbits, we’re bonded to the wheel fairings, split, and a little overlap formed to cover the split. Lots of filling and sanding with no end in sight!

More sanding and shaping of the rear skirt joint and I’m finally pleased with that area too.


Carbon fiber wrapped the panel and got it installed. Everything works as expected. Radio checks on the ground seem to confirm good transmission and reception although we all know the real test is with the engine running....

Error Proofing and Organization...djborko11

I'm in the early stages of the build, absorbing as much as I can at this stage. So last week at Airventure I picked up this handy tip.

Put all the bagged parts with the same part number in a single container!
Dasani 12 oz water bottles make great containers for rivets!

I used my handy Dymo labeler to label the rivets for the water bottles and a fine point sharpie identifies the components compartment boxes ($2.99 HF)

My expectation is that I'm less likely to grab the wrong rivet or bolt this way.

Falcon flight 7/26/2018 ...vid

Video of the RV team flying OSH 2018 ...AX-O

All,
I found this video of our performance at OSH 2018. This flight was done in memory of Stu "Falcon", our founder.  We introduced a new formation shape during this show. We call it "The Riddler" as it is in the shape of a question mark.

In addition.....360* video!
"This was recorded by George Ford, Golf 2 in the formation."

OSH'18 Pics Online ...Pittsartist

August 3, 2018.   Issue #4,624.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!
 

My dream come true: Oshkosh 2018 ...Norcalrv7

As long as I've been in aviation, I've wanted to go to Oshkosh. In my eyes, the only way to go would require 2 things

1) Flying myself there from home in California
2) Camping at Oshkosh for the weekend

Time slipped by, and every year It seemed like the wrong time. When I met my girlfriend Tiffany 2 years ago, My hangar was home of an airplane with a completely bare firewall, and a gutted panel. She patiently watched me work, and I promised her that *someday* this airplane would fly me to my dreams to Oshkosh.

Sometime Around April, I decided that 2018 would be my year. I requested time off work, and plotted the route to fly. With only 170 Hours of time Lycoming FWF, The thought of a mid continent breakdown made me feel a little sick to my stomach. I guess the unknown is part of the adventure. I did know that my SDS EFI engine had run like a clock since day 1, So it should be the same a few times zones away right?  continue

#2 running hot and high oil temp ...RicoB

its's an 9A with a O-320 E3D / MT C/S electric prop, Just trying to get any tips on solution for hotter number 2, it's usually 15-20 degrees hotter than 1,3,4. others are around 385 and #2 is above 405, on a climb i see up to 425. I have already removed the front dam completely. also my oil temp is running about 210-215, my oil pressure is at 60psi at running temps, if i raise the oil pressure the oil temp goes up, if i lower the oil pressure down to 45 it runs around 185-190. Looking for ideas on how to attack this problem.. thanks

Congratulations Tom Savrda - RV-7 Lindy Trophy ...Pat Hatch post

All of us here in Vero Beach are really proud of Tom Savrda's win at Oshkosh - Lindy Trophy for his RV-7, Kit Built Champion Award. He's on his way home as I write this. Here they are in HBC

Behind the Panel Avionics Update ...AviatorJ RV-10

Wanted to show what I ended up with. There were a lot of decisions on the fly, some solutions worked through and then redone because I wasn't happy with the result.

The IBBS is above and behind the VPX. I can't mount the GSU on the G3X panel like I originally planned to so it's going to go on that brace to the left. I did put the ground on the right and the GEA 24 is on the subpanel where you can see those bolts.

Garmin announces new aviation webinars

August 1, 2018 - Garmin is pleased to announce it is expanding its robust line-up of popular aviation webinars. Ranging from Garmin Pilot tips and tricks, cost-effective autopilot upgrades to low-cost ADS-B solutions, these free webinars offer pilots and customers with a broad overview of the latest Garmin has to offer, while also providing a general operational overview of its vast product line.  New webinars that have been recently added to the 2018 Garmin aviation webinar schedule discuss a variety of topics and products, including:

RE: Weight in the RV-4 Back ...Brent Travis

I have 1100 hours in my -4 now, it weighs 975 (or so) with an O-360 and Catto prop. I did a couple of things to be able to haul a heavy passenger / (bags). First, I moved the battery into the engine compartment, in the right cheek. This allows a forward baggage compartment between the rudder pedals, so you can add weight forward of the CG. I usually put a bag of tools and heavy stuff like my O2 tank, oil, tie downs, etc up there.

Secondly, if I know I am aft CG, I always run the trim forward (down) so that I have more stick force and feel when I get slow with flaps down.

I like to land with half tanks or more if rear loaded.

I hope this helps.

August 2, 2018.   Issue #4,623.
  I flew over to Jay Pratt's airport at 0700 Wed (track) to eat at the restaurant and drool over his North Star tires (pic).  Logged .3 (just barely).  Took the pic below over the train yard in that red-shifted morning light that isn't even remotely duplicated here in its you-had-to-be-there kick@ssness.  Jay talked into my digital pocket recorder about the avionics wiring position he is hoping to fill.  Six minute talk in .mp3 format HERE. 
  Scooted back over to 52F before it got too hot to function w/o conditioned air.  On the computer by 0830 playing catch up.  Hope your Wed went nice also.  RV Life... 

enlarge

A new RV Grin in Belfast Maine ...Dvalcik post

I am Posting this for Mike with his RV Grin.  Mike Giles and his RV12 took her maiden flight today. Today was perfect for a first flight, sunny, low temperatures and calm winds this morning. Mike made a few high speed taxi runs and then she took to the air just like all of the other Vans.  Mike’s PREP; everything was within normal range, no heavy wing, and flew level hands off.

He has 2 hours on the Hobbs as he as he continues the 5 hour phase one check list for the 12. Great to have another flying RV at KBST!  video

Home From OSH'18 Post ...Tony Kirk

I finally hit the pillow in my OWN bed at 2 AM this morning.  I left home on 7/11 for my daughter's wedding on 7/13 in Ohio.  Then flew Delta to the Atlanta area 7/18 to pick up N912VA from Vic and flew it to Oshkosh on 7/19.  Then I helped Roger and Big John prep the OWW booth Fri, Sat & Sun.  The real show started for us when the RV-12iS crates were opened at 8 AM Monday!  Many thanks to all the people who help push the OWW project to completion!   We wouldn't have been able to make the ambitious schedule without the help from the Van's community, both inside the ropes and all those who helped with the more than 2,500 volunteer riveters outside the ropes.  I also had the pleasure of helping "Rosie the Riveter" pull a rivet on Friday.

Watching Scott and Van taxi N2018 during the airshow on Sunday made me feel very proud to be part of the Van's Aircraft team.  I am privileged to work with some of the finest people I've ever known (including some whom you never see at Oshkosh), thank you Van and everyone at Van's Aircraft!

2nd Flight of O.W.W. ...jnorris

I flew the second flight on the One Week Wonder this morning. Great flight on a lovely morning. Everything A-OK!

 

Ready For Her Closeup ...Rbb469

Slides from my OSH18 session on building ...gfb

A few people at my session asked for the slides and I said I'd post them here.

Thank you to the RV Owners at Oshkosh with open cowlings ...Trent

Just wanted to say, "Thank you" to all the RV owners that took their top cowling off and left it open.

Other than online I do not get many opportunities to see under the cowling of a RV. Since I am building it really helps to visualize some elements in person.

Obviously I understand why many do not take the cowling off. Heck they don't even remove the cowling on the RV's at Vans booth. So once again to those that are willing I really appreciate it. Thank you.

August 1, 2018.   Issue #4,622.
  A quick flight with some tasty waves Tue morn - quick .5 around the local with northerly winds for a change (75*F at flight time!).  Wave patterns over a sandbar caught my attention, so I circled that for a bit.  Labeled some of the pics with the pencil/iPad.  Six pictures starting HERE. (opens new window).  The images will scale as big as your monitor is.
  Finally, Jay Pratt is looking for an avionics wiring helper at RV Central.  Wear shorts to work, cuss and scratch your armpits during meetings - it's allowed ;^).  If there were meetings that is.....    More info HERE.

Vic's 'Home Safe' Post

Just landed a bit ago at home. Lots of storms to circumvent today. Have to love the Southeast in the summer!

What an honor it was for me last night to make the first flight of the Airventure One Week Wonder! It was an amazing culmination of a lot of hard work by the Van's team, along with some fantastic volunteers. I know some of the Van's team worked 20 hours days to make it happen, but it really did happen! A completely finished & flyable RV-12iS in ONE WEEK! I don't understand why takes us so long at home. The Van's team must have some special magic when they are all working together.

I don't know what was the actual final count of other people who came by to install a rivet and sign their name on the RV-12iS, but the last number I heard mentioned was over 2500. Isn't that amazing?!

What a superb accomplishment for the Home Built Community of EAA. I know many of you from this forum came by during the week to see it, and I really enjoyed meeting you or reconnecting with you!!!

Overall it sure was an amazing trip of which I never dreamed. I licensed an RV-7A in Madison, WI on the way up, and then test flew the RV-12 iS last night. That was fun.

Vic

August Calendar Wallpaper

...photo Mr. Ed Hicks.

Yes, I’m stupid but lucky ...Jim 7A

This year’s trip to AirVenture taught me a valuable lesson about C.G. and weight.

Like (I suspect) several RV owners I became complacent about cg and weight because these planes perform so well. Background: my RV7A is a little heavy to begin with due to a nice panel, oxygen system, lovely interior, pretty paint job and a few extra luxuries I consider important to always carry. In other words the basic empty weight is 1,188 lbs. My empty C.G. is 79.97 which is a good forward cg.

Last year I overloaded the aircraft by about 100 lbs. and had absolutely no problems. This year was different! I’ve personally gained 5 lbs., my passenger was a little lighter than last year’s passenger; so I put about 125 lbs in the cargo area and estimated my total gross weight around 1,950 lbs. Takeoff cg was within limits.

I was part of a two ship arriving Saturday night and when three minutes out of Ripon they closed Oshkosh ten minutes early. We diverted to Appleton. Landing at Appleton was stick sensitive but very controlled.

My lead flew to Oshkosh the next day (3.5 hour flight plus one fuel stop) while I elected to stay at Appleton since it was convenient and my parking fee for that Saturday night was the same as the whole week. I was also told OSH HBP was muddy so staying at Appleton just made sense. I had room reservations at Oshkosh dorms and took the bus to AirVenture.

Like a lot of folks I purchased a few things, picked up a few more “free goodies” and so did my passenger. Return trip on Friday added another 10 to 20 lbs aft. Our return trip had me stopping at North Central Regional (MO8) for fuel. Unfortunately they ran out of 100LL two planes before my turn (price $3.90 gallon). We still had 18.5 gallons so I flew on to Marshall Memorial (KMHL) an additional 20 minutes air born for fuel. This burned about four gallons more. Airplane felt unusually sensitive with a slightly nose high pitch on this flight.

My first landing at Marshall surprised me with severe PIO (never have I experienced this before) so I went around. My second attempt was even worse. Now I’m shook up! (I’m a 3,800 hour - long retired military instructor pilot - and PIO is something only rookies experience - right?). My passenger (a former Tora Tora pilot and Reno Air Racer calmly suggested I apply full nose down trim - which I did. Thankfully it worked and the third attempt resulted in no PIO and a safe landing.

Lessons learned:
1. Don’t become complacent. Play attention to cg limits and gross weight. While you can be within cg limits on take off, inflight fuel burn will move your cg aft. If already over weight this can get you into serious trouble if your cg at takeoff is near the aft limit.

2. Use FedEx or UPS if you suspect your overweight. Even better - don’t start overweight and expect to not have consequences. It’s cheaper to mail stuff than to damage the aircraft and possibly hurt someone.

3. If you find yourself trying to land your RV outside of aft cg limits - apply full nose down trim! It will keep your nose down and help prevent over controlling the aircraft as you try to make a landing. Remember an aft cg makes these aircraft extremely sensitive to control inputs. Full nose down trim dampens this out a little.

4. Make sure your lighter passenger deplanes first and have him/her hold the nose down while you’re getting out. Fat boys on the rear step will cause the tail to drop. We at least thought of this before deplaning.

I share this with you in the hope that you’ll pay more attention to cg and weight limits when you make a long trip. These airplanes are great little performers but they can make you complacent if you’re not careful. Remember “full nose down trim” can help reduce PIO when control forces feel too light.

Aggie78 OSH'18 Pics

Fuel Pump Trouble ...Jan RV-10

Standard RV10 and today I have connected the fuel pump for the first time. I can hear a faint clunk sound from it but nothing else on Pump On. Yes I know that it should not be run without fuel, but thought one or two seconds will do no harm. It trips the VPX even at 15A. Monitored it with the laptop and I am getting a Short Circuit message from VPX.

I have even tried an independent supply at 12V with the same result.

Wondering if it will help to push a bit of Avgas through it and then try again? Your advise is welcome - before I dive n there to get it out and halfway around the world

July 31, 2018.   Issue #4,621.
  Hey, any RV folks around me (Flower Mound, Coppell, Highland Village, Lewisville, TX) have a good garage door guy before I start scattergoogling?  The garage door torsion spring on the wifey's side went BOINGKRACK!!! the other day, and through some sort of steel mitosis divided itself into two smaller springs.  I'll probably need (2) as my side is the same age.
  Actually, it sounded more like a shotgun. ;^) 

Cedar Mills RV 2-ship Fly-by

Saturday morning 0800 fly-by by a coupla RVators about to walk over to the Cedar Mills marina for breakfast.  I got there early by chance and had my phone out.  Turn up those speakers - sounds RV pleasing!

play video

Seen at Richmond Aviation (business card)...my A&P

Randy is re-skinning a rudder and is using a modified large soldering iron to 'de-film' only the rivet area.  The circle peels off with a fingernail.  Interesting take on the age-old question of 'do I de-film'? 

click to enlarge 

click to enlarge

Vic Syracuse (DAR) Inspects the One Week Wonder RV-12 ...vid

Congratulations Jeff Point ...RV guy who built an award winning Breezy

After building his RV and helping us all oark at OSH every year Jeff built a Breezy and this year at OSH he had to mail home an "Plans Outstanding Workmanship" award because there is no place to bring it home on (there is no "in") his plane.

Also, congratulations to the RV winners!

More info

Superior Air Part press release ...from Dale Smith

Garmin Pilot v9.4.0 is Out

Update on RV-9A Around the World  

Dave Caland OSH'18 Pics

"Good night OSH 18! Great week. I've been coming here for 35 yrs. and this was my 10th in my RV-7A already. Pulled out the tripod and flashlight for some night pics my last night. Also saw a great night airshow on Thursday."

July 30, 2018.   Issue #4,620.

One Week Wonder. They did it !!! ...Arie

Well done to every one working on the RV12 one week wonder this week. You accomplished something amazing ,and it is a privilege just to be part of it. We have been watching the progress every day from the other side of the earth, and we are so proud to be a part of the global RV family.

Well done guys and girls!!!

(photo credit)
 

First Flight ...Wesflies

On July 6th, 2018, N1277G RV-7A changed from a 2800.3 hour (fourteen year, two month, and thirteen day) project into an airplane. It was a .8 hour flight without any issues. Flight handling was just as advertised and the landing was a greaser! I cannot wait to fly it again and get past Phase 1.

My RV is powered by a 180hp Lycoming Thunderbolt, and a Hartzell constant speed prop (Van’s show special at OSH 2017). The instrument panel was designed and built by Jared Solomon and me and includes two Dynon Skyview 10" HD Touch Screens, Dynon ADS-B in and out, Dynon Auto Pilot, Dynon Intercom and Com, and Vertical Power VP-X. The interior was done by Oregon Aero.

As you may imagine, after taking over fourteen years to build, there are simply too many people to thank. There were many people who helped in so many small ways. I’m sorry if I do not mention your name. However the folks that spent the most time helping and get special mention are; Art Sanders, Jere Rosser, Skip Elsworth, David Anderson, Scott Kilgore, and Jared Solomon. Jared gets honorable mention as he really helped me “get over the hump” the last eight months or so, and helped see this to completion. I can’t close this without thanking my wife, Joy. She was the most help of all! She NEVER questioned this dream and ALWAYS was encouraging when there was a bad building day. She never complained about how long it took to build, how much space I took in the basement; how much money I spent; I could go on. I am so excited to take her flying and to exciting places very soon.
Obligatory pictures attached. The RV Grin with Jared (my co-pilot) and me, taxi to first flight, touchdown first flight, and instrument panel
Wesley Greer
RV-7A

 

Finished! ...Chad Boot RV-14

Dear VAF,

I unfortunately missed #OSH18 this year, but on the plus side I had time to finish my RV14.

It's done!!! I've finished I present to you RV14 VH-VNX built in Sydney Australia.

The kit finish and quality of the RV14 from Van's can be summed up by my AP's sign off "It looks like a factory built aeroplane" The aeroplane is fantastic to fly and an absolute credit to all at Van's.

A huge thank you to the VAF community, everyones support and experience sharing makes all the difference.

This aeroplane took me a solid 18 months to build, its a as per the plans slow build with the IO-390, dual P-Mags, VPX, Classic Aero Interior, fuel & brake lines by Tom Swearengen & TS Flightlines, and a Dynon fit out.

I can't wait to do it all again!!!!

Garmin G5 Upgrade ...chrispratt

Finally got my Garmin G5 units installed and calibrated today – yeah! Took longer than I thought but not because of the Garmin design, just the usual retrofit/upgrade surprises you get when you need to mount new equipment and move or reroute wiring in a finished airframe. ...

The OSH RV Winners...Christer post

The RV’s were well represented at this year’s EAA Airventure Awards. Congratulations to all. Very well deserved.

Reserve Grand Champion Kitbuilt - Silver Lindy

Richard Hansen
Winchester, California
2017 Van’s RV-10, N52RK

Kit Champion - Bronze Lindy

John Janovetz
Colleyville, Texas
2017 Team Rocket F1 EVO, N265AJ

Tom Savrda
Vero Beach, Florida
2012 Van’s RV-7, N732TS

Jason Seavolt
Powell, Ohio
2017 Van’s RV-8, N143MS

Melinda Harrill
Columbia, South Carolina
2016 Van’s RV-7, N324MH

Andrew Manilla
Park City, Utah
2017 Van’s RV-8, N869AM

Plans Champion - Bronze Lindy

Steve Johansen
Salem, Oregon
2007 Van’s RV-3, N159SJ

Kit Outstanding Workmanship - Plaque

Keith Ellis
Locust Grove, Georgia
2018 Van’s RV-7A, N859DF

Larry Eversmeyer
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2018 Van’s RV-14, N71LE

Bob Greenall
Lansford, Pennsylvania
2017 Van’s RV-7, N516RG

 

Ladies Love an RV Ride ...petehowell

RV Formation Pic From Thu ...Mickey Coggins

The RV airshow today was super - congrats to the guys that flew it in memory of Stu. I took some pictures but none even come close to showing the great work that you guys did. Here's the only one I kept:

The RV Social Play Area ...crabandy

Thanks again to Dan and all the sponsors, we had a Great Time! My lil' dude especially liked the playground and other kiddos!

From Iron ...some guy walks up and starts helping. ;^)

Mystery Shipwreck ...Vlad the Traveller

VAF Hat Drama ...Mike

So, despite reaching out (I know you were busy JJ), I am in San Fran by myself on a layover.

I go into town, we stay in Burlingame, and I get to the end of the Hyde Powell cable car line. Half way back to Powell, my hat flies off.

Nooooo!

Good and faithful hat of 10 years, recently repaired and well cherished.

Oh well - never mind. Cable car stops 2 blocks later and this guy runs up and gives me my hat back !

Way to go - Idaho

I gave him a good drink as thanks and have been re united with my hat.

 

OSH'18 Pics ...Capt Sandy

OSH'18 Pics ...Randy King

OSH'18 Fireworks Video ...Randy King

OSH'18 Pics ...crabandy

Reviving an Old Thread (Alaska) ...Vlad

July 27, 2018.   Issue #4,619.
  For those returning from OSH, travel safe and I'm really looking forward to photo albums once they get posted online (created a thread for it).  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!  

Watch the 'One Week Wonder' Streaming

RV Formation Photos ...Gary Sobek Thursday pics

Descriptions in order:
Falcon Flight RV Formation inbound.
Raven Flight splitting off.
Raven Flight Solos splitting off.
Raven Flight Double Vee
Raven Flight Arrow
Falcon Overcast Cluster
Raven Airplane
Raven Solo from behind and crossing
Falcon Overcast turning to head back in
Raven Flight Ez
Raven Flight Delta (8-Ship)
Raven Flight Delta (8-Ship) smoke coming on
Raven Flight Delta (8-Ship) Smoke On

Sent to me by AX-O

Full size

2018 Home Safe From OSH Thread

- Back in Alabama (have work to do). Great trip home with a nice tailwind at 16.5K.  It was a good visit. I'm very lucky to have so many friends.

 

- Back in Arizona. Great trip. Refueled in Shenandoah Iowa and Las Vegas New Mexico. Both were quick, easy, and reasonably priced.
Lots of weather enroute but mostly smooth ride until the last miserable hour. Home was 115 degrees when we landed.

 

- In the air yesterday by 7:00 am, on the ground by 9:45...if only the flight up had been as easy!

 

- Great flight home Tuesday morning. Only 6.5 hrs. flight time vs 8.9 hrs on the way there Saturday and I didn't even do any laps around Rush Lake. Had a small tail wind vs the 20-40 kts headwind Saturday.
Typical TS in Florida but managed to stay East of them on the way down the peninsula.

HBC Ghosts...Sid Mayeux pic

Full size

VAC's Flying ONSPEED in an RV Forum

"Friday, 1430 Friday, Forum 1 on flying ONSPEED AOA for folks that have AOA systems in their RV’s and are interested in learning more about the topic."

RV IAC Aerobatic Competition Standings - 2018

Sorry for the delay in getting this out. I've been on a 3800 mile trip in the 4-wheel RV and just got back to my computer. We have three new entrants in the standings. Scott Emery and Dennis Parks both tried their luck at the Corvallis, Oregon contest and Galen Killam took a third place at the Michigan Open in Bay City. Lots of contests left to be flown this season, so get out there and post some scores!

So I took off the tape ...kentlik 7A rebirthing update

So I took off the tape and revealed a decent job but not even close to great. I didn't put "great" time into it and learning on the fly is kind of cool...most of the time.

July 26, 2018.   Issue #4,618.
  I had the 'One Week Wonder' project streaming on one of my monitors full screen all day Wednesday, and I couldn't stop smiling.  How dang cool is that thing?!?!  I'm pretty sure I saw Paul and Louise working on that sucker.  I wish there was a PTT button like on the Nest camera at the hangar.  Wanted to shout out, "Iron!!!!!" ;^)
  Hope my friends at OSH are having a great time.  The Wx looks nice.  

I can fly now!

Just received my Special Certificate of Airworthiness in the mail, so C-GCPT, RV-9A #91081 is officially an airplane. Weather permitting, my first flight will be happening when I get back from a short vacation, in 10 days or so. The plane is ready and itching to get into the air where it belongs.

I kind of wish we could get that instant gratification of the pink slip like you do in the US. I waited for nearly 6 weeks for my last piece of paper. I am delighted that I'll be able to start my 25 hour test phase while the days are still long though.

__________________
Claude Pitre
RV-9A #91081, C-GCPT

RV Guy (Vac) Co-Winner 2018 EAA Chairman's Innovation Award ...$25K prize

Vac, Cecil, and Chris won this year’s $25K check with this AOA aural tone generator...well done!

Rudder Ouch ...John RV-14A

It was bound to happen. I'm working on the empennage/Aft Fuselage kit and have completed the HS, Rudder, VS, trim tab and nearly done with the elevator. I keep the completed components on top of a cabinet in my workshop (garage). It has been over 100 degrees nearly everyday for the past couple of weeks so I leave the roll up garage door open at night about 6" to take advantage of cooler nighttime temps. Apparently, 6" is enough for a family of raccoons to come visiting.

The little blankity blanks, climbed up the cabinet and knocked the rudder off. It made quite the racket as it fell 6 feet onto the concrete floor. I rushed into the garage to see them staring back at me as if to say, "...wasn't us. The cat did it." Well, I don't have a cat so I know it was them.

My rudder didn't survive the short CFIT and there is no way to realistically repair it. Better to build another one. I called Van's and asked if they had a "Rudder Kit" and was told they don't. I would have to order each individual piece. I started going through the plans and writing them down but thought there must be a faster way. Maybe someone has decided to build a second rudder and they have a parts list composed??

Freedom of Flight Award Highlights Affordable Avionics

Andrew Barker, Robert Hamilton receive EAA’s highest honor

[ed. You all know Andrew as the CEO of TruTrak.  Flies an RV-4 and RV-10.
Way to go Andrew!!!!  v/r,dr]

7A Rebirthing Status Report ...kentlik

So I took the plunge today and feel pretty good the job is done. Kind of messy and not as clean as I would have liked but it is solid   You do need more clamps when you actually glue it up. I, fortunately, have dozens so just grabbed a bunch out of the bin.   Not sure when I pull the tape off. I need to let it cure then backfill and then I pull it off I believe is the procedure.  ...

RV-14 or RV-10? What were your arguments?

(Welcome Malte from Munich)
"Hey builders,

I am a bit afraid there are already twenty threads about this, but I couldn't really find them.
I'm thinking about building an RV myself. I'd like to build an IFR capable plane. I do not like to build lots of carbon stuff (have had enough of carbon building at university). And I like XC and some acro. The idea to visit different continents with my own plane is appealing.
Now I'm not sure whether to go with a ten or a fourteen.

What where your thoughts when deciding pro RV-14?

Best,
Malte"

Pre-Flight Catch ...Tom

Before flying my "new to me" RV-8 back to Colorado last October, I discovered both locknuts on the throttle control cable housing at the carburetor bracket completely backed off..I'd actually flown it like this. I also discovered fuel spraying onto the ground during priming from an improperly made up copper tube fitting. During preflight runup before my first solo in my RV-8, the engine backfired badly when on the left mag. A local A&P, without actually testing it himself, simply told me to go fly it, saying it was probably a fouled plug (he probably thought I was having a case of "pre-solo nerves"). The 2nd A&P on the field I took it to tested it and declared the plane non-airworthy until the left mag was replaced. The 2nd A&P was top notch.

Recently, after having some mods done on my RV-8 down in AZ, I found an abnormally high amount of friction when moving the ailerons during preflight. The aileron had been removed to perform an inspection and reassembled improperly. After takeoff I noticed a heaviness in the left wing that wasn't there before....later traced to the trailing edge of the right flap being about 0.1250"-0.1875" lower than the left flap when fully retracted. My transponder was also not working. Would be nice if the workshop performed their own preflight inspection before I got there.

There's nothing like having work done by paid professionals only to have it come back with squawks that were not broken before, costing extra money to fix. I'm learning that part of the ownership learning curve is finding a reliable shop/A&P to work on the plane. I've been throwing money at it for the past several months and believe the "deferred maintenance items" have now been addressed.

As a result of the above...and spending a lot of time scouring VAF, I now take more care than ever during my preflight inspections and now have a better idea what to look for.

July 25, 2018.   Issue #4,617.
  My hometown of Waco, TX was 114°F a couple days ago (link), and two hours north by car where I live now it has been a true cooker (screengrab), so I've been gravitating to the worn out shared Cub with its open doors and shade when the heat gets too much.  Tuesday a.m. did TnGs on a dried up lake bed (pic/pic).
  Don't take it personally, my darling RV!  I'm trying to avoid heat stroke here!  The gang at OSH sending me 'how cold it is' updates isn't helping much <g>.
  And yes, I've been researching air conditioning units for the RV-6.  We'll figure out something.
 

RV Formation OSH'18 Pics...Gary Sobek photos from Tuesday.

Behind the panel avionics placement ...AviatorJ RV-10

I need some mounting or arrangement suggestion, ie mounting locations and/or brackets I can make. So far I have only had to cut a single hole into my subpanel for my GTN 650. Decided to jump on in and go ahead and get those trays and the wiring harness into the plane.

So here's what I have shown in the picture with a bit of painters tape holding everything in an approximate place I think would accommodate space and with my Stein harness.  ...

Round the World in a RV-9A ...John's update

VAF,

Tomorrow I depart for Pago Pago and will prepare for the upcoming long legs. The plane holds up to 124 gallons of fuel, but even with this capacity I will need to fly fairly slowly to ensure the range.

I had hoped to be in Oshkosh by this time. Weather delays in the far north and illness in India slowed down my progress.

John

(2) Mr. X Pics...start HERE for four new pics.  Descriptions at the link.

Cayo Largo (Souther coast of Cuba)

click to enlarge

RE: The Crowded OSH Arrival ...Jim Clark RV-6 (EAA Board Member) post

"We (EAA Board) hear you (and many other flyers)

Being the Board member referenced, I can say the following:

We just spent the opening of the board meeting discussing this and will have a lot of people working to understand the root causes, propose solutions and establish action plans.

This is a BIG DEAL for us!

When there is something I can share, I will do so."

[ed. Jim thank you for that update.  Kindest and best,dr]

Sighting at the Show...G.Sobek

July 24, 2018.   Issue #4,616.

The OSH'18 RV-Specific Activity Planner

...I'll keep this up here all week.  Data might change so click on link for latest version.  Enjoy the show!

Watch the 'One Week Wonder' Streaming

The Monday RV Social Begins.....5:19pm Monday photos courtesy Sid Mayeux

2018 OSH RV-10 Dinner Photos ...Greenley (Sunday)

Following are some pictures, lets get creative with some caption ideas.

HBC Beer Tasting Pic ...Anthony (Sunday)

OSH Arrival PIREP ...Scott Thompson

I was this poor RV-8 guy. Very frustrating arrival experience that began Saturday afternoon when they closed the airport for arrivals at 6:30 instead of 8:00 to allow 140 Bonanzas to arrive. I was 10 miles from Ripon when that happened and had to divert to Appleton. Today started off well enough. When the weather went to marginal VFR at about 11:30 I launched with others from Appleton and I almost got right in. Shut off arrivals just as I was in line at Ripon again and went to holding. It then became a real zoo on the Fisk arrival with guys not following the NOTAM and cutting people out of the flow. It became a game of chicken in some cases; who was going to turn out and give up first. I know the ATC guys were working hard but I was not impressed. Five guys converging ar Ripon and no one turning until someone had to. ATC would tell everyone to break off and hold, and 80% did so. The ones that pressed on were then getting in. I tried for over five hours to get in and had to refuel again at Appleton. The guys who declared minimum fuel to ATC were given priority instead of being told to divert. Finally made it in just before the field closed again for the day. Weather was great this afternoon but what a circus. Not sure I’ll do it again. I‘ve flown in a couple of times before and never seen it like today.

OSH Arrival PIREP ...Gary Sobek RV-6

After holding for more than an hour 5-miles south of RIPON, I diverted to KUNU Dodge County and took an UBER to OSH.

I did not like what I was seeing on Stratus Foreflight ADS-B traffic in.  ...

OSH Arrival PIREP (Ground) ...Turner Billingsley RV-14A

Due to a number of other destinations on our trip we drove to OSH this year. On the drive up today we spent time at Ripon, Fisk, and watching arrivals to RWY 9. We arrived at Ripon about 1-2 hours after weather went from IFR to "marginal VFR" and was pretty much VFR with rapidly improving conditions.

From the ground, Ripon looked like an absolute madhouse. Airplanes coming from every direction, breaking into the "conga line" from both sides, speeds varying, etc etc. Lots of "last second" break-offs. At one point EVERY aircraft turned left - clearly instructed to do so by controllers at Fisk.

At Fisk, listening and watching, the madness was even more impressive - controllers were asking for "1 mile" spacing and it looked to me like "1/4 mile" spacing at best. Probably 70% of aircraft arriving at/approach Fisk were turned back to rejoin the line - this didn't seem to be helping as more aircraft were clearly arriving at Ripon by the minute. Even at Fisk, the adherence to flying "over the tracks" was amazingly inconsistent. I was also surprised how many singles, including RV's, were flying the "high route" given the performance capabilities, but they weren't getting any special treatment.

Watching arrivals at RWY 9 things were much better, although I saw several very closely spaced arrivals with "go around" instructions - in one case a Malibu was flying higher and faster than another aircraft on final and I don't think the pilot had any clue there was another aircraft below/ahead.

Quite a spectacle and a good learning experience in how to prepare when I fly to OSH.

RV-12iST Panel Pic Added ...to the 'Panel Porn' folder

Full size

Baptized the gas tanks but...prostate problems ...Kurt Haller 9A

OK, so another big day...first gas.

Got 20 gal of 100LL in four 5-gal jerry cans. Took a bit to figure out how to transfer gas 2 gal at a time (into a couple 2 gal cans) to calibrate the left tank. Newfangled spring-loaded safety spouts have to pushed back by a tab bearing on the lip of the container or filler neck of the fillee. I put 2 gal cans against the outside of the hangar door, fill neck face out, keeping them from moving when the 5 gal jerry can bore down on the lip. Thirty pounds of gas is heavy!   ...

What should I always have in my RV?

As I continue to get to know my RV7 and start to venture outside my loca area I would like some input of what I should carry in my RV at all times.

I am putting a small bag together to always have in the aircraft.
Obviously I need a quart of oil, screwdriver to open oil door..

My tie down rings? My anti splat control lock? Etc.

What tie downs do you recommend?

What collectively are some best practices?

Provisions Bought...Roy 7A

July 23, 2018.   Issue #4,615.

1 Week Wonder Webcam Link

(Greg Hughes)  We will be having the one week wonder web cam live at EAA starting on Sunday eveing. The work and ceremony (open the crates etc) starts Monday morning at 8am central time.  .....It will be up all week until the work is finished."
Link

Ready, Set, OSH! ...scard

Annual 'made it safe to Osh' thread. ...[ed. ...and where I am parked. dr]

Well Shantel, the airplane, and I made it safe to Osh at 5pm. 1 fuel stop and 1 field closed due to IFR conditions which resulted in another fuel stop and wait along with about 75 of my closest friends at C47 and once the field went VFR, we blasted this way. Let’s just say the arrival was not flown at 1800’!

I ran all the way from the back row of HBC to the GES shack to get our box we shipped up here (54lbs).... lucky for me they were still open! Lesson learned, don’t put your tent in the box!

We are in row 313 by the cell towers right next to Dan Horton.

Air Show Practice

Here is practice flight of some of the RVs that you will see in the Thursday Air Show.

I forgot stuff. Can you fly it down maybe?

Yes.

The Thursday Arrival.... Ironflight

All that practice - 90knots (+/- 1), 1800 feet, dead over the tracks, be ready for anything....and today I needed none of it! For a variety of reasons, I like to make it to the show early so that I can have a relaxing day just sitting chatting with friends in the Homebuilt world. Usually, I try to make that a Friday arrival, but the weather today was gorgeous across the country, all the way to Iowa - and the forecast for Friday is iffy - so I found a safe way around the afternoon storms and came all the way in, arriving about 1800 local.

I fly in to Oshkosh occasionally for business when Airventure isn’t going on, and it is a pretty sleepy little towered field. Today it was just plane fun - the regular controllers were running the show, and welcoming everyone showing up early. If you sounded like you knew where you were going on the field, they pretty much gave your taxi instructions as “cleared as requested”. I think they all go on leave tomorrow at sun up, so they were having as much fun as we were.

I was cleared for landing from a two mile right base to 18, and when I asked if he needed me south of 9-27, he said “there’s no traffic there right now, make it long our tight, your option!” Like I said...Fun!

See you here!

Paul

Canopy cut!!

Well another 9 gets it's big cut. Took advantage of the beautiful 85 degree day here in WNY and decided to quit thinking about it and just do it. It was also a small goal of mine to get it done before we leave for Oshkosh Sunday. Need to order the Sika flex now!

Scored Cylinders

Well, timing is not optimal. I scoped the cylinders after compression check today and found some vertical scoring in the cylinder walls on #1 and #3 with 600 hrs since new. Compression is 74/80 on both and oil consumption has been about 1qt/8-10 hours. I'm wondering about a bad ring that's moving around a bit. I have some carbon build up on pistons, any possibility it's just carbon getting caught by the wall? Thoughts?

Disagreement on numbers in brake cylinder ...Bob -12

On the RV-12iS instructions, chapter 28, page 2 figure 4, the call-out for WD1211-L&R show different orientations of the Tabs on the drawing that what the actual part shows.

It would appear that either the ID of the drawings are reversed, or the labels on the parts are.

But I need this confirmed before doing anything further (rats!)

Oshkosh Family Reunion Arrival ...Capt Sandy

Arriving at OSH this year truly felt like a family reunion. Dan Horton says it well: "When we first come to OSH , we come to see the planes and the airshows and forums. After a bit, we don't care about any of that stuff. We come to see our friends." SO TRUE, Dan. Here are a few photos:

Roy and I:

Round the World in -9A Update

Good Ground Shot

Status Report ...jcarne

After finishing the gear leg mount holes it was time to install the various angles for the forward fuselage.

After the F-713 auxilary longerons were installed it was on to the F-719 stiffeners. The F-719 angles took quite some time as the clips can have an edge distance problem if your not careful making them.

David Paule -3B Status Report

7/15/18

Before I can glue the forward side skins on, the tunnels have to go on, at least where they fit in between the side skin and the lower longeron. Since I did a poor job on the left one, it’s on order and I’m working on the right one.

Both the forward tunnel bulkheads are riveted to the belly skin.

I’d planned to install the Fiberfrax and titanium underlay (overlay?) at a later stage in the assembly, but a trial fit proved that the titanium would not go under the tunnel inboard flanges then. I need to install the titanium before the tunnels go in. This meant that today’s job was fitting the Fiberfrax and locating it.

I trimmed it to size, adjust a little to suit, and then pressed it into the spacers along the belly skin. Here the Fiberfrax is cut out for the first one. The Fiberfrax is so soft that it’s easy to do this just by feel.

Favorite Picture of N164BL So Far...

This was a frame grab from a video taken by a friend. The interesting thing about this was that just a few moments earlier, we were lined up on the end of the runway staring down a coyote who seemed sure that he had more right to be on the runway than we did. He got bored and left, which enabled our two-ship to get the day started.

July 20, 2018.   Issue #4,614.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.  For those launching for OSH'18, I hope you enjoy your flight and we're all looking forward to the PIREPs. 
  v/r,dr
 

San Juan Islands Sunset Flight ...Sandra Thoma

I captured this photo as we were turning base to final for KORS, Orcas Island Washington. The finger island is Sucia, just north of Orcas.

Another RV-14 Airborne ...Jeffrey Jones first post.

While this is my first post on VAF I have spent countless hours - as we all do - reading, learning, pondering and hoping to some day see our aircraft fly. Thanks to all of you who take the time to pass on your experience. And a huge thank you to the Reeves family to making VAF available to us all.

I have the utmost respect for those of you who have completed builds in a garage, workshop, living room or wherever works. Congrats to all of you. I live in Hawaii and having an airplane here is pretty much futile due to inhospitable airport managers, crazy winds and salty air. So my airplane will stay in what we call “The Mainland.” It didn’t make sense to build in the corrosive environment in which I live, only to have to pay big bucks to ship it East. For that reason I decided to build my aircraft at Synergy Air in Eugene Oregon. Their hangar, their tools and their expertise made my build much less gut wrenching than it may have been for many of you at-home builders. Again, kudos to you all!

Since embarking on this journey I have had nothing but pleasant experiences with all the vendors that help make completion of our project possible and I thank all of them for their professionalism and dedication towards us.

So, introducing RV-14 N588TJ:

Build Assistance by Synergy Air
Panel and Garmin Avionics/Vertical Power by Stein Air
Antennas by Delta Pop
Superior XP-400 Power Plant by Rhonda & Allan Barrett, Barrett Performance Engines
Exhaust by Vetterman
Spinner by Cummins Spinners
Stick Grips by Tosten Manufacturing
Throttle & Mixture Cables by McFarlane Aviation
Rudder Pedal Extensions by MLSkunkworks
Fuel Caps & Cabin Vents by Aerosport Products
Wheel Bearing Mod by Antisplat
Throttle & Mixture Bracket by Showplanes
Paint design assistance by Jonathan McCormick and PLANE SCHEMER
Paint by John Stahr
Interior by Luke, Jeremiah and the gang at Classic Aero Designs
Brake, fuel & oil lines by Tom Swearengen & TS Flightlines
Miscellaneous Tools & Accessories from Cleveland Tools
FlyboyAccessories
Landing & Taxi Lights by Baja Designs
Nav/Position Lights by Whelen

First engine run and first flight took place on July 10. There were no major systems issues and she flew perfectly!

As we begin plying the US skies we look forward to rubbing elbows with the VAF.

Knik ...Vlad the Travelled

If you visit Palmer AK fly Knik Glacier.  Stunning views. There is a fair amount of traffic keep your head on swivel.

There was a transport plane crashed there mid last century. Over fifty lives were lost. Only recently the glacier exposed the wreck. Military established a TFR trying to find the pieces and remove them by barge.  ...

Garmin GTN 6XX/7XX Descent Vertical Navigation,

Garmin G5 and G3X Touch systems have always had coupled VFR VNAV capability to use the autopilot to perform functions such as descend from cruise altitude to pattern altitude, but up until now, we have not had the ability to use coupled VNAV when using the GTN navigator.

With GTN V6.50, pilots can take advantage of VNAV profiles throughout the enroute and terminal phases of flight within the GTN 6XX/7XX touchscreen navigators when they’re paired with the G5 or G3X Touch system. Within the GTN, pilots can easily enter altitude constraints on the flight plan page to set-up a vertical descent profile. Pilots also experience a near-seamless transition from VNAV to an arrival and instrument approach. Once an arrival or approach is loaded and activated, the GTN automatically populates step-down altitudes or any applicable altitude restrictions. If ATC issues an unpublished altitude restriction, pilots can enter those altitudes manually into the active flight plan under the VNAV field.  ...

Invite: Ice Cream Social Event, Aurora Oregon (Home of Van's)

On the same field with the “Mother Ship” is a well-kept secret we like to change.
Columbia Aviation Association Pilots Club
Ice Cream Social
August 5th Open House from 2:00 to 5:00
Aurora Oregon State Airport KUAO
Behind the Control Tower

Tour our 6000 sq. ft. Clubhouse
Enjoy Complimentary Ice-Cream
Learn About the CAA Pilots Club
See our airplanes ranging from Taildraggers to Jets
including the Reno Air Racer L-39 Jet “Robin 1”
and at least a couple RVs 😊

Fly or Drive; 14323 Stenbock Way, Aurora OR 97002

See you all there!

More Info; http://www.caapilots.com

Status Report: RV-7A ...jcarne

After the conical bends it was on to the arm rests.

Then most of my day was spent drilling the longerons. This step is taking way longer than I thought but oh well, it's nice to be drilling things again.

From Dynon...

Official Sensenich Propeller FAQ/Service Bulletin Revision B

At the request of Sensenich, we are posting this to more quickly disseminate the information to the RV community. They will have this updated information displayed on their website in the next few days.

Here is a link to Revision B of the service bulletin

Here is a link to the FAQ section for the service bulletin

Sensenich will be uploading the affected serial number list and installation addendum (for replacement part) next week. Their website will be updated at that time.

Garmin Transponder Software Updates at Oshkosh 2018

"Hello,

We will once again provide free software upgrades for Garmin Mode S transponders (and the GTX 327) used in Experimental aircraft at Oshkosh.

Just bring your GTX 327, 23ES/33ES/330/330ES, 35R/45R/335/335R/345/345R transponder in to us at the Garmin tent at Oshkosh and we will install the latest software into your transponder while you wait. It only takes a few minutes to accomplish this update.

Here are the latest versions:
GTX 23ES/33ES/330/330ES: V8.04, Jan 2018

GTX 35R/45R/335/335R/345/345R: V2.12, June 2018

GTX 327:
GTX 327 V2.10 software was released in Feb. 2014 and is the latest software for all GTX 327 units manufactured before July 2014.

GTX 327 V2.12 software was released in July 2014 to support newer hardware in the GTX 327 units manufactured after that date.

GTX 327 V2.13 software was released in Aug. 2017 to address an altitude reporting issue only when using a Gillham based altitude encoder with GTX 327 (011-00490-00) serial numbers 83750922 to 83752847 or GTX 327 (011-00490-10) serial numbers 84000356 to 84000357.

We are located across from the EAA Welcome Center and the Ford tent. If you look at the Airventure grounds map, this is grid K13. From homebuilt camping, just follow Knapp street South to Celebration Way (the main entry street) and turn left.

Sorry, but we are not equipped to perform sign-offs for certified aircraft, so please only bring us transponders that are installed in experimental aircraft.

Hope to see you at Oshkosh!"

July 19, 2018.   Issue #4,613.
  Wednesday morning around 0800 I flew the RV for .3hrs, just long enough to scoot over to the lake and get some pics of the Saharan Dust event currently covering our neck of the woods.  A sample below...  The more interesting part for me was turning back to the field, flying away from the sun.  I heard Kay call his takeoff at 52F, then saw a white dot climb up over a tiny field of green trees.  Glancing down at the GPS showed me 5.1n.m. from the field (just shy of 6 statute miles).  That the viz should be so crummy 180* the other way was an interesting paradox.
  As I type this it's 106*F outside (5pm Wed).  Summer says hey. ;^)

1,920 x 2,560 pixel enlarged pic available here.

Mackinac Island Adventure 2018...Pete and Kate hit the island in the RV-9A

Pics and vid.

My buddy Scorch is selling his Slicks

Selling for friend at 52F who upgraded to P-mags on his RV-6.   (2) Slick Mags. 4373's. Both w/impulse coupler. One has ~550hrs on it and the other ~450hrs. $350/each - $650 for the pair. Includes harness and shipping in contiguous USA.

Mothership News ...RV-12

Change to higher pressure rating aux. fuel pump

Van’s Aircraft has published RV-12 Change Notification 18-07-12, which describes the optional remediation of potential low fuel pressure warnings which can affect some Rotax 912 ULS equipped aircraft. Note that field experience shows that not all aircraft are affected, and the information in the notification may be used to assess your specific situation. If you have experienced low fuel pressure warnings, we recommend you review the change notification and use that information to assess your aircraft.

The remediation steps described in the notification include determination of which sensor unit is installed and new EFIS settings, as well as the optional installation of a different model electric fuel pump, which is identical in size and can be installed in the same location and using the same fittings as the original model pump. The new model pump provides higher fuel pressure capability.

Note that a supply of the new pumps is on order and Van’s anticipates delivery to our factory within a few weeks. Van’s Aircraft’s part number for this pump is ES 40135, and the Facet part number is 40135. Quantity one (1) Van’s part number ES 421-0107 CONNECTOR is also required. In addition, Van’s support staff is currently working at the EAA Airventure show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin so replies to support requests related to this optional notification will be delayed.

EARTHX Lithium Batteries at OSHKOSH EAA ADVENTURE

"...Huge announcement here…..after years of R&D, testing, and the submittal process to the FAA, we are imminently close to having the very first ever 12V TSOA certified battery available for sale by fourth quarter of this year! (TSOA means the approval that authorizes a manufacturer to produce a material, part or appliances to a TSO standard. Receiving a TSO authorization is both design and production approval). "

Pic from Mr. X

..."Seven big CB”s over NC, tops over 50K."

Fuel line vs. Flaperon mixture arm ...Bob Collins

Apparently, there is a missing step in the RV-12iS instructions. You have to countersink or enlarge the holes on the three plastic "holders" for the fuel lines through the main channel. Otherwise you get this.

Pulling those lines out to be able to get the plastic doohickeys off the large "studs" is going to make my day. But that's the way it goes.

Even if I do that, however, that looks like a REAAAALLLLLLY small clearance between the filter bypass line and the flaperon mixture arm.

Is there anything else I'm missing here?

Garmin OSH News:

RV-12 Status Report ...Jeff Vaughan

Finally Finished?   Well I know better than to say my plane is finished with out adding a ? . This is my second build. My first was a 7A. There was always something to do.  Just picked up my 12 at Lancaster Aero LLC. in Smoketown Pa. They did a fantastic job. I am tickled GREEN.

Getting Ready to Start The RV Wings (Tips) ...Draker helping out

RV-7A Status Report ...jcarne

Well there isn't a lot of pics in this post but the one that is says a lot.

Mating the center section to the aft fuselage was a pain, the side skins were easy. Let me rephrase that, clecoeing the side skins was easy, I'm not trying to jinx myself for the conical bends tomorrow.

RV-14 F-1037A Stiffener Angles ...Emarit helping out

Section 36 is titled "Aileron and Elevator Systems". Below is what that area looks like from page 36-06 that Nova_RV refers to. You can see those angles serving as the pivot point for the F-00067 Bellcrank.

July 18, 2018.   Issue #4,612.
  The Sahara Dust is back in DFW (search it).  Turning crosswind Tue a.m. into a rising Sun around 0800 had me (and other locals) commenting on the radio, and wondering in the back of our minds if flying was such a good idea.  Reminded me of those sunset on Mars pictures.  Reminded Sid of his time in Saudi Arabia.  Weird stuff for Big D. 

Ready for Her Close Up ...Krea Ellis RV-7A

We are beyond thrilled with the execution of the design our son (a twenty something) and Jonathan came up with for the RV-7A. To be honest, I wasn't sure I would like the design, but it wasn't as far out in left field as I thought. The more I was around it putting it back together, the more I loved it.

The attention to detail and the little touches that Jonathan and his team added are incredible.

I know it's not for everyone and that's a good thing!

Trailing Edge Bend Update ...Trent Stewart RV-14 (Australia)

Thanks for everyone’s help. I think that worked pretty well.  After final drilling one cleco at a time to #40 the holes on the bottom look nice and round. There is maybe 1/64th of pillowing in a couple of places on the left skin but this should be held down by the tape. Phew.

Gallagher is Coming to OSH ...VAF advertiser

Before we get into the who's where segment of this post, we wanted to start by thanking everyone for their support. The three of us would not be as successful as we are if it weren’t for you. We wanted to let you all know how much we appreciate each and every one of you. Vans are our top priority. We consider ourselves specialists in this field because we insure around 2000 RVs and this is the majority of what we handle day after day. To some, an insurance company is just an insurance company, but to us, we truly care about our clients and want to make sure you are properly covered in the event of a claim. From having our own claims advisor that works for you, to creating amazing relationships with our underwriters, Gallagher takes every step possible to make sure we are doing are the very best for you. We’re always willing to go the extra mile to try to find a solution to your specific needs.

Now that we're less than a week away form the excitement of Oshkosh, we wanted to let everyone know where to find us. If you’re looking for the girls, you should be able to find Jenny and Katie at the RV Social on Monday night, Shanna and Katie at the Vans Banquet Tuesday, and all of them at Gallagher’s client appreciation event on Wednesday. Other than that they will be roaming the crowds, meeting new people, chatting with familiar faces and learning as much as they can about the one thing we all share a passion for…Vans. If you need help finding them, you can always call Jenny at 636-357-7232 and they'd be happy to find a way to meet with you.

If you need anything regarding your insurance during the week of Oshkosh, feel free to call the main line at 877-475-5860 as I will be staying in St. Louis (in an air conditioned office ) to help.

Have fun, stay cool and happy flying! It looks like you have some beautiful weather to look forward to.
__________________
Leah Ringeisen, Shanna Linton, & Katie Escalante

New Vid w/Van's Scotty M.

...on TeenFlight Portland FB page

VAF Forum Guy 'VAC' In the EAA News

...Mike Vaccaro (RV-4) (forums profile).  Go get 'um, Vac!!!

Quirky Things Seen From the Air ...Vlad entry

Somewhere in Saskatchewan CA.

Don't fix it if it ain't broken, well... (daddyman RV-4)

My lights were working just fine.

This breaks one of my big airplane rules- DO NOT FIX IF IT ISN'T BROKEN.

In this case, I couldn't help myself because;
I was hesitant to use my lights near the landing pattern, or in other conditions that could have increased visibility and safety because the previous owner said the electrical system "couldn't keep up with the load". Still not sure if that was the case. Since all things electrical are mysterious to me as Merlyn the Magician, I accepted his words.

So, I took the old lights (landing and taxi) out and replaced them with LED lights.
I had previously changed the landing light bulb for a "higher intensity" one, but couldn't tell the difference when landing at night.

Fast forward to this upgrade.
The following are pictures are from my son and student pilot (read Guy in back) -Buddy.

This is our side by side comparison:

Another Two Pics of Inspection Windows ...Brian Eisner sent these

enlarge

enlarge

July 17, 2018.   Issue #4,611.

Elevator Pushrod Inspection Windows

A 9A visited the Van Cave this past weekend, and it had little inspection windows near the tail that caught my eye.  I got a pic from each side.  Clicking the link will enlarge the image to however big your monitor is.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

I got my APRS tracker back online

...hard wired it into the plane.  The cheapskate in me got tired of buying AA batteries, so I let it sit there for months and months inop.  Hard wired it in today with scrap wire as a test.  Worked.  Will tidy up the wires more in the next few days.  It's good to be back online (I use an MT-AIO tracker and my ham call sign is KG5PRB).  Two tracking links:
- http://aprs.fi/?call=N617AR
- http://www.airprs.com/#/tab/logbook/call/N617AR

Status Report ...Bill Bence RV-7

Found in Preflight ...M. Robinson

Found a loose nut on an elevator hinge rod end.

Found the rudder counterweight fasteners loose and hanging low enough to snag the vert. stab, partly locking the rudder.

Yesterday found a flap switch failed on the "UP" side. Flaps went down, no up.

Pic from Mr. X ...Ship Rock, NM

click for full size

AEX Trailing Edge Bend Tool ...Trent Stewart RV-14 (Australia)

I had considered the skins - however if i screw up a skin then the cost to send a new one to Australia would be astronomical. The AEX wedge wouldn't be so bad... Plus the thickness of the wedge seems to work really well with the brass tube tool i made to align the drill. It fits a 1/16" drill perfectly into the centre of the tube, and the tube fits snugly in the 3/32" hole already in the wedge. Once it's centre drilled (and at the correct angle too), i then updrill to 3/32" to match the hole in the AEX wedge. Seemed to work ok on the practice piece i did - the holes in the wedge were not enlarged. I will then cleco the tube to the rudder and match drill the whole lot to #40.

i realised that the alu tube i purchased will prevent me from squeezing the rivets, so i'm going to get an angle instead today and match drill that.

I am still working up the courage to have a go at the trailing edge in the next day or so - i think if i start in the centre and clamp / cleco the wedge keeping it aligned with the straight edge of the angle i should be ok?

RE: Our Friend RV-8/RV-3 Builder Randy Lervold

RV-14 Rudder Stops

Chris Cooper

Emarit Ranu

9A Cowl Plans Revision - Did the Cowls Change? ...Dave Gribble

I have a pink cowl shipped in 2010. I recently got a updated version of the preview plans on USB.

I notice that R2 of DWG 45 (in 2008) deleted Section A-A, and the trimming notes, shown in red below on an R1 version of the drawing.

The old plans have the trim notes, which say to remove the flange completely along the sides... so the top and bottom cowl essentially touch, but don't overlap.

My question is, did the cowl design change at some point, or is trimming this flange off a bad idea and Vans just updated the drawings. I don't see any changes in the instructions, but they are pretty high level anyway.

I'd ask Vans but I have a question into email for a week already and thought you all might know. I'm planning on quarter turn fasteners on the sides but don't think that matters.

Thanks for any info!

New RV Owner Chimes In ...ALagonia

First I looked to buy a 6A, then a 7A and then a 6A again. I had Vic helping me, and I highly recommend Vic Syracuse. He not only did very thorough pre buy inspections for me but I learned an awful lot from him in the process. And that was very important for me because while I have owned numerous airplanes over the last 41 years this would be my first home built experimental. Thank you Vic. Well I am happy to say I finally found the airplane that was right for me, an RV9. Stein, of Stein Air, is completing an inspection for me and I can't say enough good things about him. Truly a quality guy. Thank you very much Stein. I go next weekend to finally get my airplane. Will fly it back to Georgia next Monday, weather permitting. Ready for my RV Grin.

Milestone: Painted ...jwilbur

July 16, 2018.   Issue #4,610.
  Our daughter flew in for the weekend, so please excuse me making her the top story <grin>.  I have a zero turn mower and our neighbor doesn't like mowing, so we trade.  I keep their yard mowed and they give Audrey the occasional round trip ticket (sometimes it's Susie going out there).   Our neighbors travel a LOT for work, so they have extra miles.  The barter system alive and well <g>.  Wonderful seeing Miss Audrey!!!  More than I could possibly put into words...
  Lotsa RV news in today's edition - should keep you occupied for a bit.  Hope you had a nice weekend.

click to enlarge

KAVL to KDYB ...26min vid

Sharing my son’s flight back to work. Nice view of a big TS. He is a C-17 instructor pilot, Air Force major. Very proud of him. We share the 6A and he is an absolute top notch pilot. Based at KCHS. Hangared at KDYB.

RV-8 N657AR Update: Goatflieg

After getting the rigging of all control surfaces squared away it was time for the final major disassembly. I removed the empennage components, flaps and ailerons and got the wings ready for removal. With assistance supplied by Joe Kirik, Bruce Breisch, Dave Buck and Joe Fredericks I was able to get the wings removed, placed in the wing stand and stowed in the garage. Then we flipped the fuselage onto work stands so that I can install the landing gear permanently. I'm very tempted to paint the fuselage bottom while it's in this position... we'll see. Thanks to my crew for making quick work of some tricky tasks.

Tom Swearengen: TS Flightlines Update

All----As some of you are now aware, I've been absent from posting alot on VAF. Not that I'm mad at anyone, or have been MIA. Yes, I've been working, but I do want to explain briefly.

In January, Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer. One of those out of the blue, laser GPS guided missiles that you never see coming. All of her previous mammograms have been negative, so the shock and awe of the reality was alot to take.

She had successful surgery in early February to remove the lumps, 11 lymph nodes, and biopsy the tissue. It came back malignant, stage 2. Ok, treat it, an lets move forward. Just before she was to start chemo, we asked the DRs if there was anything else we needed to be concerned with. We asked, because she was having some difficulty walking, and CERTAINLY these were 2 unrelated circumstances. But we wanted to know, so we had them do a CT scan, and a bone scan.

2nd missile---The CT scan was negative--more on that in a second, the bone scan showed excessive cancer 'spots' in several ribs, her right pelvis, lower lumbar, and upper arms on both sides. Boom.

After digesting this--and seeing the stunned, pale, drained look on several DR's faces, we asked for a bone biopsy to see if the 2 cancers were related, or if we were dealing with a HUGE issue, not that MBC breast cancer isnt huge enough. The Biopsy showed it was the same cell makeup, so at least we had identified the enemy, and now had a plan. The CT scan was very puzzling. We insisted on a PET scan to see exactly what and where we were dealing with. It showed the cancer had spread to areas not shown on the CT scans.

Radiation was started to zap the spots to at least slow them down. 8 treatments. WE got another CT scan to see if the radiation had done any good, and the results were-cautiously optimistic. So a chemo regiment was started---12 weeks worth. Grueling. Some nausea, but not bad, but the pain of moving around--even sleeping and trying to roll over, well I'll just say that no one slept.

By chance, a couple of trips to the ER because of fear of either a broken rib, or a blood clot allowed us to get some additional CT scans. Imagine that. AND by a stroke of luck, we were able to get the same Radiologist to read the scans. Things improving.

Friday, Suzanne has a CT scan and a MRI. So much for bad luck on Friday the 13th. MRI of the head shows NO cancer. CT Scan shows no NEW activity, and healing of the bone areas. So---we think that she may have turned the corner on this enemy.

So--how is all of this RV related? HUM---even though my online presence on VAF has been limited, we have continued to talk to clients and support them in their build projects. In addition, we've done some 'interesting' projects for some custom installations. A HUGE help has been from Steve Tschurwald, my partner at Aircraft Specialty, with who we've developed quite a few packages for RV's and others. Steve has be gracious enough to handle quite a few orders for us, when we had orders to do and no physical means of doing them. Same components, same quality, shipped from a different location.

Some of you that we've talked to on the phone or by email were aware of the situation. Out of respect for Suzanne, I didnt post anything, but she did give her permission to post this. So, I'm explaining whats going on, and assure all of you that we are stronger because of the challenge.
Its also given us some time to evaluate things and how to make them better to help all of you. You'll see some of those changes being implemented.

For those of you that knew what was happening, your thoughts and prayers were greatly appreciated and certainly helped. To our DR friends that listened and gave sound advise---it means alot to us to know we can call and ask questions! Yes VAF is an unbelievable resource!

Suzanne will not be at OSH this year---way to soon for her to travel and she is on the downside of her chemo treatments. But I'll be there and hope to see alot of our friends and clients enjoying the great event.

Tom
www.tsflightlines.com

Cracks in Trim Tab

Pilots n Paws Mission ...Josh 9A

Completed my first successful PnP mission this past week. Had a great time using the RV9a to transport a 20lb American Eskimo.

RV-8 and the Concrete Fly-In ...Steve Rush video

Concrete 2018 was a good time as usual. A laid back affair with no real set structure, but a lot of airplanes. A bit too warm for my taste, but otherwise quite pleasant. This was the first year without the North Cascades Vintage Aircraft Museum participating (unfortunately they have had to close down), but that didn't keep anyone from stopping by anyway.

Status Report: PilotjohnS 9A

The Hammer of God

(from Terry Kohler, who asked me to share it here as I'm hosting the photo for him)
This screen shot from Flightaware was taken on our recent trip from PTK to CMX on Michigan’s UP. You can see the outline of the Keweenaw Peninsula in front of N323TP as we make our way northwest. We were tracking the weather visually as well as on ADSB. We landed and hangared in VFR about 30 minutes before it hit. Our “out” was a 180 back to Marquette in clear skies.
As we were flying in, Peggy asked if I considered this a big storm. I told her it was “the hammer of God”. Later, sitting safely in a café in Laurium, the winds, rain, and hail confirmed my description.
Fly safe (and ALWAYS leave yourself an out).

Symptoms of a cracked head on take off

Engine miss and maybe dropped couple hundred RPM and Intermittent as well on 2 trips back to back a few hundred feet off the runway on takeoff. I had time to kick the boost pump back in, apply carb heat and play with the mags. Maybe 10 to 15 secs and then it would go away. The first time I thought maybe carb ice, maybe fuel pump getting weak or **** in my fine wire plugs. Then the trip home it happened again but not as strong but the harmonics in level flight were off slightly. No one else would notice it but with it being my only ride I could certainly feel something not quite right. I had a suspect cyl (#3) in mind as 15 hrs ago it tested 72/80, as I could hear it bypassing, it was not through the exhaust nor the intake. Sounded like the crank case so I was thinking rings and even used my stethoscope to confirm it so not overly concerned.  ...

Customer Spotlight: Luke D at Classic Aero

Rough running engine at 100’

Happened a week back and I am out of town so I don’t have all the details...

Rv7a. O-360 engine, bendex mags, 800 hours ttl time. Never an issue.

Jumped in to fly and for the first time ever the engine was very hard to start. It would crank and back fire every once in a while but never really fire. Went through flooding the engine and all those techniques. Finally got it going. On the run up the left mag was very rough. Leaned it out and it cleared up. Good to go. At about 100’ the engine started backfiring and sputtering. Pulled it to idle and landed no problem. Taxied off and did the run up again. Left mag number one cylinder was significantly cooler get than the rest. Pull the plugs and the bottom plug was completely loaded with lead. Cleaned it out and put it back together.  ...

Summit flyby video, almost

Here's a short video of our Mt Rainier flyby at 11,500ft, 3000 ft lower than the summit, but tucked in close to see the glaciers. It was another beautiful day in the PNW.

RV-8 Status Report Pics ...Don Patrick

I was hoping to be done to make it to Oshkosh this year, unfortunately I have to wait till next year...

Paint is coming along. Gettng ready for final assembly!

RV-10 Status Report ...Joe in TX

Another early Christmas. Received a complete interior package plus air conditioning from South Florida Sport Aviation. The quality of the components is top notch. Luiz and Eliana are very nice to deal with. I was sold on their products when I visited their business and saw the products firsthand. Can't wait to get them installed in the -10.

2018 OSH RV-10 Dinner & Social 7/22

RV-10 flyers, builders and wannabes Save the Date. We will again be hosting an RV-10 OSH gathering on 7/22 (Sunday before the show) starting at 5:30 and running until ??? According to our records, this will be the 11th annual OSH RV-10 dinner extravaganza... Location is in Camp Scholler, south of Lindbergh between 51st and Deischer. Several sites south of Lindbergh, about 3 sites north of Elm. Setup & cleanup help welcome but both should be “minimal”.

If you are planning to attend, please let me know so make sure there’s enough food. We will be bringing in food from a local establishment so no need to bring anything.

Mr. X Pic

Huge Kentucky T-Storm. Top well above us cruising @40K nearly 50 miles across.

click to enlarge

July 13, 2018.   Issue #4,609.
  Audrey is home for a few days visiting and we got a little rain to keep the yard alive during our sprinkler fix project.  Life is good.  We're going to try to work in a flight while she's here - she's made a 'things to do in Texas' list.  We checked off 'eat BBQ' on the way home from Love Field.  The whole family at one table for the first time in seven months.  Grateful this parent is.  Very grateful.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
 

Pics of N869AM Added to His Build Thread...starting around here

Have you ever caught a problem during preflight? ...walter's entry

(Walter Tondu)
In the 90's I got a lead on a Cessna Hawk XP II up in Michigan that was for sale; low hours and in great condition. It would be my first airplane purchase so I was pretty excited. I coordinated with a reputable on-field A&P shop to do a pre-purchase which went fine; several squawks were noted and fixed. I received a report that the airplane flew very well! I flew up commercially, hot check in hand. The airplane had been stored outside during the Michigan winter but was now inside a nice warm executive hangar for my inspection. Prior to moving it outside for my inaugural flight I did my newly-minted-pilot walk-around with Cessna checklist in hand. Eventually I sumped the tanks but the liquid was clear and did not smell much like fuel. That's strange I thought. The mechanic had a look and we both agreed, that is strange. Sumped again, and again, and again, and again. Nothing but clear water. The quick drains were removed and over a gallon of water was removed from each tank. That's what we caught in the bucket, the rest on the floor. The wing tank bladders were both replaced at some cost to the owner and I purchased it and flew it home. During the VFR flight home the AI and VSI went TU.

1st note to self: Remember, ice has a hard time getting through a quick drain.
2nd note to self: Reputable A&P shops are not always.

(Steve Lynn RV-7A)
Pre-Flight is not merely an exercise. In the past I have found:
Baby birds chirping on top of the oil cooler.
Brake fluid leak on the floor.
Fuel leak on floor from wing port.
Unlatched cowl fastener.

Pic from Mr. X ...NYC

PNP flight Norman, OK to Minneapolis- SHELTER IS FULL

Hi All,

I was going to take a Great Pyrenees named Queenie from the KC area to her foster home in Minneapolis this Saturday, but unfortunately my plane needs more work before a long trip and I won't be able to do it. She's 70 lbs, a little underweight for a Pyrenees. Queenie has a ride out of the FULL shelter in New Orleans up to Norman on Saturday, but she's looking for a ride to Minneapolis area. Can anyone help? Here's the PNP link...

Thanks!!
__________________
Katie Bosman Krotje

Mothership News...

Garmin® continues leadership in ADS-B by bringing new Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather products to market

Canopy track lube?

What, if anything, do you use to lube the canopy track on your 8?

A: Nothing.  We take the wheels off from time to time and use some molly on the shaft. Other than that we keep the track clean by wiping it out with a cloth. The roller wheels will need replacing as they wear down over time along with the rear slide block. All of this is just a visual inspection and on the PM list of things to check. Just what we have found over time. Yours, R.E.A. III # 80888

A: Like Robert I just lube the roller shafts with a light oil occasionally. Biggest thing to me is keeping the dirt out of the track. Larger particles tend to chalk the wheels.
The rear slide usually causes the greatest resistance. A little synergism from other experiences comes to play here. Some years ago a tech rep for vinyl windows on my home recommended Lemon Pledge to clean and lube the sash tracks. Worked great. Many use the same product to clean plexiglas. So after cleaning the canopy I dampen the cloth with Pledge and wipe the track on the turtle deck. Once out of the latch well the canopy will slide on its own.
Cheers.

A: FWIW, I occasionally spray some SailKote on the track. I used it in the track of our main mast to help the delrin slugs travel more smoothly through the track in an aluminum mast.

A: As I note on my ship - the spine track gets sticky or scuffed or just angry with our treatment of it on some odd timeline. I polish the upper sfc with Rolite and it's good to go for a while. Lots of buffing makes no difference in how long the job lasts.  I'm trying to think of how long a 'treatment' lasts - maybe 90 days or so? I notice the change when I turn around & taxi back - does the canopy thunk into the stop (also on the track - FYI - don't ask the trucks to absorb that shock load for any extended period of time especially on the T/D ships) or does it need some particular words to be uttered?  I clean the tracks yearly at the condition inspection.

Cutting and Buffing Paint Saga Update ...snopercod

The saga continues. In our last episode, I had re-sanded the top of the fuselage with 2500 and 3000 to remove the heavy swirls from the 3M Perfect-It #1 compound and the DA. I had started buffing with the rotary buffer and the #2 compound, and it was looking OK...at first. Yesterday I finished buffing with the #2 and went to the #3 Ultra-Fine, which is supposed to remove swirls. It didn't. All it did was make the fuselage top real shiny but, sadly, it disclosed several areas with scratches from previous hand sanding and other areas that were scuffed looking. Undaunted, I dropped back and re-sanded those areas with 2500 and 3000 grit, and re-buffed with #2 then #3. There were still some scratches and scuff marks showing so I did it all again. After the third time I just threw up my tired hands and said, "That's good enough!".

While stuck in Groudhog Day, I started re-thinking my decision to bypass the #1 compound. Maybe that would have taken out those defects before going to the #2. Maybe the DA was the problem, not the #1 compound. I guess I could run a test using the #1 compound with my rotary buffer. Someday I may do that. That's the great thing about cutting and buffing: You can always come back years later and work on it some more...at least until you run out of paint

Here's the back side of the buffing pad I was using on the #3 compound. I thought it worked well - the beveled front face made it easy to hold the buffer at a slight angle like DanH recommended. I used a yellow pad for the #2 and a black (softer) pad for the #3 - both from Harbor Freight. After use, I am storing them in gallon baggies so as not to become contaminated.

July 12, 2018.   Issue #4,608.

Menomonie Memories

Hey party people- rv9daughter (N789PH) here! we are having a beautiful midwest summer this year, and taking advantage of it by flying whenever possible. tonight i flew my old man to menomonie, wisconsin for a burger bbq--come follow along.

let's start it off with a little transformation tuesday....

Ads-b Peformance Report Fail--- Please Help Me! ...Darren Kerns

I just had an uAvionix Echo installed in my RV7.

It passed the Compliance Report on the ground at Ron Collins.

However, tonight while doing the performance report in EVV airspace I got a 100% fail in Barometric pressure and Mode 3/A.

I have talked over and over to AFS and uAvionix about configuring everything. The Echo is wired into serial port #3 on the 3400S efis. I have had to configure everything because Collins did not do any of this. Well, some stuff they did but a lot they did not.

I am calling AFS and uAvionix tomorrow and I plan on flying the 7 back down to Collins to see if they can help.

Traffic and weather is showing up great on my iPad Mini 4. I have had other planes say they are picking me up good on their screens

I am wondering if I have something set wrong in the uAvionix Echo configuration page. Kurt at uAvionix can help me with that.

Shawn at AFS & Kurt have been great. I just don't know what else to do.

Can anyone tell me what I am missing? I am about to pull my hair out!!

 

Talkeetna and Ruth Glacier ...Vlad

RV Formation Photoshoot from Friday 6th over Rutland ...Pittsartist

Emarit Ranu RV-14A POH ...added to POH page

The New Summer Inter at the Mothership ...facebag post

July 11, 2018.   Issue #4,607.
  Work continues on our 80's era broken sprinkler system.  Latest update is a video showing a comically large amount of leakage directly under a Bradford Pear tree in our backyard (pic).  It's taken three evenings to get to this point with an axe and shovels (clay soil and root balls from Hades).  Growing Popeye arms.  It's time for that expletive tree to die, so now I'm wondering who I loaned my chain saw to.  I wish I was joking <g>.  And it wouldn't bother me if it fell on the deck 'by accident' - would prefer more grass.
  I'm gonna whoop this thing if it takes the rest of my life - so far it's a little too much like an episode of the Three Stooges.  You know the one. 
 

Slingin' (Dry) Mud ...RV style

On a post-maintenance RV-8 flight a week ago, friend/A&P Monkey at my field took a face full of dried Mud dobber nest out of the vent right at rotation.  The plane had extensive panel work done and had been down for at least a month.  Randy said at V_R a half-golf ball sized clump of dried dirt came out of a vent and whanged him right in the puss.  Kinda thing that can distract a guy...

Dirt in rear passenger foot well,
after breaking up on Monk's kisser.

From a safety standpoint, I guess the takeaway from this is the idea to maybe seal off the vents during long term maintenance or maybe direct the vents downward on that first post-work flight.  Or at least wear sunglasses. 

 

Cowl Fitting w/Quarter Turn Fasteners ...Emarit Ranu RV-14

Skybolt quarter turns on upper cowl of an RV-14A.  I detail how I curved, positioned then match-drilled the scallops...

Plastic eyeball fresh air vents ...bmarvel

With nearly 2000 flying hours in Van's aircraft I have built, I admit to being a big advocate of the company. But now and then I take exception to something and the plastic eyeball vents in the -14A are one of them.

These seem to have worked OK in our RV-8A in So. Cal. with the mild climate. Yes, they leaked air but that was a relatively minor irritant. But here in Colorado those same vents in our -14A ultimately caused me to replace them. They not only leaked air readily because of poor sealing doors with a loose on/off thumb control but also failed to maintain direction. Numerous times one vent or the other ended up moving on its own and shooting air into my or my wife's face and microphone, breaking squelch. It was OK for awhile but we finally opted to remove them and go with Van's more expensive but much better aluminum eyeballs of the same size. They hold direction and seal much better and have the usual twist method for on and off rather than a thumb control.

But not so fast. Because the plastic vents are mounted between two components that are siliconed to the fuselage, you can't just replace the vents. You have to remove and then replace the whole assembly -- NACA duct, eyeball and mounting bracket. While this was not difficult to do with a sharpened putty knife slowly slicing through the silicone, it was both time consuming to get down to bare metal and awkward working under the panel. I bought all new parts for each side since I thought trying to pry the siliconed vents from the NACA duct would break something. All worked OK and I found that the aluminum vents allow significantly more air into the cockpit than did the plastic ones. If only I had known this to start with...

It's your airplane so do what you wish since the plastic vents come with the kit. But after having gone through this exercise I would tactfully suggest you consider the added cost of the aluminum vents and install them in the first place.

Cutting and Buffing Paint Update ...snopercod

Making progress. After sanding out the swirls from the DA and using the Trizact 3000 with a hand pad. I started re-buffing today. I skipped the 3M #1 and went straight to the #2. I think the #1 was just too aggressive - more suitable for removing oxide from a car hood. I think the #2 going to work and I may follow up with the #3 if I don't give out.

I masked off all the control surface gaps and static ports so as not to clog them with compound:  ...

Scrap Stainless Project ...crabandy

I had some scrap stainless, FiberFrax and foil tape so I went to work making a heat shield.

I used my roller a second time (only had it 3 years) to roll my over-sized piece of stainless and fit it over the exhaust.

How Much Air To Feed an Oil Cooler ...Zuldarin entry

"...I will give you my recent experience with the oil cooler inlet. I have a 15 row cooler mounted on the firewall fed by a 4" opening in the baffles. I have found that I can "neck" the flow down to 3" without any performance degradation in flight.

Here is the new cooler fed by a 4" opening that has been reduced to 3.5" with a 3D printed insert"  ...

July 10, 2018.   Issue #4,606.

Trip Write-up: Tangier Island, VA ...Auburntsts RV-10

So we took a $100 hamburger (crabcake) flight to Tangier Island, VA located in the Chesapeake Bay. url

I chose to fly IFR from my home base of Manassas (KHEF) to simplify navigating the convoluted airspace in the area -- the island is almost surrounded by Restricted Airspace used by Patuxent NAS. However, lots of folks do it VFR. However, if VFR it's best to be talking to Patuxent Approach. By going IFR I essentially went direct making for a short 35 min flight from KHEF.  ...

Update on gfb's EGT#4 missing

Sorry for taking so long to get back on this thread. Here is some more data:

- We have adjusted idle mixture (50 rpm rise) and idle (750 rpm) and it is rock solid with the cowl off. No stumbles, just purrs away no matter what we throw at it.

- We cleaned out the spider/flow divider per AFP instructions and now EGT/CHT are rock solid for all cylinders. There is very little divergence between the 4, with maybe 50-70 deg egt delta.

- As soon as the cowl is on i start getting misses/surging. I talked to Don @ AFP and he thinks I am not getting enough airflow over the engine while the cowl is on at idle and I'm getting fuel boiling in the stainless spider lines. I am trying .023" nozzles to see if that helps.

Any pointers on increasing airflow at idle? I will be instrumenting the top cowl area with an RTD to see what temperatures are in there. Don indicates that if it's much higher than 130 I definitely have fuel boiling in the lines.

+TSRA Near Bozeman, MT ...Mr X pic

bonus....Mt. Rainer
(tip: look for the icon bottom right at link that offers
bigger images)

JetA Mixed w/100LL Experiment ...TimO

"After leaving the 100LL and Kerosene sit undisturbed for 3 days now, it's still 100% unseparated. I don't believe it actually will ever separate. I see it highly unlikely that even after a long amount of time it would separate and collect at the bottom of the tank by the inlet. I have nothing better to do with my jar of fuel, so I will just continue to let it sit and see what it looks like in a few weeks."

Supertracks Canopy Track Extension

There is a slider in Monk's hangar getting some love that has this Flyboyaccessories.com item (link).  I'd never seen one in person, so I thought I would take a few pics for anyone interested.  Looks like it's much easier to access the baggage compartment.

My pics begin here. 

Rethinking personal minimums ...Ed Wischmeyer

On the summertime IFR thread, there was a comment about personal minimums. Rather than bury this response at the end of that thread...

If you think about the challenges one incurs on a flight, you don't want too many challenges on the entire flight, and you don't want too many challenges at one time.

So if you're tired, that's a challenge. Turbulence on the entire flight is a challenge. Dodging cumulus buildups for the entire flight is a challenge. An unfamiliar airplane, or being out of currency enough that you're a bit uncomfortable is a challenge. Pressure to get there is a challenge. So this flight might be a good candidate for being cancelled, even if it's VFR. When I had my RV-4, I counted challenges as "gray areas," and cancelled flights if there were too many gray areas.

Now consider an instrument approach but well above minimums. Unfamiliar ATC can be a challenge, as can be a strong, gusty crosswind, and a wet runway. Low visibility but still above minimums can make it a challenge. Trying to figure out alternatives when the published missed approach procedure goes right through a thunderstorm is a challenge. Lots of challenges at once can be reason to avoid that situation.

So the point of personal minimums is not appropriately discussed in the context of just approach minimums -- you should be able to fly any approach to minimums if you have to. A more appropriate set of minimums are: how many total challenges on the flight; and how many challenges might you encounter at once.

This concept was written for the original Eclipse Jet flight safety manual.

July 9, 2018.   Issue #4,605.

Mike Starkey is 70 ...rvmills

Fun times at Starkey-Rita-Ville tonight, as Mike rang in the big Seven-O!

Mike held court in his new Land-Shark adirondack chair, as the party guests dined on burgers, dogs and brats...and plentiful amounts of that frozen concoction helped everyone hang on!

Here are a few pics from the VAF welcoming committee chairman's B-day bash!

Happy Birthday, Parrot Head Mike!

Kissing the belt-driven alternator goodbye forever  ...Hartstoc

I thought some of you might take interest in the process of complete removal of the belt-driven alternator from my RV-7A, including the drive pulley cast into the Lycoming flywheel. This link will take you to a photo album with detailed captions illustrating that process and discussing some of the many advantages.

Sub Panel - Check my layout

VFR Dynon Skyview single screen system with a pro x hub from Approach.

This is what I am thinking for my sub panel layout. I should be able to reach everything on the sub panel through the screen hole in the panel and I think there is enough room for all the connectors as layed out in the photo below.

The only other two items that will have to go further on the right side is the transponder and the back up battery.

Let me know if you see anything I am overlooking.

Monty Barrett

I'm sorry to report the passing of Monty Barrett, one of aviation's best.

It's been a difficult week for the whole family. I would not expect anyone to answer the phone at Barrett Precision Engines until after the funeral (Wednesday, in Shawnee, OK), or perhaps a bit longer. Allen and Rhonda do expect to keep a normal Oshkosh schedule. A memorial service is anticipated after OSH, in Tulsa.

More later.

Panel Upgrade ...Jaudette

I just upgraded my 7a with the EMS D10. Absolutely love it after about 30 hours of flying behind it. I did a video for those of you looking to upgrade.

Can of Worms- O-360 CS Hartzell Setting Advice

Okay, so as the title suggests, I know I am opening a can of worms here. But single engine piston—and especially constant speed propeller stuff—is new to me, and if I’m being brutally honest with myself it’s a little bit mystifying.

I have flown jet aircraft for years, and between the Airbus I currently fly, and the U-2 which I flew in the Air Force, I feel pretty stoopid when I have to actually think about what my engine’s doing. Heck, in the U-2 (yes, they’re still flying), you push the throttle to “mil” on takeoff and usually leave it there until descent. Now I have not one, but TWO more levers to think about.

I bought my first plane, an RV-6 with the above eng/prop setup a few months ago. I understand the basics, and have flown my plane a lot using a formulaic approach to settings, but I need more info. I shoot for <= 380 CHT, and my usual flying is at 6500 or 7500ft in the SF Bay area. I find my MP at cruise and full throttle is 22-2300, and I set the prop at 2300. Then I lean until peak, keep going until slightly rough, then back in a couple turns. I end up with about a 1250 EGT. Seems like about 130-140 kts IAS is where she’s happy.

Am I in the right ballpark? I’m not worried about how fast I can go; I want to keep my engine happy and dependable for as long as possible. I looked for threads here, and surprisingly didn’t see much. Also googled the **** out of this, and found some great advice for fuel injected 540s. Again, not much for our setup.

Fire away.

2000 Hrs! ...Pete Howell

N789PH just flipped over 2000 hrs on a flight from Minne to Duluth with my nephew. It has been a fun almost 12 years!

Panel Porn ...Walt

RAF Pilot and RV-3 driver

Dennis Cullum passed in June 2018. He learned to fly in a Tiger Moth and graduated to an RV-3 he build 20 years ago. In between he had some Meteor time with the RAF. Dennis was a member of EAA Chapter 14 and was a true gentlemen, offering his assistance without request. He helped me with my RV-3 and I was nearly the completion of my condition inspection and hoped we would have some formation time. I guess that will have to wait. Blue Skys Dennis.

Dennis was also the channel navigator in the 1959 Arch to Arch race from London to Paris.

July 6, 2018.   Issue #4,604.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, SAFE and RV-filled weekend.

Sid Mayeux 'Kelli Girl' at Meadow Lakes, CO.
Kevin Mastin photo.

Round The World Trip: New Blog Entries

VAF,

I am stuck in Karachi, Pakistan waiting for a weather window to open to Sri Lanka. The monsoon season just started, so I have to be careful with the routing over India. 

New posts have been added to to my web site/blog:

- England and IWM Duxford
- Icing over the Alps
- Electrical Disaster and Recovery

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July back in the USA.

John

Surplus Avionics (Garmin,Dynon,etc...). G3X screens! ...SteinAir

Hi Folks,
As we near the annual pilgrimage to OSH, we thought we’d throw a few of our surplus things out there so you could pick them up at the show if you like. As usual, this is first come first serve. Please contact us directly or via PM, email, phone, if you’re interested. Here’s what we have this go around:

1) Dynon EMS-D10 (Engine Monitor): New in the box, surplus/NOS. Comes with 9 month warranty. New price is around $1700, this one for $1350.

3) Garmin GAD-29 ARINC converter module. New old stock, (in original box but 2.5 years old). Includes 90 day warranty: $390

4) Garmin GDU-370 (G3X Non Touch) EFIS Screen/display only. New Old Stock (new in the box, old stock 2 years old). 30 day warranty: $950

5) Garmin GDU-375 (G3X Non Touch) EFIS Screen with XM EFIS screen/display only. New Old Stock (new in the box, old stock 2 years old). 30 day warranty: $1250

7) Garmin GTX-330ES transponder (WITH FAA 8130). Removed in excellent condition for upgrade. Includes rack, tray, and connector kit with 90 day warranty: $1800

8) Garmin GMA-240 audio panel, new old stock (new in the box 2 years old). Includes rack, tray, connector kit. 30 day warranty: $675

9) Garmin GMA-340 Audio panel, WITH FAA 8130, fresh factory overhaul and 90 day warranty. Includes new rack, tray and connector kit: $850

11) Garmin GTX-327 Mode C Transponder. Removed for upgrade in excellent condition. Includes rack, tray, connector kit (guaranteed working): $500

13) Garmin GMC-305 (w/YD) Audopilot controller. New old stock. 30 day warranty: $500

14) TruTrak “B” servo. Removed for upgrade, in serviceable/good condition. $300

List [ed. In the forum post. dr] will be updated as items are added or removed.
Cheers,
Stein

FAA Safety Briefing: July/August 2018 ...40-page PDF.

OSH Invitation from Continental Motors ...James Ball

Continental Motors is seeking a Vans RV powered by a Titan engine for display on their space at Air Venture. Continental Motors will cover your fuel costs both ways. If interested, please call James Ball at 251 436 8122. If no answer, please eave a message and I'll call you back.

Mr. X: Neat Lighting Effect, Somewhere over Mississippi

Summertime IFR in the RV-9A ...Ed Wischmeyer

So the plan was to fly from Savannah, GA, to Cedar Rapids, IA, to visit old (and getting older) friends before change made it impossible. Summer weather in the southeast makes such trips easier to cancel than to actually fly.

Surprisingly, the weather on the first leg was forecast to be pretty good, although I waited for some very low IFR to burn off a bit -- a Gulfstream pilot friend doesn’t fly his single engine plane over ceilings less than 1,000 feet in case the engine quits. I went IFR at 6,000 on the first leg, as that let me climb through the clouds without looking for a big enough hole, and it got me into cooler air.

Although it was early, I got a really good burger at Shifters near D73 in north Georgia. When I told the lady I was flying to Iowa, she asked if I was going to drive down to Atlanta and catch a flight. Oh. As the conversation evolved, she said that she had once flown on a thirty seat plane which she described as a “crop duster.” Ahem.

For the next leg, I filed IFR direct at 8,000. My physiology, for whatever reason, wants oxygen much lower than other folks’, but I was ready, and had everything plugged in and tested before takeoff. As the picture shows, the second leg was not direct in any real sense of the word. At 8,000 feet, I was mostly skimming the tops of the cumulus clouds (bases around 3,500 feet), and could usually see the ground somewhere around me.

When I did go through a cloud, tops at nine or ten, it was a ride, but doable. I would usually turn off the autopilot to get additional experience in hand flying. Each bump was a minor upset, and being able to change frequencies while doing that was a minor, a very minor, triumph. The workload was high enough hand-flying the plane that there weren’t very many brain cycles left over for anything else.

On the second leg, there were a few serious storms directly on my route, tops in the mid-forties (really serious storms) so the question was whether to zig around them to the north or to the south. The radar showed a number of measles splotches forming on the southern zig, with great potential for forming an impenetrable line, so I zagged to the north.

On that northern zag, there I went through a few buildups, maybe to ten thou or so, that gave me a >ride<. The workload was high and although the bumps weren’t that bad, the up and downdrafts were beyond my ability to hold altitude within 100 feet.

Then came another cloud, with friskiness that I didn’t see coming, updrafts and downdrafts, bumps being the least of my concerns. It was beyond my ability to keep the plane anywhere near where I wanted it to be, so I turned on the autopilot. To my surprise, the Garmin G3X autopilot did an excellent, incredible, unbelievably good job of holding altitude and, at one point, recovering seemingly immediately from a gust-induced 30 degree bank. (Having given credit were credit is due, there are other things that the autopilot doesn’t do nearly as well as I can do hand-flying, annoyances that I think would be easy to fix. Then again, talk is cheap…)

And when time finally came to descend to the airport, IFR made it easy as I didn’t have to find a big enough hole.

So what’s the takeaway, at least for me:
• IFR in cumulus clouds of any size can be challenging;
• The autopilot is a go/no-go item for me, even though I will not attempt a flight that I think I can’t hand-fly;
• Even the seemingly large deviations added little flight time. And the least fuel reserve I had on any leg was two hours;
• Don’t fly IFR around cumulus clouds if you can’t see what you might be going through. On the third leg, I started the diversion maybe 50 miles away, based on what I could see. And a visual picture is worth so much more than uplinked NEXRAD or center advisories on what their radar sees.

Could I have made this trip VFR? Probably, bouncing along in hot, humid weather under the clouds, avoiding rain shafts and ugly looking clouds. And with GPS, it would be relatively easy to find a nearby airport in case I needed to land right away.

As they used to say on TV, be careful out there…

Spring break ...Skip RV-4 #1904

My o-320 B3B broke both the inner and outer #1 intake valve springs today. It does not run well in this condition and I do not recommend it for the serenity of you flight. Fortunately the closest airport had a great couple of guys in the maintenance shop who found the problem and had the broken springs replaced in under two hours.

July 5, 2018.   Issue #4,603.
  Hope you had a nice July 4th.  Susie and I spent the day out at the hangar replacing the fuel pump on her car (took awhile for it to get here).  All squared away and replaced, the car washed, and the spousal unit is happy to have it back on the line.  I've never replaced an in-tank pump before - a fun project actually.  Saved at least $1,000.  Should be good for another 137,000 miles <g>.
  On to the broken sprinkler system - confidence high.
 

First Freedom from Gravity ...sbalmos

It was more than a first flight. It was first freedom. Freedom from the tyranny of gravity. Today, my plane celebrated its Independence (from Gravity) Day! Kind of appropriate, right?

Initial Flight - RV8

First flight for N842FM at San Geronimo Airpark (8T8).

I had a highly experienced RV pilot do the initial flight. He said it flew smoothly and had no roll bias. 2 issues: prop RPM indication problems and both radios were weak transmitting.

I'll will have to wait until the weekend to troubleshoot. I am sure there will be more tweaking/adjusting/fixing still to come.

The journey of the build to the maiden flight has been an awesome experience (still learning). Though there have been many, many, many, many, many frustrations and challenges, I am glad I was able to see the project completed (major help from my mentor-Les Bourne).

Fred McMahon
RV8
Test Phase

First flight ...RepmikeBrown RV-4

Weekend in MIchigan - Part 1  ...petehowell

Finished work a bit early on Friday, picked up Andi at home and headed to KANE to grab the plane - Destination the Wolverine State! Andi and I finally had a free weekend and wanted to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It was National Cherry Festival up in that neck of the woods as well. Weather looked hot and windy, but nothing the RV-9A could not handle!  ...

Part II

Campaign 2018 ends in Kenai ...Vlad

Off Cold Bay. A boost of morale on the radio from big boys - happy flying!

A gas contaminated with jet a

So today I had less than a cup of jet a mixed into one of my tanks of 16 gallons of 100ll on accident when someone grabbed the wrong fuel hose. The pump was not on but there was residual fuel in the nozzle. Surprisingly they seemed to completely mix and not separate. I always thought that jet fuel would separate out but the mechnic at the field said that jet-a and 100ll mix. Weird, does anyone have an idea what to do with this? if I have to dump 16 gallons of 100ll gas, where does it go? My guess is the engine wouldn't even notice this small amount of jet a, anyone had experience with this? I'm sure lycoming has a bulletin advising what to do?

Bryan

Tire Split

Obviously I’m grounded till new tires but has anyone seen this and what might have caused it? The plane is new to me so not sure if it’s age of tires or what. Tires have 170 hours with good tread life left. I don’t remember seeing these cracks last time I had the fairings off about 20 hours ago. Aircraft was completed in 2012.

Thanks...

July 4, 2018.   Issue #4,602.

full size image

In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.


He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

July 3, 2018.   Issue #4,601.
  Very hot in TX currently (107*F heat index), and the Saharan dust isn't helping (not kidding).  Pic and article.  Weird.  Pic from this morning shows a haze off in the distance.  Pretty close to MVFR.

  On a more fun note, I had the pleasure of giving (4) short RV rides this past Saturday - one was a gentleman's (Ray) first time in an airplane EVER!  What fun!
  Above is Savannah - one of the four.  Her first small airplane ride.  Sorry my ugly mug and chicken legs spoiled the shot.  Spinning the plane around between rides ;^).

Climbing a volcano and a harbor raid ...Vlad

Almost there at Makushin summit. It's the height of Mt Washington in Hew Hampshire. There is a Seismic observatory cam in the valley.

Intermittent elevator trim ...rvator4twa

Had a flight with elevator trim inoperable. Tried a bigger fuse and worked again. After it quit again, I examined the area and discovered the threaded bar between the trim tab and trim motor was catching sometimes on the threads. Used a dremmel to lengthen the slot and problem is solved.

RV-8 and the Grand Coulee Dam ...Steve Rush

Unlike this weekend, last Sunday was a pretty nice day here in the Northwet (spelling intentional). I was able to sally forth over the mountains to see some of the sights and it looked a lot like this:

Fair warning, there is one spelling error in the video.

Carbon fiber Sliding Canopy Skirt ...Joewebb

Just a quick video how I made my alternative sliding canopy skirt..

Build Status Report ...jcarne 7A

Well my rivet buddy decided to go to the mountains today so I started working on the "fun" part of the center section... deburring.

I got half of the 18 ribs done and also decided to take a break at one point to rivet the F-705 bulkhead. I'm REALLY glad I went with the paint before rivet idea, the contrasting rivets looks next level cool to me.

As a tip to others, don't forget there is a rivet under each of the bar doublers that MUST be set first. Luckily I only set two rivets before realizing this.

July 2, 2018.   Issue #4,600.

First Flight for N11XZ, RV-4, #3204 ...SJordan

I'm happy to report that N11ZX took its first flight on the 16th from Deer Valley airport in Phoenix Arizona. 28 minutes of ear to ear grin with little to no problems to report.

Akutan Zero Entry ...Vlad the Amazing

Avatanak island followed by Rootok. For some those chunks of rock mean nothing but for aviators of WWII every landable spot was gold.

South Haven Michigan (KLWA)  ...jjbardell

Trip report / blog from KLWA. I added a summary of sights and food at the top which I will do on all future trip reports.

July Wallpaper Calendar ...Ed Hicks photo

RV-9A, pilotjohns...Fuselage, part 2 of many

Bending longerons. Those words create fear, at least they did for me. I don't care to beat things with hammers, so I borrowed some longeron bending dies. I added scotch tape to the longerons and spread a thin coat of biolube from the aviation isle of REI. I didn't have a good vise, so I used c-clamps and the old wing crate as a table. I taped the plan's template to the side of the crate. This worked out well.

Using the c clamps, I did the first pass moving the dies about 1 1/2" at a time. The first longeron I had help and went well with very little out of plane bending, but I went thru 12 "el cheapo" c-clamps. For the second longeron, I bought three drop forged c clamps. These are still usable afterwards so worked out better. The rear bend is actually much tighter than the rest, so I had to use three pieces of 1/64" model airplane ply to increase the bend radius of the die.

The second longeron bent easier using the better c clamps, but I had much more out of plane bending. Using some scrap wood and a 2" piece of drain pipe, I was able to roll the bend back into plane. Both are well with the 1/16" tolerance.

VA Aviation Ambassador Program Complete ...Vlad RV-9A

VA Aviation Ambassador Program is completed. Feels good to be in one cohort with outstanding RVators like Rick Solana and others. Did I mention they send a you free leather jacket of great quality?  South Carolina next. Over a dozen airfields already visited and stamped.

Canopy drilling...Carl Froehlich

The issue I've found with drilling the canopy to canopy frame holes is making sure you drill at exactly the right place on the frame to avoid unnecessary stress on the glass.

For the first project (8A) I copied a trick to find the exact tangent point between the canopy glass and the steel frame. After running some standard masking tape very lightly on the frame, the canopy is carefully put in placed and clamped. The result is a perfect line in the tape where the glass touched the frame - the tangent point.

I found out the trick does not work with powder coated frames (first plane was pre-powder coating). There is not enough color contrast between the powder coat and the tape to see the line. The fix was to first run black electrical tape on the frame, and the masking tape on top of that.

The photos show the clear tangent line. Note that the tangent line is not at the horizontal midpoint - the glass curves under.


Next steps:

- With the glass off, use a sharpie to mark the line and then space out where the holes will go.
- Drill the #40 holes in the frame.
- Put the glass back on, check position a few hundred times then drill through the glass into the #40 holes. Clecko.
- Take the glass off and using a unibit drill the glass holes to 1/4" and slightly countersink the outside (more for the canopy bow than the sides as the sides have the fiberglass skirt that gets countersunk for the tinnermans). The objective is for a tinnerman to fit into the glass and then the CS4-4 rivet to fit into the tinnerman - the tinnerman spreads out the attachment force.
- Drill the frame #40 holes to #30.
- The roll bar gets tapped for #6 screws per the plans, but tinnermans again used under the screws on the glass.
- If you hate the powered coat color as much as I do, remove the frame and roll bar for final paint. Reassemble after the rest of the interior is painted.

Have fun,
Carl

June 29, 2018.   Issue #4,599.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
 

16 ship flyover/Missing Man for Stu "Falcon Flight" McCurdy

...emailed to me by Bobby Lucroy and others

Celebration of Life Event at USAFA Report

- Falcon Flight conducted a 16-ship Missing Man Flyover at the US Air Force Academy outside of Colorado Springs, during Falcon’s memorial service and internment there. The flight was coordinated by Bobby “Luke” Lucroy, Ron “Shorts” Walker, Roy “Jarhead” Geer, and Mark “Dula” and Pat “Dulette” Dulaney. Jarhead led the flight, and Dula played the role of on-site liaison and ground coordinator. The flight was professionally conducted and very well flown, despite many challenges. Local ATC placed many constraints on the operation, and the tactical control over the Academy was a rapid burst of frequency changes for Lead. A thunderstorm rolled through just prior to stepping to the planes, but cleared out just in time. We all felt Falcon ordered it to move along to the East! You can see the storm moving over the field and beyond, in 2B’s cockpit video (link below). Vader control (the final USAFA tactical freq for the flight) was jammed by a Country Music station from mountain top towers near the holding fix…but at least it was Country…Falcon Flight is from Texas after all. The pull was orchestrated by Dula on the ground, and the timing was perfect. Hats off to a great group of pros that flew the mission well, despite many challenges! The line-up was as follows:

Alpha
1. Roy “Jarhead” Geer (Falcon Flight)
2. Steve “Amazin” Grace (Falcon Flight)
3. Bobby “Luke” Lucroy (Falcon Flight)
4. Ron “Shorts” Walker (Falcon Flight)

Bravo
1. Craig “2B” Wilcox (KC Flight)
2. Scott “Scoot” and Tanya “Cookie” Card (Falcon Flight)
3. Ed “Sabre” O’Connor (Rocky Mountain Renegades)
4. Kent “Yobo” Yohe (KC Flight)

Charlie
1. Mike “KB” Smith (West Coast Ravens)
2. Brad “Tailwind” Ransom (West Coast Ravens)
3. Frank “Bogey” Brewer
4. Craig “Goliath” Taylor

Delta
1. Stephanie “Cyclone” Wells (Rocky Mountain Renegades)
2. Bill “Gunnbody” Gunn (Falcon Flight)
3. Mark “Rocket” Frederick (Falcon Flight)
4. Bob “Nasty” Mills (West Coast Ravens)

Ground debrief. Or as Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story".

Dulette and I were in almost constant contact with Janet Edwards from about 1230 on. Janet is the Mortuary Affairs contact person and is responsible for the set up, preparation and smooth execution of the Memorial Service so the family has a positive experience with grieving their loved one.

As Pat and I are driving to the cemetery we are getting HEAVY rain and light hail. I am literally saying a prayer to God to not let it hail on your aircraft. We are looking at weather radar and see that the storm is moving East and the West is totally clear. Janet Edwards tells me they are moving the ceremony indoors, I ask her if we can wait on that decision until we get a better and clear understanding of the weather picture. It was going to add another level of difficulty for the flyby if we had to move everyone inside. I talked to Maj. Chris Reynols (The Supervisor of Flying, SOF, which was VADER) and he said their wx gurus were saying a break in the weather from about 1330-1415 and then another round of tstm action. FYI, all of that was why Janet asked if we could move up the flyby to 1330, I told her later would be better and it was a good command decision call on Luke's part to stay on track!

So, after the heavy rain part we break out while driving to the AFA and see blue sky to the west and over the Academy. Diana's great contact with the Higher Power is working and I know we are gonna have clear skies for the flyover. I tell Janet to keep the ceremony outdoors, she hesitates and says the Academy is recommending an indoor event, I tell her Luke says they WILL make the TOT, to do it outside and to trust me, it will all be just fine! Thank you, Lord for backing me up on this one!!! Dulette and I arrive at the cemetery at 1300 and everything is in place for the outdoor service. I speak with the family members that are saying words at the event, I emphasize to them the importance of keeping their remarks to 4-5 minutes. Stu's son, Craig, was going to be the last to speak and he said his talk was 3 1/2 minutes, I said that is perfect, when you speak I will give the 5 minute call to the Flight and the timing should work out perfect with the 21 gun salute and Taps. Janet was with me and we agreed that would be perfect.

In the meantime, I'm trying to do radio checks with Vader. As we anticipated the power of the handheld radio is not adequate for this event. The cemetery sits down in a "bowl", so it is hard to get line of sight for good transmission. I could hear Vader when he spoke and I could hear Falcon Flight as ya'll were forming up, but no one could hear me until you got closer. Oh, and I could not hear your comm jamming music either. :-) We went with using my phone to communicate with Vader and he would pass on to ya'll, I think the text to ya'll was also working. Was very glad we briefed all the backups.

The ceremony starts exactly on time. All is going to plan, opening event, chaplain speaking, all right on the timing we anticipated. Then the 2 family speakers get up and only speak for about 2 minutes each. When Craig starts, the timing has now moved up from our anticipated '57 TOT, so I give the 5 minute call to Vader and he passes to you, and asking for an actual TOT. Jarhead comes back with a time and I look at my watch and think, this is Perfect! When Craig finishes we have a minute and a half until Jarhead's announced time over target...Awesome....

It was perfect. The formation, the smoke, the pull and overfly......you guys DID GREAT! As always, when I see this tribute to someone I know, it does choke me up. It is the power of the moment and the finality of our "missing" comrade. Falcon will rest easy in eternity, you honored him well!!

Diana and family were elated. The flyby was the priority of the ceremony. Everything else was nice, but she wanted the flyby to happen. She and the whole family were totally happy. Again, ya'll were perfect in your tribute to Falcon and they were pleased with the results. I received all of the compliments for ya'll. Everyone commented how perfect it was, beautiful and moving. The priority was the excellence in the presentation...and ya'll nailed it!! I also got reports from the AFA staff that it was an awesome display of airmanship. Diana said they were visiting the Chapel and people were talking about it there and commented how good it looked.

Final note: Craig McCurdy placed the urn of Falcon's ashes into the vault. Many had nickels to "throw a nickel on the grass, save a Fighter Pilot's ass". I threw 16 nickels as I named the flight members and then 2 more for Dulette and I.

RIP, Falcon. Was a pleasure to serve with you!

Dula

Videos: From the ground / From the air

RV6A N315WA went airborne today ...Sdemeyer

Two years of work finally payed off today. N315WA is the newest Vans RV to take to the sky! First flight went without a hicup. Nice flying plane!

Monument Valley at Dawn ...jpowell13 pics

I took my friend Doug Woolworth to Monument Valley at dawn last Thursday and he got some good pictures with his smart phone. If the light is right this place is magic. John

John in Italy ...lucaperazzolli report

I had the opportunity to meet John in LIPB (Bolzano) where I was with my RV-8 for helping him for custom documents.

Then we flew together to my home base (LIDT) where he spent a couple of days to change oil, filter and fixing some little issues in our team hangar.

It was a great experience to know a man who does the world flight in an RV.

Today he took off @ 09:45 local time and now he has arrived in Crete (Greek)

Follow his trip (HERE), he's a good person and I hope you have the fortune to meet him during his adventure.

Here are some photos and a little simple video I took during the escort flight from LIPB to LIDT.

N573RM ...patrick_r82

Just got my 7A back from Glo at 52F. Very pleased with the job they did. Would highly recommend them to anyone in search of quality workmanship at an affordable price.

Now that it’s back I’m looking forward to knocking out the last 1/2 of the phase 1, then taking all the friends and family for some joy rides.

Thanks for the great source of knowledge VAF!

Drilling, drilling, drilling ...Tdeman

RV-6 Update:

I’ve been taking advantage of the (rare) Oregon sunshine the past several weeks surfing and biking, but managing to get some RV-6 construction done in the evenings after work.

Did a bit with the baggage floor and forward seat pans...

June 28, 2018.   Issue #4,598.
 

RV-14A N196 First Flight! ...bkervaski

First flight! Went great and uneventful, here's a video - https://vimeo.com/277339586

Thank you Vans, VAF, SteinAir, Vic Syracuse, Dan Horton, and most of all my co-builder Phoenix. What a wonderful airplane!

Boone IA RV day ...TShort

We made it out for RV day in Boone, IA this year - not sure why the event wasn't more advertised, it's a great airport and they have breakfast AND lunch! We missed breakfast (taking delivery of a friend's -10 QB fuse), but made it just in time for lunch. Other than the "water landing" (approach end of the runway was surrounded by water, and the taxiway was covered) it was an uneventful trip:  continue

More Aleutian Campaign. ...Vlad the Amazing

Thank you guys. If I can do it anybody can. Just wait for a good weather window and go. You would be surprised how easy it is.

... leaving King Cove PAVC. A Grant Aviation Caravan quickly unloaded his boxes while I was still back taxiing runway 25. Where are you going brother? Trying to reach the Dutch, I'll turn left then low over the village, will be out of your way shortly. I am jealous the kid said good luck.

Super excited I shoved the throttle wide open too fast. The wood prop picked up a pebble or two the shrapnel hit somewhere under. Why did I do that I've been to worse fields always rolled partial power till nose up. Dummy.

RV-10/14 Flap Actuators are here! ...Pat Hatch

Rivet Gun Slipped ...Torch76

This was my first time riveting close up against another piece of aluminum. The gun slipped, and these smileys occurred.
1. Is this a situation where I feather out the smileys with a Scotch Brite pad so they don't catch my nail, add some primer over the scuffed area, and move on?

2. Any tips for riveting with the gun in close proximity to another piece? It's hard to feel like I have solidly placed the gun and bucking bar.

Milestone: My RV-6 Flying Weight Is Down Ten Pounds

(61) days ago I weighed in at 173.4 lbs.  Wednesday morning I weighed 163.4.  Switched from an oatmeal-based breakfast to an egg/meat/fruit one and gave up French fries and baked potatoes.  Very little bread and a scooch more exercise, but nothing crazy, just a normal 45mins four times a week.  Cardio and weights.  Netflix and Youtube concerts in the ears to make the workout less boring.

Nutshell: fewer carbs.  Anyway, more energy and able to tolerate the summer heat better.  No more afternoon energy dip.  I miss Dr. Pepper (last one 456 days ago on 3/28/17), but who's counting. ;^)

Anywho, my data that a little change can make a difference if you're looking to shave a little weight off the flight. 

June 27, 2018.   Issue #4,597.

HI KAY!  ...the man, the myth, the waypoint.

While flying back from KXBP Monday I came across the HIKAY waypoint on the G3X.  That's sorta funny to me because one of our local pilots (Kay F.) takes his RV-8A out pretty close to that spot NW of 52F just about every day for some alumitherapy.  A happy coincidence.  I flew through it today just for giggles (pic).  Told Kay about it and we had a good laugh.

If the FAA is reading this and is short on naming ideas, and sees in its wisdom to someday create a VAFDR [vaf-dur] or HEYDR [hay-dee-arr] waypoint NW of KDFW somewhere, I promise I'll use it with gusto, treat it respectfully and see that it gets portrayed fairly and with dignity in write-ups here. ;^)

HI KAY.

It would probably end up being my avatar on the forums (VAFDR).  I mean, how cool would that be!  A guy can dream - even some bonehead like me ;^).  Hope you have a nice Wednesday, and don't forget to say hi to Kay.    

Aleutian Campaign ...Vlad

There is a territory with the worst weather in the world. Commercial flyers hate it. Aviation infrastructure there is minimal and modern amenities are few. This American territory was partially occupied by Japan in the Second World War. The name of the territory is the Aleutians. The fog shrouded chain of islands few know about even fewer flew over it.

I spent five years preparing for the trip. I made a couple of long runs over the years testing myself and the machine. I researched, asked, called, emailed. 90% of responders advised against going to the Islands. There is nothing to see there it's nasty and unforgiving they said. Some advisers cautioned that I might put lifes of rescuers at grave risk if I had an emergency. Two more years were spent after that for more research and I was comfortable knowing couple fishing boats working on my route that season. So I withdrew all roubles from the bank and arrived at "a base" in Alaska.

My airplane is a Day VFR RV9A. The engine is a high time stock Lycoming O-320. Wood prop on the way out but well balanced by a pro. No leading edge protection so I do my best to avoid the rain. There are basic VFR round dials on the instrument panel. I have a transponder and a radio. I navigate using compass, paper charts and an app on ipad. I don't have an onboard weather.

But what I do have is a couple dozen of good friends we know each other for years. On a long run like this a bit of help matters a lot. A tank of gas here, a bed to stay there and a meal in between go long way if you are traveling for weeks. Thank you! I might reveal your first names at the end of the story if you wish so.  continue

Mike Starkey Turning 70 Margaritaville Hangar Party

Hangar floor pic ...Pat Stewart

Just completed tiling the hangar floor with vinyl, peel and stick tile. It turned out great. The tile is a salt and pepper granite look and was really pretty simple to install.

June 26, 2018.   Issue #4,596.
  A short sprinkle around sunrise Monday lowered the OAT here for a few glorious moments to 71*F, so said the temp sensor on the 'ol Jeep bumper.  Breakfast plans changed of course....drive thru quick...haul-a out to the field for RV therapy.  VERY enjoyable temps for a bit (100+F H.I. later).  Pics of the quarry at KXBP after gas purchase.  Various lighting and clouds w/an iPhone - nothing to get worked up over.
  Rob got the south windsock back up later, and all the criteria for a good splash image were immediately met. ;^).  The three cows which moseyed onto the south end of the field before lunch were icing on the cake.  Trucks and Jeeps herding cows.  Texas.

From the Gentleman Landing the 7A Off Airport The Other Day

...and thank you for sharing Sir!  dr

"Thank you for all your support. I truly would like to have a debrief on this at the squadron someday to discuss lessons learned. I’ll buy the keg.

As to the specifics of the accident, I was flying with my grandson Luki to Thomas Russell Field in Alexander City. As I reduced power in the descent (approximately 5 miles northeast of ALX) the engine gave one sputter and began losing power. I raised the nose to pick up 80 knots, turned on the boost pump, switched tanks, checked fuel (11L/10R), went mixture full rich and toggled mags. The engine was unresponsive.

Now, one of my biggest mistakes and regrets is that I looked at that big long runway and said, “I think I can make that”. I pointed it to the end of the runway, feathered the prop, and told Luki we would be a full stop. As it became apparent that making the field would be questionable, if not impossible, I made a hard right turn to land in the grass/parking lot behind the Taco Bell. I expected to land in the first field and probably hit the fence between the two portions of the lots. I did not expect the power lines (which I did not see) on the other side of the trees.

To any of you guys congratulating me or saying “great job”, I would say we got very, very lucky. Instead of hitting just one of the power lines and flipping on our back, we had one wire above the spinner and one below. The airplane slowed remarkably smoothly (relatively speaking) as we continued to the ground. I expect many of you carrier pilots have had more rapid decelerations hitting the 3-wire. What would Greese, Bill, Don, Waldo, or most of the other great pilots in the squadron have done? They would have taken luck out of the equation and headed toward the soccer fields, or even directly toward the field I chose, without first fixating on a big long piece of concrete just out of reach. That would have given them time to do a short field approach, clearing any lines or obstacles. They probably would have even been able to re-use the airplane. As for other things I should have done (but didn’t); turn off the fuel selector valve or unlock the canopy. For the record, the pictures look much worse than it was immediately after touchdown. We climbed out unscathed being careful to avoid the power lines. The power lines, however, continued to spark and started the aircraft on fire shortly after we safely exited. The fire department was on site almost immediately, but would not approach the airplane until the power company confirmed the lines were cold, so we stood there and watched the airplane burn to the ground. I do not intend to imply that wasn’t the best call. It was. I’m just explaining why it looks as bad as it does.

The obvious unanswered question is “why did the engine quit”? I don’t know.

So, thank you for your kind words and support. I just thought you should all know the rest of the story."

The Adventures of N616TK

My adventure began with the first kit, February 6, 2009.  continue

Slosh mystery

We removed one tank and took the cover plate off to see what we could find. Surprisingly, as far as I can tell, there is NO sloshing compound anywhere. All I can see is gray sealant (Proseal?) at the seams and joints. I did see lots of white flakes (assumed to be slosh?). So where did these flakes come from?? Here are the photos of the inside of my tank. I used an inspection camera to look in all the compartments of the tank and only saw gray sealant. There's nothing white except the flakes.

Cranky Starter II - (No Swingy, No Starty)

Hello. I have read as many “cranky starter” and “starter problem” threads as I can find, but I am running out of ideas to solve my starter problems on my Lycoming IO-320 standard compression engine. I have a Hartzell 2-blade C/S metal prop with 1 Slick Mag & 1 Lightspeed CDI ignition module. Total time on engine is 300 hrs, and I use Phillips 20w50 X/C oil.

My Symptoms:
My key ignition switch takes 3-4 attempts to get the prop to move past the compression stroke before it will swing the prop to start. (The engine starts up just fine, once the prop is swinging.)

My Actions & Results To-Date:
Replaced 7 yr-old 12V Odyssey PC680 battery with new Odyssey PC680 battery 4-mos. ago.
Result: Same start-up symptoms with my existing permanent magnet Sky-Tec 149-LS Lightweight starter.

Cleaned all cable and wire connections from battery to starter - positive and negative.
Result: Same start-up symptoms.

Replaced starter with new series-wound Sky-Tec 149-NL starter 3 weeks ago.
Result: Same symptoms with new starter.

Replaced Starter Contactor with new Starter Contactor 2 weeks ago.
Result: Same start-up symptoms.

Replaced Master Contactor with new Vans Master Contactor this past weekend.
Result: Same start-up symptoms.
Note: Output lug of master contactor is joined to input lug of starter contactor with 3-1/4" length, double-thickness of copper bus bar.

Measured Voltage at various locations, per Sky-Tec’s trouble-shooting guide: 13.0 Volts (No-Load) at battery, 11.0 Volts (When Prop is Cranking) at battery, 10.6-10.7 Volts at starter (When Prop is Cranking), No measurable resistance on major power and ground cables. Above Voltage tests were with newest Odyssey battery, alone.

Hooked old & new Odyssey batteries in parallel and retested.
Result: Same start-up symptoms.
(Once the prop did start swinging, it did swing with more authority.)

Talked to Alan at Sky-Tec support this morning. He is perplexed, too, as 10+ Volts at the starter should provide plenty of torque to start without stalling. However, he requested I make the following additional test:

“Disconnect the starter contactor’s positive cable from the new starter, and hook up a 12V starter caddy or known good 12V battery directly to the starter’s positive lug and good ground to eliminate potential upstream problems.”

The above test sounds simple enough. But frankly, the idea of making contact with a cable end that will have 100-200 Amps flowing through it scares me to death! I imagine some arcing sparks would occur, too.

Can someone suggest a safe way to complete this test?
Do you have any other suggestions that I may be missing?

I have nearly run out of parts to replace.

Thanks,
Dale

EAA 105 Poker Run

June 25, 2018.   Issue #4,595.
  52F’s POA had a soft opening Saturday morn of the new airport office (33.050604, -97.231263) complete with pancakes at Tina’s. A nice turnout with nice people - even an impromptu meeting regarding signage on the field.  Pictures.  Making 52F better all the time….
  Got in a little flight before the carbfest. Mass, F1 race, some World Cup, Forbidden Planet on the DVR, computer time and the weekend was done. A nice mix. It’s so hot here now we have to make the RV flights early early or late late. Summer in Texas and all that…
  Hope you had a very nice RV weekend and have a nice Monday.
 

Nice Place to Take a Break in Texas ...Chris Pratt RV-8

Traded the Dallas heat for the Hill Country heat in Fredericksburg, Texas this past Friday. Nice break and change of pace for a day and a night. Parked and stayed at the Hangar Hotel on T82 (Gillespie County), visited the Nimitz museum (and must do for WWII buffs), strolled the quaint and clean main street, and generally relaxed.

About 1.25 hrs south of DFW via RV. You can often expect some low viz at T82 early morning but it burns off quickly. Must be the Hills. Oh, and Uber is now available so you can skip the car rental.  continue

 

Broken exhaust hanger

Discovered during condition inspection. Has any ever had one of these break before? Any tips on ordering a new one? I believe this is a Vetterman system, but I don't see parts on their website (also called Friday and left a message - although it looks like they keep limited hours on Fridays (I wish I could do that.))

Flying at Last (Again) ...Dayton Murdock

I am finished with my engine upgrade and have flown the airplane for the five hours necessary in phase 1. I am delighted with the performance change the aircraft exceeds my expectations. The cruise speed has increased significantly fuel burn however is another story I didn’t know you could put that much gas through Lycoming.The new climb performance is stellar I am very happy with it. I have a few more little things to work on and I am not posting any numbers if you want to know the numbers send me a PM and I will give them to you . ...
__________________
Dayton Murdock

Foam Used to Close Up Fairings

...Steve Melton experience

Misaligned holes in elevator tip ribs

I'm trying to do the final drill of the #40 holes between the E-913 counterbalance skins and the E-903 and E-904 tip ribs. I'm having a real hard time trying to get some of the holes to align. I've contacted Van's technical support already and gotten a response, but their suggestions haven't worked so far. I thought I'd throw this out to the VAF and see if anyone has experienced this same issue.

I've done the fluting of the E-903 per page 09-02, step 5 and it's pretty flat. The E-904 rib came fully fluted from the factory, but it wasn't very flat. There was about 0.200 in. out of plane, so I "defluted" best I could to bring it back to flat.

When I cleco the assembly together, a group of holes are misaligned by 1/3 to 1/2D.

Has anybody experienced this and more importantly, how do you deal with it?

June 22, 2018.   Issue #4,593.
  Tater is doing much better post-wisdom teeth removal.  Going through the mashed potatoes and ice cream like nobody's business.  Amazing how fast kids bounce back.
  LOTS of wind and rain my neighborhood last night around 10pm (video / radar grab).  The last ten seconds of the vid is 'spirited'.  Trees down in the area.  Prolly three inches rain.  Needed....just not so violently.
  Granbury pancake fly-in this Saturday if you're in Texas.  More below.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!!!
 

Tracking the Around-the-World RV-9A Flight

Milestone: Painted ...Mark Dickens RV-8

Just picked my plane up from Evoke Aviation where Jonathan McCormick and crew pulled off a miracle, taking a plane that was average at best and making it look amazing. He really did an awesome job. I can't say enough! Extremely pleased!

Pic from 'Mr. X'

Zion NP ...click to enlarge

June 21, 2018.   Issue #4,592.
  The Tater got his wisdom teeth out Wednesday afternoon.  That ($2,171), two colonoscopies (me/wife), an endoscopy (wife), fuel pump on the wife's car and more has turned June into a real testicle buster.  5K+ out of pocket above normal expenses.  I will absolutely be glad when this month is over!  A few very nice folks have asked about OSH in the last few days over email.  Sorry but not going this year - Cash Flow 101.  Perfect financial storm - we're going tight for a good while.  .2s and .3s if and when.
  Tate is doing fine, BTW.  Wendy's Frosty, applesauce and lots of video games.  Ice cream in the freezer.
  67% humidity, zero wind mostly and a H.I. of O.M.G.*F made for a sticky Wednesday.  Not much flying going on.
  I gotta go buy a Frosty for my son now.  Have a good Thursday.
 

Look what happened to me! ...scsmith RV-8

 This happened on Friday flying down to Calaveras Co airport.

Rudder damage-repair or replace?

Last week, we were on our way from Logan, UT - KLGU to the AOPA Fly-in at KMSO and stopped overnight to visit a friend in Lewiston, ID - KLWS. The plane was parked and tied down with rudder, aileron and elevator locks in place when a big storm came thru overnight in the opposite direction of the usual prevailing wind (from the tail of the plane). The gust lock (a u-shaped wire) was turned into a pretzel and the wire severed at the rudder. The rudder suffered a hole on the left side from being driven against the elevator and a dent on the right from the same problem. The bottom six rivets in the trailing edge were ripped loose leaving the holes on the left larger than those on the right so it can't just be riveted back together. We patched it up enough to get back to KLGU but the question now is whether to repair the damage or just order a new rudder kit and replace the rudder? We didn't build the plane so building a rudder would be a first effort. It is flyable now with Gorilla tape over the hole and temporary bolts to hold the trailing edge together. Reskining seems like more work than building new. Advice??

Today...

Pic from Mr. X

...Vail, CO

O360 running rough

Any suggestions, please. Spend a small fortune already.
Lycoming O-360 (200 hrs SMOH)
Two partial engine failures. Max rpm at full throttle 1300. Fortunately I was over an airfield both times.

On advice I overhauled the:
Alternator
Carburetor
Starter
Regulater

Blow by’s all above 77.

Symptoms:

Starts easy
Idles smoothly
Advance throttle to above 1300 rpm, runs rough.
Stays running rough at idle.

Some say:

It’s the mags
Others say, overahualed carb is the problem
Have you checked the ignition

Even the mechanics are confused, hence my reaching out.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. (Getting expensive). Want to avoid pulling the engine.

Thank you

Status Report: RV-3B ...David Paule

Here's the titanium belly overlay in place. Nothing unusual about this except that the .063 spacers in the middle area under it are forcing it to lay in a mild compound curve, since the perimeter lays flat on the aluminum belly. I just clecoed it on so that I could verify that indeed, this works.

June 20, 2018.   Issue #4,591.
  Charity cap sighting at the roller derby last Saturday night.  Our airport manger Rob Reece's wife Shannon is on a local team - her character's name: French Hiss.  She's #1111 in this pic.  I had to look up the rules beforehand on Youbagbookoogle (link).  A vid for everything apparently...and it explained it well.
  It was kinda like going to a soccer game with the parents on the sidelines, but the kids were adults.   Rocky Horror Picture Show on skates.  KISS meets WWE.  There is a theatrical component and they play it up.
  We had a good time. 

Milestone ...Ron Gawer

Today, my RV12 passed its airworthiness inspection; it was so easy that it was almost anti-climatic to the 711 hours I spent crafting the little bird. So, now it’s on to flying.

Tosten Grip in RV7-

Q: I'd like to put Tosten Grips in my 7 but reading all the post re panel clearance I'd like to see some pics of what you have done to address this problem in a 7. Most of the posts concern RV10, but as you know they have a different stick configuration. Send me a PM with your email and I'll reply to your email if sending pics via email is easier. Thanks. Robert

A: Just take the standard length of the Van's stick tubing and subtract off the length of the new Tosten grip above its mount and that is how much to cut off. You can even go a bit lower. Just make sure you clear the controls with the panel and subpanel for the throttle/mixture/etc. 2-3 inches is not enough to clear the panel.

Spin. Engine quits. Why? ...Moscow

I tried long spin in my 7A recently. After 3 or 4 turns at idle RPM slowly drops and approximately at seventh turn engine quits. My impression that spin at idle and lost engine are different. At least delay with recovery is much longer when prop stopped. I tried 4 times with the same result. I wonder why engine quits in a first place. I keep Mogas in one tank and Avgas in other. Both filled less than half for aerobatics. First I thought Mogas is to blame. I switched to Avgas with exactly same outcome. Next idea was that centrifugal force pushes gas out of intake. Once right at the moment when the engine was just about to stop I pushed throttle a little bit forward. I did not expect any reaction but it worked like in straight and level flight. I finished my 10 turns with engine running.

Next I tried to enter spin at 1000 RPM rather than at idle. I liked it. Engine kept 1000 RPM thru entire 10 turns. Recovery is faster and more predictable that at idle. So there are two important questions: why engine quits and is there any danger to enter spin at RPM a bit higher that idle? Engine is injected 360M1B.

Thanks in advance for help.

Sorry for poor English. I am from third world. We don’t waist too much money for stupid and useless things like education)) :^)
Here is a link to stopped engine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIOWtnijlSA

Extended Fuel ...RV-10

I've been planning a transatlantic trip to Ireland since I started building the -10. A tribute of sorts to the Irish who came before me to this great land in the knowledge that they would never return to the Emerald Isle. Anyways, here's my long-range tank installation. I designed the tank to hold 40 gallons and be easily installed and removed by one person. Fuel is plumbed into the 3rd port on the factory fuel valve. There's a small sump for the gravity feed, a finger strainer and an in-line fuel filter. A no-drip quick disconnect snaps into a fitting installed in the tunnel inside the area normally covered by the flap cover. The vent is similarly located through the tunnel and out the bottom of the fuse. A resistive sender connects to a spare channel the G3X and shows fuel level on the engine page alongside the main tanks.

June 19, 2018.   Issue #4,590.
  Digging continues in the backyard.  Finally got to the reason the sprinkler system leaks.  Roots growing into a T-connector.  Light at the end of the tunnel...and an end to hand watering in this heat.  Ugh. 
 

Milestone: Finish Kit Arrives ...longranger

I took delivery of the finish kit late Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning I had an hour or so to get started on unpacking and inventory before getting ready for Fathers Day festivities. So far I’ve found the wheel fairings, empennage fairing, wing root fairings, canopy latch bar, and some hinge material, but mostly it’s just paper. I have laid eyes on the canopy, and what appears to be the wheel kit and tires (didn’t unwrap them yet). I assume the engine mount and a bunch of hardware are buried under the canopy.

The 'New' Flying Vest

...SRU-21/P on long term loan from a buddy who used it 'overseas'

He asked if I wanted it.  Yes.  On the interwebs they talk of the pockets being used for grenades and extra ammo magazines.  I'll probably go instead for my phone, my PLB, a handheld radio, an extra camera and some candy bars.  Maybe a mirror signal and knife.  Stuff you want with you if you're upside down in a tree.  More as I figure it out.  More pics of it here.

Search 'SRU-21/P' for more info on this vest.  Lots of 'em online for sale.  Flew with it Monday a.m. and it was a nice improvement over the fly fishing vest I had.

From the interwebs...

7A Status Report ...jcarne

Oh snap, look who made some progress today! I may need to finally move them wings off to the side of my garage, things are starting to get cramped.

34th Annual Father's Day Fly-in Breakfast at Beach City Airport

Picture shows three of four 12’s at Beach City this morning for Father's Day fly-in. We got there late (9:30) and had to park out by the road. Probably 100 airplanes showed up. I wish I could have taken a picture of my iPad ForeFlight screen showing ~15 targets all converging with eight planes in the traffic pattern at the same time. Good time had by all…

Debris in my fuel tanks

I have no idea what these white flakes are or where they came from! I saw these just when I was about to fill up today. I cancelled my fuel request and will drain the tanks tomorrow and try to fish them out with some kind of long tweezers or thin needle nose pliers. Or any other tools would be good for this? I've seen these long claw-type tools, but don't know what they're called or where to get them...

These things look like paint flakes - the only thing is my plane is not painted white anywhere. The second possibility is they're pieces of teflon, but the only place where I have a *tiny* bit of teflon is around the threads on the fuel drain plugs. But I really don't think it's this either. Any ideas what these things are and how they got in my tanks? They really look like paint flakes.

I've had this plane for over two years and have never seen anything like this. I usually look inside my tanks before I fill up. I installed fuel injection in March. Last month/ about 10 hrs ago I inspected the fuel filter and it was clean. Any ideas??

7A Rebirthing Update ...kentlik

Finally got the canopy trimmed to final size! I think...Just to 320 currently

Baffle Question, #4 hotter, Question . . pict

In 20 hours of flight #4 CHT has always been hotter. It does not seem that the GAMI test points to it being out of line A/F wise.

The #2 head was blocked and un blocked with zero difference to #4.

The oil shutter was operated full open and full closed, no change in #4 CHT.

The fin flashing under the plug was reduced and dropped the diff from ~35F to ~15-20F. All other heads are within a 2F bracket.

edit: Swapped the probes from 2 & 4 and the high temp became #2 high as it was now in #4 head.

Has anyone determined that the baffle flap wrapped over the fins in the picture below has any effect? I am thinking it is the only thing left and a bit tentative to just cut it off without and external stiffener. The trouble would be worth it if anyone has data it will have an effect, though.

Any experience with this in VAF land?

[ok I admit, 15-20F is not bad, it just has me stumped. I gots to know . .

June 15, 2018.   Issue #4,588.
   Back in the saddle!  Thursday 0900 I flew the RV for the first time since last Saturday. I *tried* to hop over the KAFW and do a quick 16L ILS starting at WIGZU for a tight .2, but they were working four planes besides me, one of which a FedEx heavy. So over Justin I opted to slip out the back Jack and called up Denton for their 18 ILS instead - pattern to myself. Good practice I think to go from being set up to do one approach, throwing all that out the window, and resetting for a different airport slash approach ten miles away.  Lotsa buttons, and opportunities to muck it up.  Joined at PINCK and at mins scooted back direct 52F.

enlarge

  Of note are the overshoot on the localizer (I was fast) and the sorta circular overhead break with base just over FM1171.  Flaps 1 about 90* from final and flaps 2 just lining up with the centerline….concentrated on keeping the circle a circle while honking that flap handle up (I can sometimes see in the track where I grab for flaps).  Crosswind makes the circle even more fun, and the short bursts of concentration get addictive.  Screen grabs from Garmin Pilot on the iPad below.
  It was good to get off the surface again.  I missed it.  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.

enlarge

48 States in 7 Days - Day 7 ...larrynew

Day 7 - Friday, June 1st, 2018

We were up early at cousin Mark and Gayle's house with Uncle Tommy arriving at exactly 6 a.m. to cook a delicious southern breakfast including grits with Aunt Lois helping. Much better than my powdered milk and cereal in a ziplock! On the way to the airport, we visited with Jeff, cousin Laura's husband. He owns a big company that builds huge electric motor starters. We got the nickle tour and parting gifts of Yeti cups. It was super interesting to see in inner workings of a small factory. Another cousin Dwayne worked there and we visited for a few moments. Remember not being able to throw a rock without hitting a cousin? We didn't mind the somewhat slow start as the morning clouds in Florida had our destination IFR.

When we departed for Marianna, Florida (KMAI) the weather was already VFR. There were multiple helicopters making practice approaches to the field and it looked like it used to be a very large training base of some sort. We parked next to an RV but didn't go in to visit, only taking a quick picture. We were both beginning to feel that this was the last day of the trip and we need to keep pushing and finish. No so much get-home-itis but more keeping the momentum going.  ...

Vladspotting ...Dutch Harbor, Alaska

"It was nice meeting you Andy. You should bring your RV9A to Dutch Harbor. With all your busy working schedule you won’t be able to fly much though. Tom sold me 20 gallons of avgas he said he will keep a stash for us. Good people are at the airport the manager rocks!"

Houston area monthly RV lunch (June)

It's that time again! Looks like we're due to rotate back up to Hooks for some B-52 burgers. Same time as usual, 11:30, this Saturday (6-16).

I am unsure if I'll make it, as my parents are in town visiting for a couple days. Depends entirely on whether they're interested enough to want to attend and listen to the fun stories.

Finished RV-12 ...Cdenora (Mexico)

4 years in the making.  Ivo prop constant speed.  all else very much original.

Do I need to relocate my oil cooler? ...boulderick

Recently bought an RV-6A that flew first in 1995. Now that it is getting hot in Colorado, I'm having trouble with high oil temperatures. We're going through the steps I've seen in other forum posts - checking the baffles for leaks (there are some places to tighten up), checking the oil cooler for flow (expensive to have it cleaned, but we may do that), checking the oil temp sender and gauge and doing a compression test (tomorrow after work). The one thing that seems odd about this aircraft is the position of the oil cooler. It's just inside the left hand intake, mounted horizontally with a piece of 5/8" aluminum angle behind it to help direct some of the airflow through the cooler. Seems that airflow would largely bypass the cooler mounted this way. Has anyone seen this kind of configuration? Do I need to change it to the more traditional firewall mounting with a SCAT hose from the back of the engine baffles?

June 14, 2018.   Issue #4,587.
  Update on the wifey's '07 car......bad fuel pump.  New one on order now and should be back on the line in a couple days.  Easy fix and glad Audrey didn't need the Honda at grad school.  Minimal hassle for the spousal unit.
 

48 States in 7 Days - Day 6

Cowl flap thoughts ...crabandy

7A Rebirthing Status Report ...jcarne

Just Cant Stop (even at full lean!)

This is pertaining to an IO360-A1A injected engine with the RSA fuel servo.

I think Gremlins broke into my hangar. I just performed a routine oil and filter change after installing silicon rocker cover gaskets and a new oil quick drain. I touched nothing else. Before re-installing the cowl I ran the engine and allowed the oil to heat up in order to check for oil leaks. After reaching 170 degrees, I pulled throttle to idle and mixture to full lean to stop the engine. The engine wouldn't stop! It just kept on purring like a kitten. No real roughness, etc. Without giving it a lot of thought, I just switched the magnetos off in order to kill the engine. My first thought was that the lean cable came loose somewhere and lost adjustment.

I checked the linkages along with the local IA. Everything looks good. When lean is pulled, the lever on the fuel servo goes all the way to the stop. A fair amount of fuel (more than usual) drained out of the sniffle valve from the sump. It had to be a fluke! Went to restart engine. It was very hard to start (which is unusual for my experience with this engine. Remember that I killed it by grounding the magnetos so fuel was still going into the cylinders since I cant get shutoff at full lean). Once started, and smoothed out, I pulled lean and saw EGTs go up. I then pulled full lean and it kept right on running. I killed the engine this time by shutting the fuel off.

I had AirFlow Performance Overhaul my servo and basically replaced the full injection system with new parts and lines, restrictors, etc. back at the start of the year.

Am I missing anything here or is this a call to Airflow to troubleshoot? I am not aware of any additional adjustments for Idle shutdown other than making sure the lean lever on the fuel servo goes all the way against the stop.

Your input is appreciated!

Ben

52F Fish Fry

...Phil cranked up the fryer, Jackie made some coleslaw and Liz and John brought the brownies.  Around 25 ended up eating the crappie Randy, Phil and Clayton caught not too long ago, and the usuals had a nice opportunity to hang out with a cooling breeze and RVs in the background.

RV Life...

Pic from Mr. X ....Golden Gate (left) / SF (right)

June 13, 2018.   Issue #4,586.

Tate earning some extra summer money out at 52F Tuesday.

Osprey question

So I returned to my home base at New Kent (W96, Richmond, VA USA) the other day to find that a V-22 Osprey was doing touch-and-goes. Or whatever you would call it when a tilt-rotor aircraft practices landings.

The V-22 is just a flat-out amazing aircraft. I was going to join the pattern and land so that I could watch it in action, but then it occurred to me: what is the wake turbulence like from those things?!?

Fearing it might be extra nasty, I motored on for some additional sight-seeing elsewhere.

Any theories on how much room to give to a V-22?

48 States in 7 Days - Day 5

RV IAC Aerobatic Competition Standings - 2018

Four RV pilots competed this weekend in two separate contests. Jerry Esquenazi and Randy King dominated the Sportsman category at the Southeast Aerobatic Championships in Rome, Georgia taking second and third place among a very competitive field of twelve. Bill McLean had a good thing going for the first two flights in the Intermediate category but faltered in the third flight. (You don't get to count the best two out of three!)

Still to report is David Schmitz who is competing int Salem, Illinois this weekend. Weather has delayed the contest and we are still waiting for final results. More news to follow...

From Mothership FB Page

June 12, 2018.   Issue #4,585.
  Colonoscopy went well.  Zero polyps.  One hemorrhoid caught, banded, tagged and released w/tracker.  Still sleepy and have (not medically trained) a condition I choose to call 'Butt Fire'.  Taking it easy.
  See you Wednesday. 

June 11, 2018.   Issue #4,584.
  Saturday morning 0720 I flew down to Lancaster, TX airport to eat breakfast. Checked in with approach and got cleared into Class B (hoping for a flight over the top of KDFW). Didn’t get it and the restaurant was closed (vacation) if you can believe my awesome luck. ;^)  Used the powder room and hopped back in the plane. Called up approach again and this time asked for a ‘photo pass over KDFW’. Granted! Flew over my old workplace in Las Colinas, then over the top of DFW from east to west at 4,000’. Jets taking off and landing underneath me. How cool! I took a few pictures, landed, texted Monk to see if he was around (0830) and we drove over to Justin for breakfast at the Lonesome Spur. Everything turned out fine, and I finally got to overfly KDFW after nearly 16 years of having a flying RV.
   Tuesday’s edition might be a little watered down (pun). I have my first colonoscopy scheduled for Monday. Pushing out (again w/the puns) the Monday edition early so I can take the prep med that turns my Estes 1/4A3-3T into a Saturn V F-1. I talked with Monk about saving some money with the camera he uses to inspect engine valves with, but no dice.
  Hope you had a nice weekend and I’ll let you know if the doc finds my head.

PS: If you’re my age and haven’t had a colonoscopy yet, read this.
PSS: The new recommendation to begin screening is age 45. 

48 States in 7 Days - Day 2 ...larrynew RV-7A

Day 3 | Day 4

Build Status ...RV7ForMe

So on the second attempt I had to push the lip up while pulling the pop riveter.

Worked out in the end but cost me about 30 min and was completely unnecessary. Wont be doing that again on the right flap!

First Start ...Claude Pitre

After fixing a couple small issues discovered while pre-oiling my zero time IO-320, we got it started up for the first time. Does that ever make it feel like an airplane, don't have to make my own airplane noises anymore. A couple of minor squawks, lost my oil pressure sensor after start - came back after shutdown, probably a loose connection. I've got a bit of fuel leak at my fuel flow transducer and my #4 CHT sensor is offline. Unfortunately, my left fuel sender is still stuck on empty. The local guy that I had build my engine was pretty pleased with it, so that pleases me lots. Only ran it for a few minutes, we'll give it another start in a few days after fixing the issues we discovered. Planning my final inspection for the week after next and if that goes well, the RV-9 counter will be jumping up by 1 in early July.

RvPilotLife_TR#2 ...Josh 9A

I recently had the pleasure of flying twice to Madison to see Guil’s 9a project. We also flew around. The trip up this last time had some incredible cloud formations. Did a quick blog on it. Hope you enjoy!

Razor Blade Trick ...snopercod

Early heads up....Ironflight's 60th birthday (Louise post)

Save the date! We will have a birthday breakfast/brunch fly-in at our place (A34) in Dayton Valley Airpark, Nevada, on September 22nd. 8 am to noon. No presents. All VAFers are welcome.

Obviously, more information closer to the date.

Build Update ...David Paule -3B

Build Update (RV-10)...1001001

June 8, 2018.   Issue #4,583.
  Got Susie’s car towed to the hangar with the help of a friend's trailer and Rob Reece's 'Optimus Prime' truck (OP).  Troubleshooting soon, and thank goodness for friends.
  Tate's summer began Thursday afternoon.  He's washing OP Friday for $$$ and interviewing for an airport mowing position (air conditioned cab).
 Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
 

New Pilot

...Laura Starkey.   "...this would have been my dad’s 98th birthday. He was my inspiration as a child to fall in love with flying. He was a WW2 Navy pilot whose love for flying rubbed off on me! Took his navy logbook with me on the flight today. Dedicated to my dad’s memory!!!"

(Mike Starkey's better half - you know Mike....the unofficial VAF greeter ;^) ).  Congratulations Laura!!!!! (link)

Day 2

Sunday, May 27th, 2018

Up early for our second official day of the trip. The Travelodge was quiet and comfy and we got a good night's sleep after watching NBA basketball. After a drive-through breakfast of McDonald's bacon, egg and cheese biscuits it was an easy drive back to the airport. Today will take us to California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. Here are the bomb bunkers leaving Hawthorne

Best way to fix this dumb mistake?

....his words.  While working on the flap positioner, running the flaps up, the plug on an extension cord wedged between the flap and upper skin resulting in these dents. Don't really have a way to get inside the flap to push it out, so was wondering if anyone had some repair suggestions?

jamesdavid <$100 Arduino/Bluetooth/GoPro Mount Sensor Pod

Last year, for EAA's Founder's Innovation Prize competition, I made a < $100 sensor pod with an Arduino variant connected to a differential pressure sensor, with Bluetooth to an iOS App. The general idea was that the pod would attach to a GoPro style mount and provide pitot static data to an iOS device and cost about as much as a "Stratux" DIY device, but for pitot-static and other flight data instead of ADS-B.

I did not get selected by the EAA -- other similar things were selected to present during AirVenture. However, other than the $2000 Levil BOM Pod, I have not seen anything further in this space, and nothing further from the other EAA Founders Prize Finalists.

I have not tested it in flight (I just got a steam-gauge RV-6A that I may try this out on once I get transition training and comfortable with the airplane), but, when I saw this thread, I figured I would share this for educational/discussion purposes here:

More Pics from 'Big Toot' First Flight Wednesday

Five Hour Phase One ...Iron

Yesterday I completed the shortest Phase 1 flight testing program I have ever done - it was for a neighbor's ELSA RV-12, an airplane I have been watching him build for the past five years.  ...

June 7, 2018.   Issue #4,582.

Milestone: 5,000 Hours ...turbo RV-6A

i finally passed the 5,000 hour mark on my trip yesterday from FL to CT. it was a great flying day of mostly vfr wx and some ifr challenges in the NY-CT area but my old faithfull rv did it again and again and again. thought i would catch the hobbs turning over and get a screen shot or note where i was but it didn't happen. landed about 4 tenths later at mount olive NC, w40, rnav 05 coupled ap synthetic vision in severe clear conditions. squeeked it on as usual, rolled to mid field and turned off. topped off with 31 gallons and continued as usual. glad you are all here to share the moment. be safe out there and enjoy those blue skys and wet clouds.
see you guys tomorrow at jafrey nh for lunch.

First flight

...ppowers in Kingsport, TN.  RV6 N46WP flew for its first flight today.

Day 1 - Saturday, May 26th, 2018 ...larrynew

We departed Dumas, Texas early on the first official day of our attempt to visit 48 states in 7 days. Today, we visited Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and spent the night in Nevada.  ...

Can’t get oil gurgle after 10 months idle ...Jim McCarter RV-12

My RV-12 Rotax 912 has not been started for 10 months while doing ACI, brake job, satisfying SB’s, etc. l recently thought it would be a good idea to turn the prop by hand to pump the oil back into the oil canister. (A fresh oil change was done just before my final flight 10 months ago). Well, the first thing I noticed when I started turning the prop was that the engine compression seemed low. I kept turning the prop - about 100 revs - and I never could get the “gurgle”. Can someone explain what is going on an tell me what to do. I don’t intend to try starting the engine until I’m sure everything is back to normal.

‘Big Toot’ Flies ...

Not RV, but neat and close to home!  I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing the Tommy Meyers and Phil Witt designed ‘Big Toot’ put air under its tires for the first time.  S/N 1 aviated Wednesday morning at 52F around 0630 with Gary Platner at the controls.  Randy Richmond flew chase in an RV-8 with me as ballast.  Took a few pics while Randy and Gary talked about more important stuff (anything falling off?, etc).  Some teaser shots while I process the take.  I'll have a folder up later in the week.

Congratulations Tommy, Phil, Gary and the rest of the gang who helped this become reality. 

'Little Toot' now has a brother...

related: www.littletootbiplane.com

First Post, Couple of Questions on RV-10

Hi folks,

So I haven't yet made the official jump on purchasing a kit. From what I can tell I think we (it'll be a family affair) will be ready to start in about 2 years. I'm gathering as much research as possible to help prepare ourselves for the marathon ahead.

A little about my family and I: My wife loves flying and so do my two little ones (2.5y/o twins (boy and girl)). My son is OBSESSED with airplanes (he wears my GA magazines out before I can read them) and my wife wants to get her PPL. We take up our AA5B Tiger about twice a month to get pancakes and during the cooler months we fly to CA to visit the in-laws and my brother and sister-in-law (2 hrs flying vs 5.5 driving). I'm a corporate pilot by trade and have a ton of free time on my hands (kids take a lot of that up for now). I'm also an A&P and really enjoy working on my airplane when the need arises. As an aside I went to A&P school after the Air Force and I noticed that I really excelled in sheet metal and thoroughly enjoyed working with it (composites were okay), which really led me down the RV route versus Velocity. My mission requirement is a 4 place aircraft with the range to make most of the west coast possible from AZ (including over mountain treks). I honestly believe the Vans community is where I want to hang my hat with and I look forward to pressing on with a family project.

A couple of questions:

1. Does someone have actual experience to compare the AA5B and the RV-10? Numbers clearly look superior for the RV-10 in terms of speed and payload, how do they differ in flying?

2. How do you successfully finance the build? I know I can sell my AA5B for around $65k, of which I have around $35-40k in equity. I'm a corporate pilot (in light jet category) so I don't make 20 year Delta Airlines pay, but I do okay and the future is bright in terms of compensation growth. How much can you finance? I understand the RV-10 will cost around $120-160k to build out the door, I'll likely go with the slow build because my wife wants to be a big part of the project and we can save some there. I know I'll want a EFIS IFR panel, but I'm okay with a modular approach to avionics.

3. Has anyone built an RV with their little ones? I'd like to shoot around 4.5-5y/o for my kids to start to help. I'm sure my son would be super interested and I'd like to get my daughter hooked on something STEM related at a young age. Obviously I'm planning on them being 8-9 by the time we are finished (assuming a 3-4 year build time).

4. Any pieces of sage advice to give to someone who is planning on a build with the family? I'm sure there's quite a few out there who had the chance to build with their family members.

5. Anyone in the Phoenix area with an RV-10 who would be gracious enough to give a demo flight? I'd happily pitch in for some fuel. I'd like to be able to compare notes and really get to know the aircraft before I start shooting rivets.

Thanks!

All the best,

David Marques

rel: RV-10 forum

Mystery Runway ...Vlad

Tight spot in a picturesque valley. Any idea where?

June 6, 2018.   Issue #4,581.
  Susie's car wouldn't start Tue afternoon (she volunteers at Medical City Denton) so I spent a chunk of the afternoon/evening getting her home and squared away in Audrey's Honda.   I *might* have a trailer lined up, but if that falls through I thought it a good idea to 'Ping the Force' locally for a trailer to get the car from the hospital to 52F so I can work on it (17.9 miles - map at right).  A guess is fuel pump - 240,000 miles.  Let's hope that simple <g>.
  Unrelated, the VERY nice sunrise we had in DFW Tuesday - took two pics before driving out to the field.  1 / 2.  
 

Ground Shot ...Simon remembering a friend.

First Flight  ...Robert M

As of 8am this morning, (June 5), RV-9 N556RM, made its first flight at the Chester Catawba Regional airport in South Carolina.

The plane performed as expected for a Van's Aircraft - perfect!

Wind was from the North at 4mph, temperature was 65 degrees, barometric pressure was 29.89. Took off, climbed to pattern altitude at 100mph, made the turns in the pattern, throttled back, flaps at 80mph, got 70mph on final, the mains touched, very slight hop, mains back down - stuck, tail dropped a short time later, taxied back to hangar.

What a glorious day! She flies!

Started this project in April 2006, first flight 12 years and 2 months later.

'Bought dern time!

Jam nuts :( ...Vic

I am about ready to start a movement like Nancy Reagan's "just say No to drugs", only mine is going to say "Just say NO to loose jamnuts!"

I thought I had started a thread on this some time ago, but I can't find it right now, so you get to hear me again.

I performed a prebuy on an RV-10 today that has been flying for 8 years. So that's an Airworthiness inspection, and at least 7 Condition Inspections, and amongst the 800 hours, hopefully some preflights.

I found 7 loose jamnuts on the tail surfaces! They had never been tightened, as there was no scoring on the mating surfaces. I just reached in with my fingers and turned them.

So, please go check your jamnuts on your next preflights. This is a high stress area to begin with, with a SB even being issued across most of the models for cracking around the nutplate rivets. Perhaps someone on this forum can set up a poll that says "I have checked my aircraft jamnuts." It would be interesting to see if we could achieve 100% in the next year.

Added Screaming Eagle Tailwheel to Original Small RV-3 Spring

Thanks to Blake and Vince at Flyboy Accessories. I talked them into making the option to have a tailwheel socket with a smaller inside diameter so the original RV-3/4 small diameter taper springs could be modified to a full swivel Screaming Eagle tailwheel. That was about 18 months ago and I just now got around to adding the modification to my RV-3B.

The smaller ID of the socket is 33/64" yielding a thicker wall thickness of the socket as it is the same OD as the standard one. This requires machining a 2" area off of the spring to a constant 33/64" diameter to fit the socket. Flyboy also has a similar modification for the RV-4 that utilizes the standard socket as the RV-4 spring has a larger OD.  ...

Classic Aero Designs Power Outage 6/6/18

Hi Everyone,

We just got word this morning that the Power company will be replacing a power pole out here at the airport that feeds several buildings including ours. I'm not sure what to do except to try to get word out to our customers the best I can. I'm sure the city knew about this sooner than they told us, but not a lot we can do about it now.

They are saying from 9:30AM to 3:00PM PST. We moved our business to the airport about 10 years ago, and we've never had anything like this before

If it's okay with Doug, I'll probably bump this once or twice just to let a few more of our customers know what's up.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

__________________
Luke Doughton
Classic Aero Designs

RV-4 Progress Report ...MS1095

Making progress...There has been a lot to fix along the way, but it is finally starting to come together.  ...

RV-10 Rudder Trim ...how 9GT did his

I used the hinge method with a Ray Allen servo. Hard to see in the photo but the servo is mounted on the inside of a removable access panel to the left of the threaded rod fairing. I installed during the build but it still would be an EZ retrofit to a flying plane with minimal paint touch-up. IIRC I used about 10" of hinge and That would give a little over a full ball either side. I found it an invaluable accessory on my -10, especially with various loading and winds aloft.

Plane Ownership & Complacency

I see this often since I spend so much time now at the airport hanger working on my -9A. (KGDW is a very nice rural airport but has little activity) I see so many pilots who own their own planes do a VERY limited pre-flight inspection, if they even bother to do one at all! Last weekend on Sunday took the cake for me. I could not believe what I had witnessed. The owner drove in, opened his hanger, pulled out his plane, (not an EXP), closed his hanger up, hopped in, started his engine and immediately began to taxi. He did not even bother to use the taxi-way. Cut across the grass to the runway and just took off. No pre-flight inspection, no run-up or mag check,,,,nothing! Not even a radio call! About an hour later an incoming plane announces his position and intentions and advises their is a second incoming plane with inoperative radio, his buddy who took off earlier. I think a lot of people who own their own planes feel since they are the only ones flying the plane, they know it well enough to get away with this type of stuff. Wrong!

Pic from 'Mr. X'

...Charlotte, NC

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FOD Walk Take ...52F 6/5/18 0800 (Monk and me)

June 5, 2018.   Issue #4,580.

Interesting 'Follow Me' Vehicle

Michael...RV-10 HB-YNN (Switzerland)
"I took the family in our RV-10 to Bologna/Italy and was quite surprised to be lead by the most stylish 'follow me' car ever."

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48 States in 7 Days - Overview & Day 0

The Plan
With the plane finished and well tested, we wanted a signature trip. Why? The adventure, the challenge, the quality time with father and son. And, to beat our uber-competitive family members racing to visit all 50 states.

The plan was to fly to and land in all 48 lower states in our Van's RV-7A airplane and put our feet on the ground at each stop and take a picture, not just a touch and go. And do it in 7 days! In an airplane we built in the garage!!  ...

I’ve been pink-slipped! ...sbalmos

It’s a funny feeling when the day finally comes. A bittersweet feeling in a way. The end of an era. Some even say that it really is easier if it happens on a Monday rather than a Friday. And after 6.5 years in this same position, I had a feeling this event would happen to me at one point or another. I guess it really is time to move on and try out a new title.

... I’VE BEEN GIVEN A PINK SLIP!!!

RV Builder/Pilot Gets Interviewed About Previous Job ...MCC Flight Director

...Paul 'Ironflight' Dye (RV-3/6/8)
"Thought that you might be interested in these - the EAA put up the video of my talk at the museum (an hour long) and the podcast audio interview “The Green Dot” that is about forty minutes. Just telling stories of MCC...."

7A 'Rebirthing' Update ...kentlik

I have a gig starting tomorrow so might be the last post for a little while, and not much of one at that.

Need to cut canopy sides about here:

Pics from ‘Mr. X’: Aspen and Leadville

Aspen (enlarge)

Leadville (enlarge)

June 4, 2018.   Issue #4,579.

First Flight Pics ...Chris Engler

Follow on video, first year and paint

I forgot to post this last week....if anyone is interested, I have a follow on video to the documentary about building the RV-12. This covers my first year of flying, including some upgrades to the plane and the painting process. This one is only 18 minutes, so people are much less likely to fall asleep

RV-Lancair Brotherhood Day

Public Service Announcement about buying airplane "parts". ...Mel Asberry

Recently there have been notices for sale of "parted out" aircraft being sold without registration and/or airworthiness certificates. Be aware that, with the possible exception of Experimental-Exhibition, there is currently no path to legally "recertify" an aircraft of this type.

To certificate an amateur-built aircraft, one must show proof that more than 50% of the aircraft was built by amateurs. An ELSA would not meet this requirement.

To certificate as an ELSA, one must show documentation from the kit manufacturer, that the aircraft was built from a certified ELSA kit (by serial number).

A few of the parts from an aircraft of this type might be used on an amateur-built aircraft but some sort of proof of compliance with the 51% rule must be shown.

 

AirVenture 2018 Homebuilt Patch Honors Van’s Aircraft

Pic from 'Mr. X'

...Canyon El Grande

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June 1, 2018.   Issue #4,578.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
 

Sam Daniels and daughter enjoying the 6A.  52F.

Rusty pilot with dusty RV-6 seeks advice/assistance

Hi all,
I am a longtime lurker who finds myself with more free time than I’ve had in years … time to (finally!) once again become proficient, well equipped, and start chasing some long-deferred dreams.

First the pilot … I earned my ticket 30 years ago, flew a hundred hours or so, then jobs, family, houses, moves, kids in college happened. Now – newly retired, with the last kid a senior in college I have the time and money to reconnect with the wonderful world of aviation. I have recently earned a Glider rating and am having fun learning to fly again. I have virtually no tail-wheel time and will be essentially starting over with an instructor in power craft soon. I live in Tampa, FL.

Next, the plane … a very nice, basic, RV-6 with an fixed pitch 0-320 and a full panel of lovely steam gauges inherited from my father. Its an original slow build constructed lovingly by my father and a partner … both now “gone west”. First flight – and Phase I flown off in 2009 and 2010. My father’s medical condition prevented further enjoyment. The plane has been in (careful) storage since … pulled out occasionally for a ground run to move the oil around. It was maintained in annual until 2016, but now needs a battery and Condition Inspection (and I hope not too much else other than a pilot!). The plane lives (for now) at an air park near Houston. Documentation is complete in all respects.

Finally, the plan…
1). Get the future pilot (me) competent with an instructor in/near Tampa … ideally in a tailwheel equipped trainer.
2). Complete a condition inspection in Houston. Ideally with someone well experienced with RV’s. While I provided occasional help bucking rivets, my father built the plane (his second after a previous Long-EZ) with a building partner. I see the workmanship as good to excellent, but don’t feel either competent or well positioned to judge. My primary interest is to be sure the plane is safe and also possibly learn what improvements might be made (or more modern options may be beneficial).
3). Have a competent pilot ferry the plane from Houston to Tampa.
4). Complete transition training in an RV6 – Ideally this one (!) if there is a willing and competent instructor in the area – or in another RV with an instructor experienced in transition training.
5). Hours consumed VFR happily turning avgas into smiles, pursuit of the $100 hamburger, maybe share the RV grin with a few young eagles.

If you’ve bothered to read this far, you can help with:
a). Any advice, suggestions, or encouragement – I appreciate fully that I have MUCH to learn.
b). Recommendations for an instructor near Tampa – bonus points if he/she would be interested in ferrying the plane, double points if willing and able to provide transition training in it once here.
c). Recommendations for someone to do an (extensive) Condition Inspection in Houston and make recommendations – beyond clear airworthiness needs if any – on how the plane could be improved/made safer/more reliable. Major enhancements (eg Glass panel) not anticipated.
d). Recommendations for transition training in/near Tampa. Is it feasible to find an RV experienced CFI that would be willing to do instruction in my plane? Is this insurable? Is a LOA required?

Recommendations of third parties appreciated via the forum for all to see, interested principals are welcome to PM me directly if preferred.

Thanks in advance,
Peter

June Wallpaper Calendar

I went artsy fartsy this month....how the shadow adds depth and character to the fuselage made my eyebrow lift.  From the 'VAF Drone' at the cave.  BTW, this RV-8A is for sale by a person at my field.  Call Randy Richmond (817) 4 Zero 1 - 8 Zero Nine 6 if interested for pics and more (specs).

"It's difficult to enter into this work because of how the optical suggestions of the facture notates the distinctive formal juxtapositions." - Instant Art Critique Phrase Generator (link)

FOD.  Day III

Mashy and Monk's 0700 finds in 'FOD 1'. 

A more comfortable ride in turbulence-

Although I'm hopeful that the current round of physical therapy will help my spinal issues, there's no hope that my spine will ever again be good for more that 2 Gs (five level fusion, L1-L5, and additional recent symptoms). And the other day, it's newest complaint was whining in moderate turbulence (enough that the downdrafts would lift you out of the seat a little, but not slam your head into the canopy.) The sharp edged updrafts were the uncomfortable ones.

So what to do about getting a better ride in turbulence?
* I talked to the good folks at OregonAero, and their suggestion was to make sure that I wasn't slouched over in the seat. I climbed into the -9A on the ground, and guess what I was doing? Yup, was slouching, but when I sat up straight, my upper arm was pressed against the side rail;
* Fly slower. The RV-9A has adequate speed for cross country, but I'd hate to have to slow down whenever it got bumpy;
* Get a faster plane and fly it slower. That could be a -7A, -10, or -14A. I've already been spoiled by the Garmin G3X touch system for IFR, and that's $40K to replicate in a new plane. The -7A has the same fuselage as the -9A, but I could slow it down to RV-9A speeds. The one time I tried, the -10 seemed heavy enough that I probably shouldn't try pushing it on the ground. RV-10s are also pricey, as are RV-14s which are rare on the market. An -8A is a possibility, but the ride in turbulence is not good for the back seater, and I don't know that the G3X yaw damper will work on an -8A.
* Get a (horrors!) spam can with springs in the seats.

Hate to do it, but the time has come to sell the RV-8, which I love to fly. And the -9A is also a candidate for replacement if I find a reasonable alternative. At this point, however, the easiest solution is to keep the -9A and slow down in turbulence...

Anybody got any better ideas, other than turning the clock back a decade or so? Surely other folks have gone through this, or very similar...

__________________
RV-8 (steam gauges), RV-9A at KSAV (Savannah, GA; dual screen G3X with autopilot, GTN 650)
Previously RV-4, RV-8A, AirCam, Cessna 175

 

Seen at Richmond Aviation (Monk's) 

Cool little wire clips from Summit racing Randy is using to clean up the wiring install on an RV-8 in the shop.

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RV-10 Milestone: Fuselage kit!

I received my fuselage kit yesterday and have been working my way through the inventory sheets...Now I just have to finish up these wings

Summer Office ...ENGAGE

At the Van Cave after the morning workout, I'm too lazy to move the portable cooler over to the couch.  And there is no table over there anyway, so I clamped a board to the tail lift and just use the weight bench as a chair.  Blower keeping me conscience at far left.  It's going to be 100+ all next week.

Surprisingly comfortable.  Not so much two feet to the side. 

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Crosswinds! ...-12

I was landing yesterday at Byron with turbulent winds coming down off the Altamont mountains at 38 gusting to 44 KT from 200º, making runway 23 the favorable one with a crosswind component of 19-22KT. It was a bumpy landing, but mostly a non-event in the Baron.

However, I'm getting ready for my airworthiness inspection and hoping to be flying soon - which made me consider about crosswinds in the RV12. I've read other posts about it, and obviously the Van's POH that states 12 KT max crosswind and 35 max total wind.

How would you think the RV12 would handle landing in yesterdays winds on RW23?
__________________
Ron Gawer

SERVICE BULLETIN 18-05-21 for Fuel Injected Lycoming Installations

Installation of plug in fuel spider gauge port

Another "Special" RV for sale. ...Mel Asberry

Ann & I don't do much cross country any more, so the RV-6 is going up for sale. February condition inspection. Will open up for pre-buy inspection.

RV-6 Tip-Up $73,500
Built by Mel & Ann Asberry, 1989-1993.
1126 hrs. TT, Empty weight 1040 lbs., Day/Night VFR., NDH.
Lycoming O-320-E3D, 9.5:1 compression, Roller rocker arms, (Aprox 172 hp).
850 SMOH, Dual impulse mags, Service bulletins complied with. Feb 2018 Annual.
Catto 3-bld w/NLE & Screwless Spinner, 2 spare props, Catto 3-bld (climb), Sensenich Wood.

Hotel/Whiskey Extended Range Fuel Tanks (47 gals total fuel).
GRT Sport EX EFIS w/Safe-Fly 2020 GPS (new).
Garmin GNC 300XL com(1)/gps, Xcom com(2), Trig transponder. ADS-B out compliant.
Electronics International engine analyzer (UBG-16), fuel flow/pressure, dual fuel level.
TruTrak Vizion 380 2 axis autopilot.
Dual Brakes. Manual Flaps and Trim. Nice canopy cover that covers cabin vents.
Awards include:
“Best All Metal” S&F, “Outstanding Homebuilt” S&F. “Grand Champion” All American Sport Aviation Fly-In. “Mechanical Excellence Award” EAA 168. and More.
Serious inquires only please.
Mel
972-784-7544 rvmel@icloud.com

May 31, 2018.   Issue #4,577.
  Heads up Texas.  TFRs 5/31 (Thu) Houston and Dallas. 
  POTUS.
  Houston: 1515Z - 2015Z
  Dallas: 2015Z - 2330Z
 
 

Geysers ...Vlad the Amazing

On a Yellowstone tour. Old Faithful was still packing the steam for eruption we couldn’t wait for too long. Grand Prismatic was awesome.

Another RV8 First Flight

After 5 1/2 years the airplane and I had a near perfect first flight yesterday! Winds were calm, some rain showers had passed through and the afternoon high temps had cooled to mid 70s. After some marathon sessions at the hanger these past few weeks tweaking, checking, rechecking, by around 6:30 PM yesterday, I had that strange "there's nothing left to do" feeling so I called the camera crew (aka my wife), pushed it out of the hanger, and did the pre-flight.

Started the engine, taxied to the end of the runway, completed the mag check and takeoff checklist. With everything in the green, took the active and advanced the throttle. The airplane tracked perfectly and with about 60 mph indicated, nudged the stick back and it was airborne! The thing that surprised me the most was how solid everything felt....zero need for trim on either axis and just locked on the heading. Got to about 5000 feet in very little time and throttled back to check response at slow cruise - all good. Then slowed down to low 60s with flaps to check slow speed handling....again, completely straight and predictable. After 20 minutes or so, went back to the airport to set up an approach. Bounced a bit on the first landing (the typical pulled power to idle early and flared a bit too soon) but a blip of throttle settled it in. What amazing airplanes these are!

Went back out today and flew to a couple of local airports and filled the tanks....a couple hours in and feeling very comfortable.

One of the things I was concerned with during the build was cooling. The engine is an XP 400 but between the large oil cooler using the RV10 firewall mount and tight fitting baffles, the highest temps I've seen on climb out is around 190 (ambient temps around 80 today).

Of course some thanks are in order....first to this great community for providing the massive knowledge base to help with those head scratching moments. I don't have any active builders nearby but help was always only a post or search feature away. Not sure if a day has gone by during the build that I wasn't logged on at some point. Next, a big Thank You to Bryan and Showplanes. I used his fastback conversion and cowl and have been delighted with both products. More than that, I've lost track of the number of times we chatted over the past 5 years (even RV8 questions not related to his products). Whenever I'd call I get hear the same steady and calming voice offering years of wisdom from one of the great builders....never rushed and happy to send pics to help explain his answers.

Lastly and most importantly a BIG Thanks to my wife! Regardless of all of our lots in life, building and airplane is a big commitment in terms of both time and money and I was very fortunate to have complete support in both regards.

If the weather cooperates, hoping to get the 40 flown off in time to see some of you and Oshkosh this year!

I'll see if I can get some pics posted soon...and change my signature from "Under Construction" to "Completed"!

__________________
Chris Engler, Greene, NY

 

Longeron and F-01234 match drilling ...-12

On page 23-02 step 5 the forward edge of the F-01234 needs to be flush with the marked line on the longeron. Before match drilling. I decided to put the outside of the forward edge of the F-01234 flush with the outer point of the line on the longeron. And kept going. But maybe I made a mistake doing it that way?

This way?

Baggage compartment shelf...Ed W. update

So it's almost done.

Very similar to what Noel suggested, I have a U-channel atop the longerons just forward of the lower baggage bulkhead, but it transfers no loads to the bulkhead. Rather, I have a screw through the U-channel, bulkhead and the upright in the center of the plane to carry vertical loads in the center, and on the edges, the U channel rests on the longerons. No, I'm not concerned about negative G loads. At least, I sure hope I don't need to be.

At the front, the plywood rests on the crossmember supporting the seat backs. And in the middle, I have a piece of hardware store angle that rests on the longerons and is yet to be glued to the plywood.

And although I haven't yet figured out how to support it so that I can reach it in flight, this design will allow a cutout or a slot for an oxygen bottle ahead of the rear bulkhead.

Materials: one piece of foam board to make a pattern (would have been nice if the foam board was big enough to cover more than just one side at a time), a 2' x 4' piece of 1/4" plywood, a 4' piece of 1/2" U channel, and a 4' piece of maybe 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/16" angle. And one screw, washers, and a bolt.

Now for the real measure: four or five trips to the hardware store, one to Walmart for the foam board, and probably more time spent thinking about how to do it than on actually doing it. And when I returned the unused materials that supported all the aborted ideas, they totaled $82.10.

Elevator Trim Tab Fold -- Acceptable?

Hey all,

I'm working on the LH elevator and trim tab and have gotten the bends on the elevator itself and the outboard tab pretty well done, but the inboard tab has turned out somewhat "less perfect". That said, I'm not certain that another go at it will necessarily produce a much better outcome, and considering that it will be covered in paint and such, my gut is to just build on. That said, I thought I'd ask your collective opinions before doing so:

A Day in the Life ...my home field.

Pictures from Wednesday at 52F.

FOD walk. 0630.  Hand model Rob Reece.

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FOD from yesterday afternoon.  In the grass between
the runway and taxiway.

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Track from morning .3 flight.  Flew over
our friend Bob's house (sick) letting him
know the gang was thinking about him.
Joined 16L ILS at WIGZU (KAFW) to
missed then back.

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Grump, Matt, Sid, Scorch 4-ship practice

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Break at initial.

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Deck (no stairs yet) at the new airport office.
Built by Carey Sharp.

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May 30, 2018.   Issue #4,576.

Sid (7A) and Matt (6) in the Break

...I heard 'um coming up initial and got my phone out in time.  Had to sidestep a little there at the break to keep them in view (they didn't move laterally like a UFO) ;^)

Why a Regular F.O.D. Check Can Be A Good Idea

...found on the runway YESTERDAY at my home field.  Yesterday.  And yes, that's a 13" long piece of rebar.  Randy Richmond has volunteered to drive his golf cart the length of the runway daily at 0630 with his handheld checking for FOD.  Randy found another gas cap a couple of weeks ago.

Click either pic to enlarge...

Strange discoloration on flywheel after prop removal

I removed my prop the other day to take it up to Northwest Propeller for some edge work. After I got back to the hangar, I decided to take off the flywheel and change the alternator belt. To my surprise, I discovered the two mating surfaces between the flywheel and the crank where stained (see below). The mating surfaces on the other side between the flywheel and prop are clean.

This is off an RV-4 (1992) with about 850 hours on the engine and 300 SOH (2008) on the prop.

While the stains look oily they are not. There is very little build up and they are dry. Any ideas about what is going on?

Thanks,
Scott

Finish kit has arrived!!! ...dwranda 9A

My finish kit was delivered today. I was a little worried when I saw the crate since it had 3 holes in the side. I took plenty of pics as I opened the crate to check for damage. Luckily it looks like everything is OK. I deleted the cowl since I am going with the James version. Doesn't look like many parts for over $6K. Super excited and a little worried to get going on the canopy.

Pic from Mr. X ...NYC

RV-12 Panel Update ...Ron Gawer

I'm going to be moving my airplane to the airport in a couple weeks, but it's essentially done.  I meant to add that once I finished up, I found I had to remove a little material at the upper outboard corners of each display to prevent any contact with the canopy bar. It would open and close, but rubbed. Rather than trim the bar (allowed in the drawings), I decided milling off a little plastic easy. I meant to go back and put some black paint on the corners, but just realized when I saw the picture online that I forgot that. Anyway, I had a "I have made fire" kind of moment when I turned it on and it all actually works, including all of the engine telemetry. Now, on to the actual engine noises...

Milestone: 'The Cut' ...kentlik 7A 'Rebirthing'

May 29, 2018.   Issue #4,575.
  (207) emails in the 'ol inbox.  Digital tectonics seems to be pushing Mt. Email up more than usual.  I'm working on it...and the PMs...and good morning.  Hope you got some time with your RV this weekend.
 

Just painted ...pstraub

Flying a neighbor over Lake Camanche in Northern California!!

New Rv-10 owner!!!wtb fuselage, wings

Hey guys I would like to introduce myself. I’m Allen and I finally purchased a RV-10 empennage that is partially built. In a couple of months I am going to order I’m thinking the fuselage quick build kit before the wings. Before I order is there anyone that is looking to sell a fuselage or wing kit?

 

"First Flight: Journey to a Dream" a film my son did of my, well you know...

Executive Summary:
After a little over two years, I conducted my first flight in N5427W, an RV-7. My son (a film student), was good enough to video the experiance and create this short film (only 6 minutes). I almost titled it "Five of the Best Landings I Ever Made", but I settled on "First Flight: Journey to a Dream."

Turn up the sound and enjoy!

Exhaust Spring Rubbing On Cowling Air Duct ...-12

The spring on the left front of the exhaust (just below the #2 cylinder) has been rubbing the cowling air duct. The rubbing has gone through the heat shield and is now working on the fiberglass. The air duct is dimpled to make room for the spring; but, in my case, it looks like it could use another 1/8” to 3/16” of space to keep the spring and air duct from rubbing together. This is the original exhaust system on the 912ULS. This condition was found during the 200 hour engine maintenance (replace spark plugs, etc.).

I am thinking of cutting an oblong hole around the spring’s mark on the air duct and fiber glassing in a bubble to make more room for the spring.

Any suggestions?

Don't make this mistake installing the wheel fairings! ...-12

Page 36A-06. When installing the left outboard main gear fairing bracket (U-00002 and U-00004) with the long AN3-40A bolts, I broke off both bolts in the holes in the axle. Sounds pretty dumb but here's how it happened.

As I screwed the bolts in they became tight with about 1/8" left to go. I was puzzled so I turned the small 1/4" socket wrench carefully and then, snap, the bolt broke off. I thought I had a bad bolt so I carefully tightened the other bolt and it snapped off as well.

I tried to drill out the bolt shanks but was unsuccessful. I believe the problem is that the holes in the end of the axle were not tapped deep enough for the bolt. I bought a 10-32 tap and tapped the other axle until the tap reached the bottom and the AN3 bolts worked perfectly.

I spoke with Van's a couple time and they will send me replacement bolts but for the axle, they referred me to Matco. Matco asked me to send the axle back and I don't know if they will charge be for a replacement ($71 + shipping on their website).

So this is an easy mistake to make that could cost you $100 and a couple weeks to fix so the moral of the story is: if your bolt gets tight before it should, STOP! Go buy the correct tap and tap it deeper. That solution would have cost me $5.77 and an hour of time.

Just because it's a machined part doesn't mean it's right.

 

Bogash RV-12 Adventure

Bob Bogash ferry flight of Don's RV-12 from Port Townsend, WA to TX. Great reading and lots of pictures:

Caribbean Adventure!

So, I had a friend who recently started flying helicopters/seaplanes on St Thomas in the U.S. VI's. He was joking around one day and said, "you should fly the -7 down!". I had been itching for a change of scenery. So, I decided to call his bluff and was like, "alright!". The next day I had the customs sticker on it's way in the mail.  ...

Repeat Offender -- this time around is an RV-10

Hello again, VAF!

Long time, no write! I have built and sold and RV-7, and fast forward several years, I am now a repeat offender with a brand new RV-10 project. My family has expanded since the -7, and the -10 is going to be the perfect travel machine for the entire Johnson family.

We recently started the empennage, and I just wrapped up drilling the vertical stabilizer skin to the rib/spar structure. Making good, steady progress, and I am absolutely loving being back at it building again.

Anyway, please feel free to check out my progress at the link in my signature. Thanks for still being here and for being such a great community!

 

RV-8 and the Glad the Plane's Fixed Flight

With all of my recent maintenance issues resolved, it was time to just go out and have fun. Fortunately Sunday was a great day for it.

AviationNation--another solo!

The second student-builder at Jennings County High School soloed for the first time today. Thomas Schuler is the Student Project Manager on our RV-12 build project. He did his 3 T/O's and landings in fine style. Congratulations, Thomas! We have another student about ready, and our 12 is nearing completion.

Our students are our products; the plane is a by-product. We are very pleased to see them chose aviation as life-long careers, and we believe the first two to solo, and the next in line (plus several others) have done just that.

Bob

 

2018 OSH Social

Hey, 60 days till Oshkosh! The Beer Fairy has again dragged her butt up the basement stairs and declared she was ready to party, so mark your calendar. It's Monday evening, July 23rd, opening day at OSH. Location is the back yard at 1366 W. Waukau, west of the control tower, just outside the EAA gate.

 

Cedar Meadows 2018 Fly-In

A few video clips from yesterdays event. Note the unique 'RV parking' sign !

Jim Thill worked his buns off last week keeping up with the rain and growing grass. He had the runway looking like a golf green. Way to go Jim!

First flight! and a question

Saturday before the big Florida storm hit I was able to do a first flight. Everything went well with no big surprises. One question: my pitch trim works fine on the ground but in flight I found that at cruise that it wouldn’t move past neutral to allow me to trim it out completely. For some reason it showed power going to the trim as I pushed the switch but it wouldn’t move past neutral. Tried it again on the ground and it worked fine. I have a VPX system and I’ve input the positions with plenty of space on each end of travel so not sure hat it is? Any suggestions welcome.

Kevin

Novel alternator circuit protection

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a safety item, but it certainly is an oddball. Had an RV in our shop for an unrelated issue that required cowl removal, which led to us having a look around, and we spotted this. The builder (not the owner of the airplane) had installed an ANL current limiter base in the B lead circuit for the alternator, but rather than spend the princely sum of $15 or so for a proper current limiter, the gadget in the photos below was assembled from a combo of a blade fuse and some brass sheet. Arguably the slow blow fuse shown in the photos has similar, though not identical properties to the current limiter that would fit in the base, but still. Cheapskate or ...?

May 28, 2018.   Issue #4,574.

Memorial Day.

(photo credit)

HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

i.The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

(photo credit)

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

(photo credit)

If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

(photo credit)

ii.It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

(photo credit)

iii.Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.

By order of

JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief

N.P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant General

Official:
WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

How To Observe Memorial Day

"We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or the coming generations, that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided Republic. If other eyes grow dull, and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remains to us."
---General John Logan, General Order No. 11, May 5, 1868

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and liberty. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember those Americans including our ancestors, family members, loved ones neighbors and friends who have paid the price for the blessings of liberty. You can change this by doing the following:


•By wearing your Memorial Day Button from the first of May until Memorial Day.
•By visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
•By flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. Memorial Day is a day of "National Mourning."
•By attending religious services of your choice.
•By visiting memorials.
•By participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3:00 PM local time, to pause and think upon the meaning of the day and for taps to be played where possible.
•By renewing a pledge to aid the widows, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

May 25, 2018.   Issue #4,573.
  A group of us were going to fly our RVs over to Breckenridge, TX to see the warbird fly-in Saturday, but some sites/emails/calls confirmed a new policy: no umbrellas (they allowed them last year).  Since it's forecast to be 97*F this weekend and there is zero shade at that airport, we'll fly somewhere else and eat.  Skin Cancer Avoidance 101.  Can you imagine flying in and having to sit/stand on an asphalt ramp in direct sunlight around 100*F all day waiting for the airspace to open back up at 5pm so you can fly home?
  We're crazy, but not that crazy.  ;^)
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and shade-filled RV weekend.
 

RV-4 Refurb Update ...BruceMe

It's been while, time for an update.  The overhaul was a challenge, but I have it back on the mount, all the parts are on and I'm ready to time the mags and do a final check and turn it over.

So far I've...

- Overhauled the engine
- Swapped fixed pitch for constant speed
- Switched to a Skytec starter for weight
- Fabricated a blue-anodized prop lever
- Repaired a leak in the left fuel tank
- Repaired a lose (finger tight) vent line _inside_ the left tank
- Added a return line to both tanks
- Re-plumbed all fuel lines from the fuel tanks to the valve
- Swapped the stock brass fuel valve for nice positive-lock duplex
- Wired the fuel-level sensors to the G3X and removed the old fuel gauges

I'm going to Bill Gill look it over once as well. But I plan to put it back and get some hours on it before I do the canopy or the new cowl (which I have).

-Bruce

Pics and video from Wisconsin Celebration of Life for Tom Irlbeck ...Alex Peterson post

Here are some updates, pictures and video from this past Saturday's Celebration of Life event at Tom's hangar in WI. There was a similar event in FL last month. Tom really had a profound effect on many, many people, both in and out of aviation.

Eagle's Nest Projects - EN-19 Montgomery HS (TX) - Inaugural 1st Flight ...R.E. 'Ernie' Butcher

Eagle's Nest Projects
Saturday, May 19, 2018 - KCXO

Montgomery High School (TX) celebrates the inaugural 1st flight of "Bear Force One". The celebration was a community event with over 200 in attendance and the high school marching band added to the excitement. Following remarks from school and city dignitaries, the Eagle's Nest student-built aircraft (EN-19) was officially unveiled and then followed a drawing to see which students would receive the "first flights". The weather was outstanding and the event was a huge success.   ...

Rocky Mountain Crossing PIREP...Smokey Ray for Vlad

I've crossed the Rockies and landed at Leadville too many times to count. I normally did it as a proving point for delivering new RV owners airplanes as to the capabilities (and limitations) of the design. They also have cheap gas.

As far as crossing, early morning or late evening near sunset is always better. I actually like crossing the Front Range further south. I stop at KLHX (La Junta). http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLHX
Why?

1. Nice former military field with big ramp and runways.
2. They have 2 courtesy cars that they have always let me keep overnight.
3. Great (cheap) Mexican food in town next to Hampton Inn.
4. Cheap (relatively speaking) Self Serve 100LL.
5. Easy climb out distance to 12,500' following I-50 up the Pueblo Valley over Fremont.

Leadville is a great stop and overnight if you have time. There is a great, old Hotel in downtown with several good restaurants and a brew pub across the street, all well above 10,000 feet MSL.*
Sounds Fun...
До скорого!

Smokey

PS: If you're absolutely set on the "landing box" you posted, I like Longmont as a fuel stop.

PSS: *Warning: Use of alcohol is discretionary...;^)

Milestone: RV-14 Emp Kit Finsihed ...azflyer21

185.0 hours and I have completed the Empennage kit, some fairing work remaining

RV-10 Cowling Heat Sheild ...Bill.Peyton install

ACS adhesive backed insulation

May 24, 2018.   Issue #4,572.
  52F airport manager Rob Reece running the rented roller Wednesday at my home field.  Smoothing out the grass areas, making the airport grass cutting crew's job a little less off-road.  Getting better all the time!  www.Fly52F.org is our field's URL.

New RV-7A Owner Checks In ...Joe Kohn

Thanks to all of you that answered my ad when I was looking for RV7A, 8A, or 9A a few weeks ago. I found a pristine RV7A, that was right under my nose and 15 minutes from my house in Arlington, Texas. I love it and I am proud to show her off. I bought my first RV a couple years ago, RV9A, and sold her and regretted it ever since. I have already flown the 7A almost five hours and there is nothing like it, especially the Garmin G3X Touch. Looking forward to weekend fly-ins.

Found During Condition Inspection ...bruceh 9A

I'm in the middle of doing my annual condition inspection, so the wing tips were off again. I had disconnected my J Pole antenna and put the APRS antenna that I got with the tracker inside the wing tip back several months ago. The changing of the antenna solved the issue I was experiencing with packets not getting heard. I was back to spitting out packets reliably. When I did this change, I just left the J Pole antenna in the wing tip (figuring I might need to use it again if the other antenna wasn't the solution).

I pulled out the J Pole antenna and found this on the end.  ...

RV-14 Flap Travel: Reflex ...Scott

"The RV-14 (and RV-10) have a custom designed airfoil meant to reduce induced drag in level flight at high speed cruise. The ailerons are rigged to match the desired reflex shape of the airfoil but since the flaps are movable, they can be moved out of the reflex position. This essentially makes the wing act like it has a bit more wing area, improving climb performance slightly.

The way we fly our RV-10's and 14's is to take-off with whatever flap setting you choose (1/2 or zero), and then position them to zero for climb.
Then position them to -3 as you level off and set cruise power.
After decent and leveling off to enter the pattern, return them to zero and then use flaps as desired (within the limitations of Vfe)
In simpler terms - reflex position for cruise and decent - zero for everything else.

We have G3X (with GAD27 module) in our RV-10 and had no problem setting up the indicator for -3, 0, 15, and 30 degrees.

...its specific to the airfoil design and a reduction in induced drag.  Otherwise it would be beneficial to all the RV's, regardless of what model."

fmi: http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv14.htm

Intersection Fairing, Rain and Birdsh*t Tape ...Steve Melton 9A

"...the plane sat on the ramp in Wichita for 10 days while I painted my father's house. before I departed I placed tape on the intersection fairing thinking it would keep the rain out. it worked well and it also kept all of the bird **** out too. you would not believe all of the bird s h i t running down the vertical stab.

cleaned. picture of the tape. ...

Customer Interior Shots ...Luke D

Here's another beautiful RV from France. Lot's of nice features. Thank you for the pictures Alain!

Intel Wanted  ...Vlad the Traveller

In couple days my buddy and I are westbound. I've been over Denver couple times crossing the Rockies back and forth but alone and I took the beating in the middle of the day. This time I am going with someone I would like to keep comfortable. Could be a future RV owner. I am wondering what's the reasonable overnight place would be in this quadrant?  I would like to jump the Rockies in the morning heading to the highest elevation airport.

Flight Data Systems News

(Charles Newman) "We have started producing the LC-50 Lighting Controller again and would like to make the VAF community aware it is now available.  http://www.fdatasystems.com/lc-lighting-controllers/ for more info. "

Fuel Injection Star Wheel Adjustment

Q: Hi All,
My IO 320 D1A idles roughly and there is no rise in RPM moving to idle cut off. This, and black smoke on start, indicate it is running too rich idles at 700 RPM once warmed. I've read on carbs engines the mixture adjustment needle is turned out one to one and a half turns in most cases from closed. I have moved the star wheel in the lean direction a number of clicks (10) and still have rough idle and no rise. Do I need to make several turns as opposed to moving it clicks. Anyone able to give me a starting distance between the two blocks where the star wheel is positioned.

A: (Walt)

May 23, 2018.   Issue #4,571.

Pic From Mr. X

Mt. Rainer sunrise.

related: more Mr. X pics

RV-10 Seat Height Q/A

Q: I am playing around with panel layout (Rain kept me from canopy top work). However, I won't have my finishing kit for another month or so. Therefore, I have no real way to gauge seat height. Can someone give me an approximate height of the seat cushion top from the seat base? By base, I mean the rectangular .063 panel with all of the lightning holes in it.

A: It depends.  You'll come to relish those times when you can't work on the cabin top or doors, but do something else instead

That seat height is a fuzzy measurement. It'll depend on how much you squash the seat. The top of the seat cushion is also not "flat" and not parallel to the floor. Here's a couple of pictures that might help:

How To Build a Workbench ...David Paule

I've made eight of these so far. They all are doing their job now. They are relatively easy to make and go together quickly.

I use a circular saw and an electric screwdriver/drill. The hand tools needed are mostly a carpenter's square and some C-clamps. I like Titebond II or III and use 4 deck screws at each frame joint.

Mine differ by size, of course, and some have bolts at the bottom for adjustment and the rest have wheels. These minor details on yours, are left for you. The only real comment is that if you install wheels, get robust ones. The table for my ceramic barbecue, a Big Green Egg, is highly loaded and the urethane tires aren't lasting. The various tables with metal wheels are all doing fine.

Very strange A/P problem - pls help me troubleshoot!

TruTrak Vizion 385 installed with Garmin GTN650 and HS43 module.

Was on a long cross country over the weekend and discovered the AP will only hold course, not altitude, gotta be the elevator servo or wiring right - here's the kicker - elevator control still works for fully coupled approaches!

Here's a breakdown:

1. Flying along, I select an altitude and vertical speed, engage AP, course is flown, but no elevator changes or fore/aft stick resistance to manual control.

2. I manually fly to the selected altitude and AP displays the normal "approaching altitude" and "altitude hold" messages but again, no exerts no actual control of elevator, no servo hum or resistance to moving the stick fore and aft - doesn't matter if I select existing altitude or dial in an ascent or descent or even if I just use wing level feature - in cruise flight, not elevator control is exerted by AP.

I thought it was possibly a bad elevator servo or a bad connection to the servo but....

3. When on a RNAV approach, I was somewhat startled when between IAF and FAF, (get glide slope indication from GPS) the AP display switched from ALT HLD to CPLD and the AP controled elevator servo all the way down for a successful fully coupled approach with vertical guidance.

This is 100% repeatable. No AP control of elevator in cruise - but once vertical guidance comes from GPS - boom it works.

So the servo is working - it's just not getting any guidance except when coupled.

I sent an email to TruTrak too

Status: 7A Rebirthing ...kentlik

IFR Training Status ...Jeremy Constant RV-7A

This is all very timely for me. I started my instrument training in Sept and it was put on hold due to my 300xl dying. I'm in the middle of an extensive rework of the panel with an ifd440 becoming my ifr GPS. It's a long slog.

In the process of thinking about equipment I recalled several local folks who fly down to Southern California reasonably regularly talking about remarkably frequent GPS outages, where there is essentially no GPS signal for significant amounts of time. The theory is that there is GPS signal jamming going on at one of several military installations in the region and one or more of those facilities is actually developing and testing jamming technology. The point being that my sense of warm and fuzzy surrounding the reliability of GPS got a bit of a reality check and the importance of ground based navigation was reinforced.

I'm still working on the panel installation and rat's nest of wiring, but I think I am firmly in the "putting it back together" phase, rather than the "taking it apart" phase!

[ed. Who is Jeremy?  He's the guy with the violin.  Gotta be in the top three best VAF cap photos ever!  v/r,dr]

May 22, 2018.   Issue #4,570.
  I haven't flown the RV-6 from Dallas down to Houston to see my sister in way too long.  The opportunity presented itself Monday to have lunch, and the Wx cooperated (as long as the plane got out of Houston by 1pm).  Pretty clouds, a smooth ride, 167kts GS and 59*F at 8,500' on the return trip.  Pretty dang good burger at Clay's just north of KIWS...and it's always good to see my Sis.  How a person could end up with a better sister is beyond me.
  These RVs are amazing....and Donna Gail says hey to the RV gang. ;^) 
 

Between layers and smooth.

3pm(ish).  Back in Dallas well north of the action.

Adventures in the RV4

Two years of exploring America the beautiful in our little, humble, but at the same time mighty RV4. There are planes better for aerobatics, some faster, some more comfy for XC, some more economical (although not many!), but none will do ALL of these things as well as the RVs! Becoming a pilot and buying an RV was one of the most fulfilling things I've done in my life. Looking forward to many more years of enjoyment.

Bird Attack ...schristo RV-7

A club I didn't want to join...

Earlier this Spring, a red hawk at 2,800 feet, in formation.

I saw the hawk just before the strike and thought it would be a close miss…

BAM!

Level the flight, radio call to route. Had the wings look for visible damage and leaks then did initial stability and control checks. All good.

Back on the ground it looks like we hit a bowling ball. It could have been a real mess if it had come through the windshield or taken out my tail.

I pulled the tank and started making a parts list.

The next morning, ROAD TRIP! to Vans to pick up parts.

Two weeks after the strike... Back in the air!

Build it, fly it, maintain it, fix it

"Slow Rolls," a/k/a Competition Aerobatic Rolls, in the RV

Having a problem doing “slow rolls” (old terminology, now I believe simply called “competition aileron rolls” by IAC) in the RV. Nose always dropping too much, so thought I’d put this question out there for the RV aerobatics guys.

Yes, I know that when inverted you must push forward on the stick to keep the nose from dropping. So the obvious answer might just be “push forward more when inverted to keep the nose up.”

However, my impression is that the nose has already dropped too much by the time I’m even getting to inverted. And I am suspecting the reason for that is either (a) that I should have pitched up at the beginning of the roll, or (b) that the rudder size on RV’s (in my case, the RV-4) is not enough by itself to keep the nose up when in knife-edge flight. That’s where we get to my question. Is it just that my technique sucks, or is it accurate that RV’s, which have relatively small rudders compared to competition aircraft, require some adjustment in technique when doing a slow roll?  ...

Status Report ...goatflieg RV-8

New blogspot entry posted; Little Steps and Big Steps; see link in my signature below. Get comfortable because it's a long read, but there's some good stuff in there. Here are two teaser photos:

Problem with exhaust fitting ...chris mitchell RV-4

"... I received my 4-pipe Vetterman exhaust via Van's. I am fitting the pipes to a Lycoming IO-320 that has a Superior cold air sump and induction pipes.

The exhaust pipes for cylinders 4.2 and 3 (that being the ordered I fitted them in) are all fine. In particular cylinders 4 and 2 sit together very nicely.
THe problem is with cylinder 1. It is far too close to the induction pipe and the only way I can get it to fit at all is with the section after teh ball joint at a very strange angle.

I hope the photos are clear enough to show the problem. Can anyone identify where I've gone wrong?

Here you can see the pipes from cylinders 2 and 4 nicely aligned:"

Plenum PIREP ...rockwoodrv9

On my plenum, a BillL special, the oil dipstick is not in the plenum area. I believe in his photo the dipstick is behind the large orange ducting. At least on a O-320, that is how it works. Here is mine overall, but does not show the oil dipstick.

May 21, 2018.   Issue #4,569.
  Adjusted some Wx map links on the Wx page.  Servers come and go and all that.  One interesting new link is the GOES-East image.  If you click on it (or bookmark it) you get a 2500x1250 pixel map that is updated every 5 minutes.  If you have the monitor space it's pretty sweet.  I'll keep tweaking the links as I poke around over the next few days.
  Hope you had a nice weekend.  
 

Pic Flying to Jekyll Island ...Trapper

Finally Bought My First RV! Looking Instruction SF Bay Area.

Well it took 10 months but I was finally able to pull the trigger on A RV6A built in 1995. The tail number is N89PC. There are 30 pages of builders logs, a complete POH serial numbered for 89PC, complete airframe, engine and propellor logs. I was impressed, especially since I had looked at other RV's without the documentation. The plane flew as advertised with a sustained climb rate of 2,000 FPM for1-2 minutes dropping to 1200-1400 FPM. Wow! I guess I'll need to buy oxygen!
My mission? T go fast safely and...cheaply. Aerobatics? Yes. Formation flying? Yes. Burgers? Yep.
I will post pictures of the plane as soon as I take delivery.

Ron Lem

Check this if you have an injected engine... Vic S.

In the interest of safety I figure I should post this. I discovered it yesterday during a Prebuy inspection on an RV-10 that had been flying for 8 years and 300 hours. The rubber shipping cap had been left installed on the fitting at the injection spider on top of the engine. This fitting is typically connected to a round dial fuel flow gauge, such as in older Bonanzas and Cessnas. Pressure at this point varies in relation to fuel flow, and can be anywhere from 1.5 PSI to over 35 psi! If not plugged or capped properly, a high pressure fuel stream will be the result, possibly causing a fire in the engine compartment. The builder mentioned that the plans never said to remove it. Perhaps others should check their installations? I told the builder I wanted his Guardian Angel!

(For those of you who are used to the newer electronic fuel flow sensors and wondering how this would work, basically the round dial gauge is nothing but a pressure gauge that has a faceplate on it calibrated to read fuel flow.)

On another note, I am still finding way too many RV's WITHOUT the Operating Limitations, especially on RV's owned by non-builders. So, for those of you who may have purchased your airplane, please understand that the Operating Limitations, which should be on FAA letterhead, need to be in the aircraft AT ALL TIMES. The Airworthiness Certificate is invalid without them.

For those of you who are selling your airplanes to non-builders, please remember to have this discussion with them.

Many of them show me a POH when I ask about the Operating Limitations

FltPlan Go: Why or why not??

My FlyQ subscription is going to expire sometime this year. I've tried Foreflight in the past. They both work fine for me. However, I have a friend who has been using FltPlan Go for quite a while now. After poo-pooing it for quite a while I'm thinking of giving it a try.

So, for those who have used it, how do or did you like it?

How does it compare with the paid apps?

What allows them to be able to provide this product at no charge???

RV7 USA Perimeter Flight

My wife and I will be flying our RV7 around the perimeter of America over the next 6 weeks. We are watching the weather and hope to depart KMQJ, Indianapolis, Indiana, Monday, 5/20/18. Our trip officially begins when we fly north and hit the southwest shore of Lake Erie at KTDZ, Toledo Executive Airport. We'll fly eastbound with our first overnight at Niagara Falls, KIAG. If you'd like a little company, we'll be looking for RV friendly places to land.

Overheated brakes

I just replaced the brake pads with a set from Vans on my Cleveland brakes about a month ago. I have about 8 landings on them. The other day I landed a bit fast and used moderate braking to stop. The right brake faded and the plane drifted left but was still under control. Taxiing back to the hanger I could smell a strong hot brake odor entering the cockpit that persisted during the short taxi to the hanger. Upon exit, the smell was more apparent. The next day I removed the pads and found a buildup on the pads as shown in the two photos linked here.

The buildup was easily removed with light sanding. The pins also required cleaning. There was no evidence of any fluid leak. But the was more discoloring of the primer on the wheel pants bracket than I remember from the condition inspection. Things did get hot pretty quickly.

After installing the new pads, when tightening the two bolts on the caliper, something happened that caused a momentary fluid leak. I removed the bolts, and reinstalled them taking care that everything was aligned right. The leak has not occurred again.

What could have caused this brake to overheat and what is the buildup on the pad? I have applied much harder braking on the previous pads without this occurring.

Status ...SJordan RV-4

Getting close!

RV IAC Aerobatic Competition Standings - 2018

Sorry for the delay in posting the new standings. I was vacationing in Scotland for a few weeks. What a wonderful country! But I didn't see any GA activity there, let alone RVs. Any RV pilots in Scotland?

Congratulations to Brian Pham who posted a very respectable score in his very first contest! Brian posted an account of his experience at the Apple Valley, CA contest here on VAF and it sounds like he is hooked.

Randy King came in 5th out of a very competitive field of 14 Sportsman pilots at Sebring. He was edged out by two Extras, a Pitts S2B and a Cap 10. He did it in a borrowed RV-7A. Look for Randy in his new ride soon. He just ferried his new RV-8 home from Colorado. As soon as he installs inverted systems he will be ready to compete. Picture of the new beast below. Very nice!

Flap hinge pin lubrication (and rod ends)

I am doing my 12th condition inspection and looked at the flap hinge and they look a bit dirty after collecting dust for the the 12 years. I typically squirt some LPS2 on them every year and that seems to be attracting dirt. I decided to pull the pins and clean and lubricate.

Questions for the group: How often should you pull the flap hinge pins and inspect, clean, lubricate? Should I be using something other than LPS2 that collects less grim?

This leads to more general question on pulling hinge bolts. I annually pull bolts that something rotates on, like the rudder attach cable bolts and airbox bypass door pull cable, every year to look for wear on the bolt. I do not for rod ends that are clamped up. I will squirt in some LPS2 but it is hard to really get the lubricant onto the rod end due to the clamp up with washers. How often should I pull those bolts to lubricate and look for bearing wear?

Status Report ...jcarne 7A

After a very short match drilling session time for a good ole mass quantity of hours spent deburring. Lots of nooks and crannies in these babies. At least it won't be as painful as the wing ribs!

Think I Got a Bad Fuel Pump

I bought a new mechanical fuel pump (new Lycoming part, hi pressure for injected engine) from Aircraft Spruce last week. While swapping the fittings with the old pump I found that the actuating arm doesn’t move, at all. I know it isn’t supposed to move much, but I would think that some movement is necessary. The old one moves maybe a little more than a quarter inch or so, but the new one, nothing.

Naturally, I will be on the phone with Aircraft Spruce Monday morning, but I was wondering if anyone else has ever seen this. I’ve been in the aircraft repair business (military and commercial) long enough to know that just because a part is new doesn’t mean it isn’t bad but, you know, why me?

Thanks

May 18, 2018.   Issue #4,568.
  Last year some folks suggested I remind the readers a few times throughout the year about my donation-based business model here - so here we are 136 days into 2018, a little over a third of the way.  Why now?  Our family has a perfect storm of medical bills coming up in the next 2 months: colonoscopies and wisdom teeth.  In the $5000 - $7000 range if everything goes smooth ......all out of pocket.  So, the first 'commercial' of 2018 ;^).  Maybe you could give the donations page a read if you're not too busy, and thank you to those who helped our family keep this website going in 2018. 
  Unrelated, but hopefully showing my commitment to doing this site for the long haul, the chart at right is my weight loss data over the past 21 days (no more French Fries, very limited sugar and lots of exercise).  It's working.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend...and sorry for the commercial.

Full Show at Beale Air Force Base ...15 minute video (AX-O)

"...I was finally able to stitch the flight from our last air show. No fancy editing or music but it is cool to see the formation changes and everything else going on."

Note: This is a 360* video
(you can look around during playback)

Is synthetic vision all that useful, or just hype? ...Ed Wischmeyer

In past lives, I’ve worked around synthetic vision displays and considered them more hype than substance. After this last trip in the RV-9A, flying over the mountains with synthetic vision, my opinion is unchanged.

Who has actually used synthetic vision in flight, and to what benefit? Not theoretical benefits, or oh it’s nice to look at, or here’s what the marketing hype says are the benefits, but what useful information did it provide to help you make decisions and take actions?

On this last flight, I was flying northbound over the Smokey Mountains, just to the east of Asheville, NC. It was hazy with clouds ahead almost down to the mountains, and as I wrote earlier, this was a good time to go IFR and get some good terrain clearance.

On the synthetic vision display, I could see the ridges ahead, but if there were any distance markers to the ridges, I didn’t know how to read them. And if there had been a terrain threat, the same database that fed the synthetic vision would have warned me of a potential terrain encounter. I could see from the synthetic vision that I would clear all the ridges ahead at present altitude (if some monster downdraft didn’t suddenly decide to ruin my entire day), but the terrain screen would have told me much the same thing, only with lower resolution.

There may have been times when my synthetic vision system has shown towers and such in a useful format, but I don’t recall. Again, the Garmin G3X system gives aural warnings of obstacles.

Showing the destination runway on the SV is reassuring, especially with the flight path marker over the end of the runway, but that’s inadequate guidance IFR and if you have to use it VFR, you may already be in trouble.

One real annoyance of synthetic vision is that the depicted horizon is some amount below the white line level flight depiction.

So does SV provide any advantages in making decisions and in taking actions? Or only in special cases like the hypothetical engine failure over mountains in IMC or at night? Or is it just personal preference?

I’m inclined to leave it turned off…

Charity Cap Sighting ...Jae J. Yu

"USAF Acadamy Jump Team, Wings of Blue (Instructors)."

Related: About the caps

Perplexed ...Djgeib RV-8

I’m working on my -8 QB fuselage. Drilled the holes for the mid cabin covers and am putting in the nut plates. However, the aft most hole on the right side has put me in a quandary. I have removed the console cover but the angle that it attaches to is preventing me from being able to get a squeezer or my rivet gun in to lay flat on the rivets. Was wondering how others have done this. I have clearance on all the other holes. I’m sure there is a simple solution that has evaded me. Thanks

Staying Motivated ...Strikefinder RV-8

I had a frustrating end to my shop day...I had been humming along, finishing the RH elevator substructure on my RV-8 and was riveting the stiffeners to the LH elevator skin when I managed to booger up a rivet on the inside of the trailing edge fold. I've gotten fairly good at drilling out AN470s, but haven't gotten the knack of drilling out flush heads yet, so when I drilled it out, I ended up with an elongated hole...opened it up to #30 and put an oops rivet in, but somehow that ended up even worse. I decided to put down the tools before I did something more foolish, though I'm fearful that when I drill out the NAS 1097 (and it's bad enough that there's no doubt it will have to come out), I'll end up with an unusable LH elevator skin. I'm not looking forward to ordering the skin and stiffeners, and then doing all the cutting, drilling, deburring, dimpling, priming, etc. again to get back to where I am now...already had to do it with the rudder once, and similarly for one mistake that got out of hand.

I'm not really looking for advice as far as what to do, though...as I'm coming up on the end of the tail section, I admit it's experiences like this that leave me a little daunted about how far I have to go. It's bad enough to have to scrap a few hundred dollars in parts if it comes to that (plus cross-country shipping and the lead time), but I worry about the inevitable screw-up on the wings, when I can't exactly just throw the whole spar out and try again. And I'm still in awe of how much there is to learn--I sort of marvel at all the things that were completely unknown when I started that are now pretty routine, but I just got a starter fiberglass kit and have this sort of feeling that every part of this process is going to make me feel in over my head.

It seems like lots of people around here have made all kinds of mistakes (many of the same ones I have), and have managed to press on...my question is, looking back at where I am now, how did you move past the anxiety of the next steps? Did things just get easier (though not necessarily less time consuming) as you got more proficient, or did you figure out how to fix the mistakes better along the way? Does the learning curve ever start to level out?

I'm not saying I'm on the verge of throwing in the towel or anything--I genuinely enjoy the building process and know I'll feel less frustrated and have a better perspective on what to do now in a few days. I'm just looking for what you guys all think now about where I am, looking back on it...

Bragging on Tate ...my son.

Tate is signed up for a welding class during his senior year in HS.  It's a half day class for 18 weeks - he drives about five miles from the HS to a place offsite.  He did this last year for paint and body work class.  We went to the orientation the other night and were impressed!  He's going to learn stick, TIG and MIG welding - a skill that isn't bad to have on your resume.  It also tickles the art itch he seems to have on occasion.

The Army Vet teacher nearly yelled at the top of his lungs from the start, "First and foremost in this class I teach HONOR and RESPECT!  After that I teach welding." 

He had me.  I wish I could take the class.

From the site: This pre-employment laboratory course is designed to introduce basic skills in structural welding. Introduction to the basic processes (Stick, Mig, and Tig) welding as well as cutting with Oxy/Acetylene and Plasma rigs will be presented in the class (theory) and the shop (practical). Safety, work ethic and career opportunities will be covered. A welding hood, safety glasses, cutting glasses and gloves will need to be purchased. Material and supply fees may be required. The emphasis for this class is working in the shop. Offered at Dale Jackson Career Center Only

I've already asked Tate if he'll make me some nice chocks. ;^)

Pano pic I took

200hp 2010 RV-8A For Sale on my Field (52F)

...posting for a local guy (w/no VAF account).

Contact Randy Richmond for more info.  (817) Four Zero 1 - 8 Zero 9 Six.

I've flown this plane and it is fast - faster than my RV-6 I'm more than a little pissed to say.  ;^)

•Mfg Date Issued: 3-19-2010
•Lyc IO-360 A1B6. 200hp. Angle valve.
•Hartzell Blended Airfoil C/S prop
•Dual P-mags (less than year old)
•Freshly re-sealed prop governor
•Nice/neat firewall forward
•9 pass/tube oil cooler (recently installed)
•Reinforced baffling around #4 cylinder made from thicker metal than stock (supports weight of oil cooler)
•Recently replaced fuel hoses
•Fresh annual (Feb 2018)
•New nose tire and tube
•Main tires in excellent condition
•New brake pads
•Baggage door fits very nicely (unusual for 8)
•Unique way cowl pins come in from the back - insert into slots (no exposed hinge pins)
•Canopy has a 5” crack toward aft end - not that uncommon on 8s. Stop drilled.
•Paint is a 7.5 out of 10

•Few scratches and nicks showing a little bit of its age
•No fuel tank leaks
•Adjustable brake/rudder pedals
•Infinity grip with flaps and trim, fuel pump
•2 fuel gauges next to fuel selector
•Fire extinguisher
•Oxygen system
•Rear view mirrors
•Vertical compass card
•EIS engine monitor
•EFIS (GRT) recently updated
•GMA340 audio panel
•GNS430 GPS/Comm (sent to Garmin - now a 430W)
•Icom A200 Radio
•KT76A Bendix Transponder
•Wired-through circuit breakers (pull off)
•Tru Track A/P
•A/P will track 430 or EFIS
•Dayton Murdock throttle mixture prop control
•Rear rudder pedals
•Vetterman exhaust

•Unique canopy seal (bicycle tube with pump)
•No damage history.
•Electric pitch trim
•Electric aileron trim
•Rear throttle/mix quadrant
•Polished metal spinner
•Duckworks landing lights both sides
•Whelen strobes
•Koger shade
•5 point harnesses
•Fairings where rudder cables exit fuselage
•All new EGT probes
•2 new CHT probes

May 17, 2018.   Issue #4,567.

One Day Across the Country....Running Out of Country ...schristo RV-7

...new personal record for a single day of flying...  We have now done this trip six times in the RV. Twice with Propdog. Lots of interesting flight data along the way.  ...

24 yr old Happy RV-6 Owner/Pilot

(email from Doedo Schipper) "Brooks Mershon bought a local RV6. 125hrs total time. Still flying on his temporary paper license."

Houston area monthly lunch (May)

OK folks, it's time once again for some BSing over ribs or BBQ or what-have-you. Let's get together at Carl's at Weiser this Saturday (5-19), 11:30 as usual.

7A Status Report ...jcarne

I finished the center section bulkhead as well as the 705 bulkhead. The 705 bulkhead took waaaaay more time than I thought it would. Many parts to fabricate and a lot of non-punched parts. I also managed to get most of the way done with the 706 bulkhead. Only a couple more days and I think the bulkheads will all be ready for priming.

Airventure 2018 One Week Wonder build team Update

The planning process is well under way, but there is still opportunity to register as a volunteer.

If you have already registered, you should have received a confirmation e-mail from me, asking you to reply. If you have not received one, please check your SPAM folder.

With Airventure 2018 only a little more than 9 weeks away, the schedule needs to be firmed up soon so if you were intending to participate, please register now.

If there are any teen build groups that are intending to participate, but have not yet registered or contacted me, please do so now.

Thanks

14A Status Report ...rjkulesa

Felt appropriate to share this here: 23.5 hours later, my first -14A completed component - the Vertical Stabilizer. Not perfect, but safe and a lot of lessons learned. Looking forward to keep going!

Garmin Service Alert 1818 Rev B: Degraded GPS Performance

MAY 16, 2018

PRODUCTS AFFECTED:

Garmin aera 660 products with main software 3.20 (and earlier), D2 Bravo with GPS software version 3.10, (and earlier), and D2 Charlie with GPS software version 4.30 (and earlier) are affected.

To check the D2 Bravo and Charlie GPS software version go to the About page (Settings->System->About) and scroll down to display the GPS software.

The aera 660 main software version can be viewed below the Garmin logo on the power up screen.

ISSUE:

The aera 660 and D2 Bravo/Charlie may not be able to acquire a 3-D GPS position fix and/or exhibit degraded GPS performance.

PILOT ACTION:

Connect the device to a wifi signal and download the latest unit software. For instructions on loading the latest software refer to the Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide (190-02017-20), D2 Bravo Owner’s Manual (190-01674-00), and/or D2 Charlie Owner’s Manual (190-02236-00). All manuals can be found on www.garmin.com.

The area 660 software can also be downloaded from the Garmin website (https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/520775).

RESOLUTION:

This issue has been fixed in D2 Bravo GPS software version 3.30, D2 Charlie GPS software version 4.40, and aera 660 main software version 3.30.

May 16, 2018.   Issue #4,566.
  Last Saturday I flew Rob's wife Shannon down to San Angelo so she could catch up with the rest of the relatives for a graduation (route).  Anyone familiar with the DFW to San Angelo route will know that it is mostly this.  Easy flight, all on autopilot, back at 52F before 10am and happy to help my friends.  The highlight of the trip was the WWII hangar at San Angelo that is still standing.  The lady there said they hoped they would last two years when built.  The woodwork was a thing of beauty - of course pictures are required.  Two photos and one pano starting here.  Of the eight hangars built, two still stand.

  And that nearly-always hot TFR near San Angelo?  Predator Bs spiraling up to / down from 18K for border protection (article).
  You know those home improvement shows where they use reclaimed wood?  What do think this hangar with its 77 yr old ceiling is worth?

First flight ...PMLviator RV-12

After 1214hr build over 3 1/2 years 120793 has finally taken flight for the first time today. Yes it has a heavy right wing but flew beautifully and easier than I expected. Thanks goes to all the input all you other pilots put on VAF, it helped a lot during my long build. Thanks, Leon.

First Bahamas trip and things learned

Did my first Bahamas trip over the last 2 weeks. Like others have said, it is very doable and I will return at some point. Thought I would relay a few experiences and lessons learned from my point of view.
I am a 900hr pilot. Finished the RV in 2014. Very comfortable with it and have made about 5 long distance trips. This is my first "over water" trip and first time out of the country.
My plane is classic skyview equipped with ADSB and AP. Garmin 396 also feeds into the Dynon.
After reading other write-ups and using an on-line Caribbean travel site, I was surprised at the weather. It was raining the entire time. Being VFR only, I had more anxiety during the trip wondering when we would be able to come home, than a concern of over water flight, or red tape problems. You forget how much weather data we have access to in the US compared to what is available on Cat and Long Island. Even discussions with US weather briefers led to multiple disclaimers of "well I have limited information, but..."

Customs to and from was no problem. Very user friendly.

I had two plane related problems:
1. My plane stays in a hangar. It has never had any significant rain. After about 15" of rain on long island, I was surprised by hydraulic lock of the engine on trying to start for departure. I pulled the #3 intake tube and drained about 3 cups of water from the sump. Removed the top plugs and cleared the cylinders. That was a bad feeling when I contemplated what I would need to do to get any significant engine repair work done. Started without difficulty and after running on the ground a while, was able to fly home without difficulty. On review of this forum, I was surprised at the limited remarks on this happening to others. I always thought a small amt of water may get in, but now realize all the water from the top of the cowling flows forward and follows the upper radius back into the cowling, landing right on the air cleaner. (horizontal induction). Will address with cowl plugs I suppose. I think the water flow volume would be to much for a 1/8" hole in the snorkel. +/- on the sniffle valve.

2. On my return, one hour from Fort Pierce, my AP released and I had pegged airspeed readings of 511mph and overspend warnings. AI was also going wacky. Alt and navigation otherwise functioning. Backup GPS working well. On my arrival, Dynon dx the problem as a faulty ADHARS-200. They overnighted one to me and that fixed the problem. The plane has 300hrs on it with first flight in 2014. The unit is out of warranty. New one was $1200. Now I have a faulty unit that is a minimum of $250 to diagnose. I don't think it can be used as a backup since the backup unit is a ADHARS-201. I will look in to it.

Beaches were unbelievable and I highly recommend Fernandez Bay Village and Cape Santa Maria.

Didn't get to go island hopping secondary to weather.

I will go again.

__________________
Eric Wiley
RV-8 finished 9/15

Mothership Stats...

Lessons Learned / IFR X-C RV-9A ...Ed Wischmeyer

Learned a few things on a very recent trip from Savannah, GA to SE Michigan and back.

When I flew with my friend in Michigan yesterday, I became aware of how sloppy my flying has become. Several reasons: one is that I used to be really, really good hand flying under the hood, and my recollections far surpass present reality. Second, the planes I've flown, RV and others, have had good handling characteristics, lots of power, and most of them have had high drag when you wanted it. I've gotten out of the habit of flying nice traffic patterns because I've had airplanes that didn't require it. Bad form.

I've also been working on a procedure for engaging the autopilot right after takeoff and integrating it into everything else that needs to be done. So the procedure is: set everything up on the flight director, take off, retract flaps at 80 knots, pitch to 7 degrees, autopilot on, and then fuel pump off. Don't engage airspeed hold right over the runway because the autopilot may dive to get speed.

This procedure worked great twice yesterday, but didn't work on the third takeoff -- the autopilot wouldn't engage! Fortunately, fiddling with the autopilot disconnect button and the TOGA button got the autopilot happy again. I wonder how well I would have handled things on the first takeoff, racing to get out ahead of the thunderstorms (ten minutes after I took off, it poured), if the autopilot had decided not to cooperate...

So what are my new year's (it's gotta be new year's somewhere) resolutions?
* Fly precise traffic patterns and get really good at them again. No more screwing around with the pattern just because I can get away with it;
* Do an autopilot takeoff (almost) every time for practice and so that it becomes routine;
* Hand fly the -9A a lot more. Get really good and really precise at it;
* Always put the checklist down in the same place in the cockpit. Twice on this trip I hid it from myself;
* I know all the frequencies at my home airport so I never write them down. Not writing them down is a bad habit for when I go to an unfamiliar airport, like this afternoon, so start writing down frequencies and such.
* Develop and maintain really good habit patterns. When I was a newbie, good habits made flying easier. Now that aging is a fact of life, good habit patterns will help reduce mistakes and blunders;

I’m aware of the maxim that there’s always something more to learn, but sometimes I’m displeased with how much is left, or how much needs to be refreshed.

__________________
RV-8 (steam gauges), RV-9A at KSAV (Savannah, GA; dual screen G3X with autopilot, GTN 650)
Previously RV-4, RV-8A, AirCam, Cessna 175
ATP CFII PhD, so I have no excuses when I screw up

May 15, 2018.   Issue #4,565.

Beautiful Day in Duluth ...tfriendshuh

I finally got back up in the air after a three week hiatus - the light was amazing

Airport Camping along the Mississippi? ...Tim 8A

I'm making a trip from Duluth to New Orleans later this week and I'm thinking of spending a night somewhere in between - a nice rural airport where I could pitch a tent and roast a marshmallow or two would be ideal.

Courtesy car or walking distance to a town & restaurant would be a close second.

I'm pretty flexible about where - anywhere south of Dubuque IA & north of Memphis TN would likely fit into my plans.

Any suggestions?

__________________
tim
RV-8A

RE: Bottom wing skin to fuselage overlap mismatch

...SgtZim wondering about this too

I know this is an older post, but I'm now doing my fairings and I just match drilled those holes between the fuselage skin and wing.

My issue/question is about the fit of the overlapping skins. my fuselage skin hangs about 1/8" lower than the wing bottom, and clecoing the skins together of course causes major rippling because of the curved surface. I'm thinking about adding a filler strip between the skins just to make a clean joint, but if it is indeed structural - that would not be the best solution.

Also, if it is structural - the whole method of drilling those holes is very poor: You pre-mark lines along the wing skin and then you are supposed to take a stab at finding those holes in the wing by measuring off of those lines and back 3". Far from a good match drill. I had just enough room to squeeze in a hole duplicator, and made good matching holes, but the geometry of the two skins makes pretty bad ripples. Kind of a tradeoff between structure and aerodynamics for me anyway.

I sent my question in to Van's this am, I'll update when I get their comments.

picture of my wing/fuselage joint.

RV7 Empennage Tools- My experience ...RV7ForMe (Europe)

Tools Tools Tools,

I remember before I ordered my empennage kit I spend weeks if not months on this topic. What do I need? What does everyone else buy? What should I buy?

Well. I suppose I should first tell a little bit about me and my Knowledge on this topic: In one word "NON"

As I stated in the beginning of my build log I started building in my college dorm. I had NO tools whatsoever. So I had to buy EVERYTHING!

Since then I have bought a lot of tools and have made a few experiences I would like to share. I'm mainly answering the questions I know I had 2 years ago.

But at the time I had no knowledge on most of these tools or what they are used for. So there is a certain appeal to buying a kit that has it „all“.

In hindsight I must admit that the kits do NOT contain everything you WILL need and contain things that depending on your liking you WILL NOT need. If I had to buy tools today, knowing what I know I would pick and choose only the things I like. But I guess you will not have that luxury unless you go to OSH and play with the tools. Even then I don't know if you have enough time to make that decision.

I was and I still am on a budget so I actually bought what I thought was the least amount of tools for the least amount of money. I decided very early against a Pneumatic squeezer, the DRDT-2 and the tungsten bucking bar. My thought process was that these items were very expensive but not really necessary for the empennage. I wanted just the tools needed for the first kit. I didn’t know if I was going to like building or not, so I did not want to spend a ton of money if I didn’t have to.

ABC’s... No I don’t mean the liquor store. I mean Avery, Brown, Cleaveland tools and there is also Isham/Planetools. (Avery retired and I believe Cleaveland sells their stuff now)

These are 4 tool suppliers that stock „RV-Tool-Kits“ I spend a lot time comparing these kits. I decided on the Brown tool kit. I deleted a few things but mostly bought the kit as is.

There was a lot of talk about: My choice
 

• Pneumatic squeezer vs. Hand squeezer

• DRDT-2 vs. C-frame Dimpler

• Steel Bucking bar vs. Tungsten Bucking bar

• Air Drill vs. Battery drill

...a whole lot more text AND PICS

The Trip Home ...Ed_Wischmeyer

So the RV-9A got me home from southeastern Michigan today, and I learned a few more things... things that I probably should have already known...

I woke up briefly at 5 AM and the iPhone showed a big chunk of weather south of Lake Michigan. That's nice, thought I, and went back to sleep. At 6 AM it was looking ornerier and was halfway across the state. Flight service said we had an hour before it got to us. A mad scramble to pack and get out the door ensued, and a school bus with flashing lights added to the chronological excitement.

At the airport, a light rain had started, thunder was audible, and the clouds looked ugly. I picked up the IFR clearance and taxied out, a little surprised that my clearance void time gave me only 7 1/2 minutes instead of the ten minutes I expected. I kind of forgot about that as I was getting everything ready for takeoff, but got off just in time. Hmm. Bad cockpit discipline.

Weather at takeoff was 2 1/2 miles in haze and clear. I took off towards the better weather in the east (spending a few of my 7.5 minutes to taxi), but I got off before the storm came and it really did come on, not too much later. Surprisingly, I could have made that entire flight VFR (taking off in Class G airspace). Scary VFR but legal. And it was early enough that the tint of the sunglasses wasn't appreciated, but my plain old reading glasses were packed. Hmmm.

When I flew with a friend in Michigan yesterday, I became aware of how sloppy my flying has become. Several reasons: one is that I used to be really, really good hand flying under the hood, and my recalled and assumed still valid skills far surpass my present day skills. Second, the planes I've flown, RV and others, have had good handling characteristics, lots of power, and most of them have had high drag when you wanted it. I've gotten out of the habit of flying nice traffic patterns because I've had airplanes that didn't require it. Bad form.

After the early morning scramble to get off, sitting there in the pilot's seat for an hour looking at low contrast scenery through the haze with the autopilot flying, no radio traffic and a warm sun coming up made for a sleepy boy. However, the recliner with the built in massager at Fleming-Mason airport remembered me, and an hour later, I was refreshed and good to go.

Next stop was at Knoxville to have lunch with my sister. How cool is that, to fly across the country top to bottom and be able to stop to have lunch with your sister just because?

I've been working on a procedure for engaging the autopilot right after takeoff and integrating it into everything else that needs to be done: set everything up on the flight director, take off, retract flaps at 80 knots, pitch to 7 degrees, autopilot on, and then fuel pump off. Don't engage airspeed hold right over the runway because the autopilot may dive to get speed. This procedure worked great in Michigan and Kentucky, but didn't work at Knoxville -- the autopilot wouldn't engage! Fortunately, fiddling with the autopilot disconnect button and the TOGA button got the autopilot happy again. I wonder how well I would have handled things coming out of Michigan, racing the weather, if the autopilot had decided not to cooperate...

The last leg wound up being IFR to more conveniently handle the clouds over the Smokey Mountains (a few hours later, those were thunderstorms). Clouds and showers at Savannah that I didn't recall as part of an earlier forecast made it prudent to stay IFR.

So what are my new year's (it's gotta be new year's somewhere) resolutions?
* Fly precise traffic patterns and get really good at them again. No more screwing around with the pattern just because I can get away with it;
* Do an autopilot takeoff (almost) every time for practice;
* Hand fly the -9A a lot more. Get really good and really precise at it;
* Always put the checklist down in the same place. Twice on this trip I hid it from myself;
* Develop and maintain really good habit patterns. When I was a newbie, good habits made flying easier. Now that aging is a fact of life, good habit patterns will help reduce mistakes and blunders;
* I know all the frequencies at my home airport so I never write them down. This is a bad habit for when I go to an unfamiliar airport, so start writing down frequencies and such.

And what did IFR buy me on this trip? Some really scary VFR flying turned into very non-descript IFR flying. And a very worthwhile trip.

__________________
RV-8 (steam gauges), RV-9A at KSAV (Savannah, GA; dual screen G3X with autopilot, GTN 650)
Previously RV-4, RV-8A, AirCam, Cessna 175
ATP CFII PhD, so I have no excuses when I screw up

RV-7A Rebirthing Update  ...kentlik

Drilled the latch hole.  So, I snuck into the garage and drilled the latch hole. Was a bit nerve-racking, but I managed to do it without trouble. I will go with Sika.

Also, I found that my diligently, I thought, placed center line was whopperjawed somtin' fierce! So I suspended a piece of Tech line and let the belly tell me where the center was, seems to have worked well as the side dim's are good. Still many trimmings to do yet as well.

May 14, 2018.   Issue #4,564.

Legacy... ...smokyray

DR,
With Memorial Day around the corner and incessant babbling notwithstanding, I had to take a moment to reflect, and be thankful...

Legacy
Yesterday my wife asked me to take her to visit the Grand-kids 325NM away in Midland, TX.* The flight in the RVX is under 2 hours with a casual stop for cheap fuel halfway.
Just another RV adventure...
Leveled off at 8500' and with my brain cell challenged aging mind adrift I realized that I have been operating these wonderful little aircraft for nearly Thirty Years.
Thirty years...
RV4 was just the beginning, light years seems like yesterday.
Van's VHS watched repeatedly to failure.
SLOW BUILD should always be all caps. So many to thank, so little time.
Cross Country a literal term. over 50 times "Vlad style" before 9A's were designed...

I remember...
The ID Backcountry, B17 Escort, 20,000' foray, 1V1 with an F16, too many sunrises and sunsets to count...
I remember donating to Cornerstone Ministries http://www.donateyourplane.com/ and strapping a set of RV4 wings and tail to my Truck...
I remember Arvil engineering the impossible: mating of those wings and tail to an RV6 fuselage. Project X was born...
I remember doing the flyby and victory roll over his funeral with a big grin.

Those very same wings I stare at now as the West TX countryside zips past.

My wife smiles at me. I remember her brushing her teeth beside my Harmon Rocket at Johnson Creek in the rising sun.
I remember Dusty, my UPT T-38 table mate who lost his life in a KC135 on takeoff at Dyess AFB, passing just under the left wing. A true Patriot..
I remember Linchmob and I being comm-jammed so bad over Western Iraq and using our "RV common" (122.22) as a get well frequency.
I remember taking Wolfman on his first combat mission in the F16. I remember him in his RV4 tucked in tight on my Four's wing like glue more times than I can count.
Sure miss him.
Brownwood TX slides by. My Dad dead-sticked a T-33 in there before I was born. I remember Dad executing a perfect greaser from the Four's back seat (despite my challenge, and bet loss to the contrary).
I remember him teaching me to fly before I could drive.
I remember doing a formation takeoff at Hicks field with DR grinning in Danny King's back seat of The Beautiful Doll with a big camera, snapping away on the Wright's 100th anniversary (2003).

Freedom...
Thousands of takeoff and landings relegated to "muscle memory" Climb, level, descend, land. Repeat.
Easy to take for granted...
Easy indeed, with the freedoms we enjoy here in the good old US of A.

My wife reads a letter from Franklin Graham at Samaritan's Purse who spent Easter in Iraq. The cities he visited coincided with places I patrolled and bombed supporting our troops. The people now enjoy their first tastes of a very tentative and fragile Free Iraq. Hallelujah, maybe what we fought for is paying off.
Maybe.
Freedom isn't free and having seen both sides of that tarnished coin I am very thankful. Thankful to live somewhere where I can fly an airplane I built in my garage across free airspace in a free country.
Thankful indeed...

V/R
Smokey

SB 18-03-30...RV-10

JanJan's RV7 Mother's Day RV grin

"Today was another great RV event in the Traynham family! Jan (aka JanJan by the grandkids) flew for the first time in our RV7. Her pilot was her youngest son who, by her account, is qualified after flying Warthogs and now Delta airliners. After the flight she not only had the RV grin, she said, "Now I see why you two love this airplane so much!"

Rob Traynham"

RV7 wing progress ...fcordrey

I have been working along on my wings for some time now and today they came off the stands. They are safely in the wing cradle and the stands were taken up. My dad came up and helped my over the last couple days to get the top skins on and I had the Aileron brackets complete so we installed them as well.

Skins ready to be riveted. many pics

Bowstring Revisited ...petehowell

There has been some talk recently of closing a beautiful grass strip up in northern Minnesota, 9Y0 - Bowstring. The RAF put out a call for help, so I wrote some emails and sent the post on VAF from a visit I made several years ago. The real story is bunch guys flew up in person to talk to the county commissioners. It looks like it worked! Airport manager Ken Reichert really does a nice job at Bowstring!  Many pics...and vid.

Wx Update ...Ed Wischmeyer

So the weather cooperated today. Five flying hours, two fuel stops, five minutes of actual IFR.

The IFR was just north of Asheville, NC, which frequently has clouds about. I was at 6500 and pondering my options. The headwinds were 24 knots, and out west, the rule of thumb is that means you need at least 1000 feet over the mountains for every ten knots of wind. However, it was smooth. So the question was, over, under, or through?

I tried over, but it was clear that 8500 would not be 1000 over the cloud tops, and I didn't want too go to 10,500, even though I had oxygen.

My rule for flying under clouds is that it has to be clear, the weather stable so you know nothing is going to change on you, and with at least one iron clad way out. Hazy killed the first rule, 24 knots of wind killed the second and third. So no under.

So I got IFR at 8000 with some in and out, mostly in, for about five minutes. I watched the autopilot do its thing and when we got to the north edge of the clouds (and the mountains), you could see forever, or nearly.

So five minutes of IFR made the trip work. And coming into Michigan, with a big storm area, IFR meant that I could go take a look if I wanted to. Didn't have to, came in VFR and the 15 knot winds were down the runway.

My kind of trip. Except for getting up real early... fortunately, there was a recliner (with massager!) at the second stop. That was KFGX - Fleming-Mason Airport, in Kentucky, near Cinncinnati, was a great gas stop. The local gas station makes really good burgers. On previous trips, I've stopped at Cynthiana, KY, which is also friendly with a loaner to get you into town.

The last 75 minutes had a tailwind (finally!) and continuous light chop, occasionally moderate, as forecast. What was different was that this chop was all mechanical, with no up and downdrafts. I wish the Georgia chop would take lessons from the Ohio chop...

Point of clarification - this was in the RV-9A, not in the -8, if you didn’t pick up on keeping stuff in the passenger seat accessible.

Follow up: looks like I’ll be in southeast Michigan for two more unplanned days. Plan H was to go to Iowa from her, then home. Plan I is togo straight home if that becomes possible befor going to Iowa. Plan J is what I end up doing.

Status Report ...RV7ForMe

Now that the FL-706B wholes are drilled I enlarged the one originaly prepunched whole to ¼ in.  ...

Osh '18 3rd Annual HBC Beer Tasting (Sun 7/22) ...bullojm1

The natives are getting restless, so it must mean it's time to officially announce the 2018 Oshkosh THIRD Annual HBC Beer Tasting - Sunday, July 22nd, 1700 at the NEW AWESOME HBC Pavilion!

First the foremost - Jerry Fischer - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! You are the real reason this is possible!!! Anyone who has access to the sweet nectar of Deschutes Black Butte, toss a bottle in Jerry's tent!

VOLUNTEERS - You are the second most important reason this event is a SUCCESS! Those brave enough to endure the thankless job of fighting off the thirsty restless masses before the 5pm kickoff, I need to solicit your help again this year! Anyone bored on Sunday afternoon who is skilled at putting warm beer in ice buckets is welcome to join our amazing team. DAN LANDRY - you will be missed! Rob, Paul and Frank - consider yourself on the list. PAINLESS - THANKS FOR STEPPING UP! CJ - Looking forward to sampling your cache of Alaskan beers!

Milestone: Panel IN ...MED

May 11, 2018.   Issue #4,563.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend (and my wonderful mother-in-law a happy 93rd birthday).
 

Milestone (and great pic) ...Scott Emerson RV-14A

Wing kit arrives tomorrow.... had to make room in the garage!  [ed. I mean come on....how do I NOT make this the weekend splash image?!?! v/r,dr]

Waiting for the weather ...Ed Wischmeyer RV-8

Discovered some funny psychology while waiting for the weather.

The original plan was to fly from Savannah, GA, up to southeastern Michigan yesterday. Multiple lines of thunderstorms and a forecast strong crosswind at the destination airport made no-go an easy decision. But the plane was already packed (a plastic tub in the passenger seat holds the oxygen bottle, always a nuisance to keep upright and accessible, plus snacks, water bottles, tie down kit, bug cleaning kit, etc). Clothes and such can get packed almost instantaneously, so I had a free day before the trip.

It was amazing what a de-stressor this unplanned free day was. Ran some errands, got new tires for the car and a CT scan for my back, did laundry, paid bills, all kinds of things that would have otherwise been piled up, waiting for me when I got back home. Maybe when time comes for Oshkosh, I'll load the plane a few days in advance rather than just the day before.

So this morning is another no-go, with thunderstorms and IFR. I'm book legal for IFR, but to be honest with myself, I don't want to fly a whole leg of hard IFR. If it turns into hard IFR, I can do it, even if the autopilot fails, but it wouldn't be fun. And if there are lines of thunderstorms to dodge IFR, even with ADS-B uplink, fuhgeddaboutit. Isolated air mass thunderstorms, VFR, maybe.

Plan C, or whatever letter we're up to, is to go half way this afternoon and finish the trip tomorrow. Unlikely, but all it takes is a phone call to check on the weather. Plan D is the whole trip tomorrow, also unlikely. Plan E is an early morning launch Saturday so as to be there by 1 PM or so. The motivation for the trip is a memorial service, and ain't no point in trying too hard to get there and requiring a second one.

As for today, the plan is to be completely packed and ready to go when I check the weather late morning, with eating and drinking in preparation for the trip. If I don't go, then I'll expend energy on exercise, do a few more chores, etc.

"It's better to be down, wishin' you was up, than up, wishin' you was down."

And it's also better to be at home, waiting for the weather, than in some motel room part way. Less pressure, more restful. Lots better than that six day trip from Georgia to Arizona a few years back, waiting out storms in the southeast and turbulence and high winds out west...

Tate Reeves: Artist

I would like to brag on my son a bit today.  First pic below is the digital image that many will recognize as the engine section of a 1980 Honda Passport moped.  Below that is Tate's rendering using only black acrylic paint (click to enlarge) for an art project.  He received a 99 and some nice words from his art teacher.  It's being showcased at his school, and will live someday on my office wall.  He doesn't get that skill from me, that's for sure.

Bellcrank puzzle ...Mark Jackson RV-8

I am getting ready to install the bellcranks in my RV-8 wing. I reamed out the bushings with a 1/4" drill bit. Bolts go in reasonably easily. I used a 3/8" drill bit and a tap wrench to remove some of the powder coating and stuff from the WD-421 bellcranks.

Mystery - The 3/8 inch drill bit slides through the bellcrank easily. The bushing will not go through. It will slide almost all the way through easily, but then gets stuck with about 1/4" to go. It does this from either side, in either orientation. I thought the bushing was bent but the bolt goes through true. Measured the bushing and it is .375 at either end and in the middle. I thought the bellcrank itself might be bent but the drill bit slides through easily. If the welds were intruding into the barrel, it would bind as soon as I started to put the bushing through.

I am at a loss. Any ideas out there.

I uploaded a video to YouTube of the bellcrank/bushing.

In need of moral support.

It's after 1am and I can't sleep. I went to my airport storage to find pigeons had defecated on my (unwrapped) wings. (They can't have been there more than two weeks.) I pulled my vertical stabilizer and rudder to find the beginnings of some pretty serious corrosion.

My plan is to wash and dry all the parts and wrap them loosely in plastic. The empennage is fairly easy to rebuild if I have to but severe damage to the wings might just kill my desire to continue building (and I have just ordered a finish kit)....

Any thoughts?
__________________
Fred Magare
GySgt, USMC (Ret.)

It started.... Mike Newall RV-12

Please save electrons by not saying it has no wings on, that is as old as primer wars. It was a short, idle run to check systems at home and we are very pleased indeed. Once again, just super impressed with what Vans produces and we assemble.

Diagnosing high EGTs - a long sad story...jbell2355

In early October, I signed a purchase agreement on a beautiful RV7A built by a physician here in Michigan. He had his CFI friend fly the plane up to my neck of the woods for a pre-buy inspection. I got the green light from the A&P and sent the wire transfer – the plane was mine!

The CFI and I hopped into the plane for a few landings and then I flew him back home solo. I recall during that first run-up that the engine seemed to run rough on one mag, but the CFI didn’t seem too concerned and it was my first time in the plane, so I didn’t know what was normal. On my 2 hour return flight home, all alone in a new plane, I started getting a high EGT annunciation on cylinder #4. This was disconcerting for me, having never had this kind of engine monitoring info and being new to the aircraft.

Back home, I consulted with the builder who told me that he hadn’t had this issue before. At first it seemed it had to be related to the pre-buy inspection, but what could the mechanic have done that would cause this? We did a little troubleshooting and decided it was probably a bad EGT probe. I flew the plane regularly and found that the annunciation was mostly an issue on climbout and that with proper leaning (or lack thereof), I could mostly manage the high EGT. Cylinder head temps did not appear out of line.

I flew the plane for 25 hours and brought it back to the pre-buy mechanic for a supervised oil change. I uncowled the plane and was shocked to see that the #4 high tension lead was disconnected from the upper plug on cylinder #4 (Lightspeed Ignition). The only good news was that we now knew the source of the problem. The mechanic was very nonchalant about the fact that he left the plug unplugged, and didn’t seem bothered by it at all. I wasn’t very happy, except for the fact that we thought we had solved the problem.

I flew the plane home after the oil change, excited to finally be rid of that irritating flashing red light, but it was still there! For the next few months, I swapped EGT probes, installed a new one, had them tested, checked for wiring problems, and spent a lot of time messing around trying to diagnose the problem. I was about to send the GRT EIS monitor back to be tested, when I shared some engine monitor info with Doug Hamerton at Aero Sport Power (the engine builder). He felt that, based on the data, I was leaning #4 lean of peak and that’s how/why the temp was going back in line with the other cylinders which were leaned ROP.

At this point I had put 80 hours on the engine. I had the mechanic on my field take a look and he told me I had a leaking exhaust valve, so I had him pull the cylinder. Based on the amount of carbon buildup, we decided to pull all the cylinders and have them looked at by Doug.

https://ibb.co/hAkrGJ
https://ibb.co/dPf2Oy
https://ibb.co/i3zJwJ

Aero Sport did their thing and a few weeks later the cylinders were remounted. 2 new pistons, 1 new #4 cylinder and the rest just cleaned up/painted. Once it was all put back together, I fired her up and did the ground run procedures.

Then I flew it, and still had the **** EGT problem!

This isn't the end of the story, but I’m going to stop the story here for a day or two. You should know that we did subsequently find and fix the problem. I’m curious whether anyone would have saved me all this hassle I've been through if I would have asked sooner.

And Klaus, you’re not allowed to answer.

 

Follow up...

Bad coil.

Kahuna, you hit the nail on the head! Where were you $5,000 ago? Neither mechanic I worked with thought of a bad coil. Neither knew that running the ignition without a plug would burn up the coil.

#4 was running rich after the pre-buy inspection. I assume this was because only 1 plug was firing. Eventually, it started running lean - because enough fouling of the exhaust valve caused a leak on the intake stroke. This was puzzling to me at the time, but now it makes perfect sense.

Anyhow, I hope this post saves someone else a few bucks down the road!

May 10, 2018.   Issue #4,562.
  Might anyone have pictures of a frangible windsock pole mount from their field?  We're looking at putting one on our field.  Two actually.
 

Another RV-7A takes its first flight!

VAF Community,
After 7.5 years my "QB" RV-7A finally got airborne last week and I already have 10 hours on her. A great moment and I was able to share it with a builder friend who came with though the FAA Qualified Pilot program. I am concentrating almost entirely on the proper engine break-in/seating of rings. I have a few questions for the VAF guys in the know. As I have close to 10 hrs, I am expecting the rings to seat very soon and CHT's to drop. I am wondering what kind of drop I should see. As I am doing the phase one unfortunately a little too late for ideal cool temps in the Las Vegas area. Oil consumption seems somewhat minimal, buy higher than I would expect if the rings had already seated. The highest I've seen is about 418 for a couple min on the initial climb. It's a new stock lycoming IO360-M1B engine. MT CS prop. Wheel pants are not installed. Nose leg/pant is complete and can be installed, but the mains are not completed yet. Below are some cruise reference numbers to help build a picture...

4500 ft, 7170 ft DA, WOT, 2400RPM, OAT 82F, oil temp 184, 130 IAS kts
CHT's: 388,391,373,391

4500 ft, 7130 ft DA, WOT, 2500RPM, OAT 82F, Oil temp 186, 132 IAS kts
CHT's: 392, 397, 375, 382

4500 ft, 7160 ft DA, WOT, 2450RPM, OAT 83F, Oil temp 184, 131 IAS kts
CHT's: 388, 394, 372, 389

My biggest question is when should I expect the seating to occur? Will it be sudden? What kind of drop in CHT's should I see?

If the temp drop is not significant, I think I will need to make cowling adjustments to lower the CHT's so the plane is useful in warm weather.

Thanks for any insight and input. I have read a bit on VAF about the break-in process, but have not seen what to expect.

Chad Hesterman
N11ZH
Boulder City, NV

How to bind a hairline fiberglass crack w/o access to the back side.

I have a small fiberglass crack between the windscreen and the cowling....its exactly centered and about 6 inches below the bottom of the wind screen.  You can't see the crack in the attached picture, but I put an arrow to show where it is (you seriously can't see it in the pic).  Its about 4 inches long, hairline, and allows the fiberglass on the back side of the crack (closest to the windscreen) to stick up about 3/32 of an inch.

Its been that way since I bought the airplane....and it is not getting worse.

My A/P suggested that I get a hypodermic needle and inject some lock tite (or other) adhesive under it to bind it back down.  My question is, what adhesive to use ? It has to basically be instantly bonded because I don't have a way to hold it down while it bonds.  And I don't want it to generate heat and melt the surrounding material.

Ideas ?

__________________
Scott Martin
N430WP RV-10

48 States in 7 Days ...planning

Planning a 48 state trip in two weeks with my son. Below is our planned route. We'll try to do it in 7 days but truly have no need or desire to push our limits or even complete the trip unless it's easy and fun. We plan to be as self-sufficient as possible but we all know how those plans go. We don't plan on an oil change as we'll leave with fresh oil and filter and flight time is planned for 40 hours. We may need an O2 refill, though. I'll try to do a trip report but definitely don't expect Vlad quality. Thanks to Joe Rainbolt for his kind help with route planning and advice.

Help: strobe quit working

I promise not to clean my tail lens again!

My tail navigation/strobe light lens was extremely dirty so I decided to pull the bottom rudder flairing where the tail position light/strobe light attaches. Getting the two screws with locking nuts out was tough but I got it done. Cleaned the lens and reinstalled everything. Had to replace one ground connection for the position light but didn’t have to do anything to the strobe light connection. Powered everything up and the strobes didn’t work! Not only the tail light strobe failed to work but the wing tip strobes also quit working!

I don’t understand what happened. Why would the wing tip strobes also quit working. I didn’t even get close to them. Does anyone have any idea what’s happened here?

Sills ...AviatorJ RV-10

...I happened to install the Aerosport ones recently so I can tell you what I did. In my case I had the top on, glassed in and the plane around latch all installed. If you are doing this prior to installing the cabin top you could do it different

• Removed 3rd door latch block.
• Measured and trimmed each sill for length and cut.
• Made measurements with a sliding square about every 6 inches and then transcribed that onto carbon fiber sill piece.
• Trimmed the sill piece to match the markings with about a 1/16th extra (ie on the outside of the drawn line)
• Then it was just back and forth holding it up, sanding a bit, holding it back up and sanding some more. Takes time but I wanted it flat on both angles and close to the cabin top filet as possible.
• Roughed up paint and then coated the inside of the sill with 3M two part adhesive.
• Clamped the piece in place and removed any overage.
• Once cured, removed clamps, sanded the bottom of the 3rd latch blocks a bit and called it good.

High Silicon in Oil Analysis Solved (I think)

I think we need to distinguish between the element silicon and the elastomer silicone.

From Wikipedia
Silicon is a chemical element with symbol Si and atomic number 14. A hard and brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre.

Silicone rubber is an elastomer (rubber-like material) composed of silicone—itself a polymer—containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. In its uncured state, silicone rubber is a highly-adhesive gel or liquid. In order to convert to a solid, it must be cured, vulcanized, or catalyzed. This is normally carried out in a two-stage process at the point of manufacture into the desired shape, and then in a prolonged post-cure process.

The presence of Silicon in an oil analysis normally indicates the presence of dirt, sand, and other like materials usually ingested into the engine through the air filter and induction system.

The Silicon in Silicone rubber is chemically bonded to the other elements, that is there is no free silicon. So running oil or fuel through a silicone rubber hose should not remove any chemically bonded silicon.

RV-8 and the Turn Around Cape Flattery

Sunday (5/6/18) saw some better weather around the Northwest, so I got a trip out to the coast in. The airframe mounted camera is still pretty shaky (better on some says than others), but the handheld shots aren't bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR293zdX2v8

Some thoughts....

I am not a lawyer by any means, and this is not meant to be advice as much as something to think about for all of us. I have had the occasion to perform prebuys as a result of estate sales over the course of many years, and I keep seeing the same thing. The aircraft has been left in a state of disrepair sometimes for so long that the monetary value has greatly depreciated, Sometimes to less than half or more than the value at the time of death. I find it so sad for the family/spouse of the deceased. The aircraft that at one time may have been the pride and joy of the owner or family may now require lots of work and money to even make it saleable.

I know it can be a really tough time for the family, and especially the spouse, but I’ll tell you what I have told my family. If anything happens to me, sell the airplane the next day. Don’t wait. Don’t let emotions get in the way of a financial decision that most certainly have adverse consequences.

Just my thoughts.....

Vic

https://duckduckgo.com/app ..for iOS and Android 

For those wanting more privacy online.  Note the first pic below.  It's the Science section of DailyMail.com in the UK - DuckDuckGo's browser running on my iPhone.  No big deal...looks and works just like Safari.  The other three pics show the 46 ad trackers (THREE PAGES) that the DuckDuckGo app blocked while I was viewing this single page.

PS:  VAF and the mothership show 0 ad trackers.  We both get 'C' ratings because the sites aren't encrypted, but I've yet to find an 'A' site.  'B' seems to be the highest score you can get.  So, you know....passing grade. ;^) dr

May 9, 2018.   Issue #4,561.

Rob Reece post RV flight.  Look how happy he looks...;^)

IAC Contest - Impressions of a first time competitor ...1flyingyogi

I just got back yesterday from the Duel in the Desert Contest in Apple Valley, CA. Thursday was registration day and we got one 15 minute slot for practice. There were 28 competitors, and a bunch of awesome aircraft. I felt like a kid in a toy store. There were over half a dozen Extras, an Edge 540, 4-5 Pitts S1 and S2s, a Super D, 2 Eagles, a Great Lakes, and a very humble 160hp, FP prop RV4. Am I in the wrong place?? Haha. I wasted some precious minutes of my practice slot b/c I was not prepared. (I didn't realize I needed fuel, forgot to buckle the rear belts, etc.) Newbie mistakes, which only left me with about 8 minutes to check out the box and do one sequence. Next time I need to get prepared instead of gawking at the cool planes and chatting with their owners.

Friday, we started nice and early with the pilots meeting at 7am and Intermediate starting right after that. Afterwards was everyone else. I did ok, I thought, with a 77.xx% score, but felt I could do better and felt that I normally fly better than that. The density altitude caught me off guard and I learned that I should have started higher and carried more speed to start the maneuvers.

photos

Second round I felt was better, but the judges didn't think so and I got a 76.xx%. I read the comments, but couldn't really understand what some of the comments meant. And the others, I kinda didn't know what to do about them. It would have been nice to have a mentor/ coach at this time. Any volunteers??

Saturday comes and again we had to wake up early, drive 20-25 minutes to the airport from the hotel and we all looked really tired. It was smoking hot.
I had my best flight that day with a score of 78.xx% and an overall finish of 3rd place.

First and second were Pitts S2s flown by a young kid who's obviously very talented and even at only twenty-something years old was a CFII and was flying with an aerobatic flight school in Utah. He has aspirations to become a Red Bull Air Race pilot. Second was a lovely young gal who flies for a collegiate aerobatics team in Colorado. By the end of the contest we were all friends and joking around with each other about who's gonna win the next contest.

AJ Wilder (he flies for the US National Aerobatic Team), who has been helping me out at my practice days, told me to go get the score and comments at the end of the contest so he could go over them with me and tell me what I need to work on for the next contest. They were really helpful tips, but why didn't he tell me this BETWEEN rounds instead of at the END of the contest?? Haha.
That would have been so helpful! I had a great time and learned a bunch and met a lot of really amazing people.

And as icing on the cake, I met and was hanging out with Max, the owner of a gorgeous Extra 330 the whole weekend. After the contest was finished on Saturday, we had some time and he asked me if I wanted to fly his plane from the front seat. Uhm... Of course!! YES!! The stick was so light that it felt like I just needed to BREATH on it and it moves! It's almost telepathic. It took a few minutes to get used to, but after I had a blast! Super nice guy and great pilot. He ended up with Second in Sportsman.

The best speech I heard at the banquet/ award ceremony was given by Howard Kirker, a 70-something legend in the sport. He said that the best measure of success in this sport is if you can grow old. That's much more important than trophies or titles. The goal is to be able to enjoy this sport until you grow old like him. So safety is of utmost importance. He has been flying since 16 years old and competed for 30 years up to Unlimited. He's now dialed back, but still kicking butt in Intermediate. He won first place this weekend. And the other guys say he always does - in a Great Lakes!!

Thanks to IAC 49 for taking me into their chapter and showing me the ropes. Before about a month and half ago, I never even had flown in an aerobatic box or gotten any ground critiquing or coaching and didn't know what the heck I was doing. Without them, I definitely would not have been here to compete. And thanks to Ron, Bill (willyeyeball), Jerry and all the guys on the IAC RV Yahoogroup for their guidance. You guys are a great inspiration for what an RV can do! And of course thanks to VAF and all the members for the incredible resource that it is. I would not even own an RV if it wasn't for this group. And lastly thanks to EAA 96 for coming "straight outta Compton" to support me! Haha. A lot of the following photos are courtesy of my buddies from EAA 96.

Now I gotta get some rest to recover. It was great fun, but sure takes a lot out of ya! Can't wait till the next one!

7A Rebirthing: Canopy PIREP ...kentlik

I got serious about the canopy finally after several days if not weeks.   In Oregon when the sun comes out you better be quick! Got up to 70 plus, but not 75.

Vent line not blocked, but tank pressurized?  ...sbalmos RV-9A

I'm trying to think this one through, whether it's just a nuisance, or I have to pull and fix my petulant cranky left fuel tank again before final inspection.

Currently, my hangar is 70-ish inside. Both left and right tanks have approximately 11 gallons in them, definitely nowhere near the top where fuel would readily enter the vent line. But my left tank is already dripping fuel out my vent. I'm almost certain this is fuel leaking through from the vent line bulkhead fitting inside the tank, probably the vent line fitting Just Loose Enough [tm].

Question 1 - is there enough normal outgassing pressure from fuel in the tank to push fuel in the vent line up the J-U loops of our vent lines inside the fuselage, clearly above the level of the tanks, until the fuel in the line vents overboard?

Now, the more important question... When I raise the tab on the fuel filler cap, and thus unseal it without removing the cap, I get a large hiss. I'm almost certain this is excess outgassing being released from the tank that didn't make it through the vent line in the fuselage, since the vent line was full of fuel.

This pressurization built up over 2 days, on the ground in my hangar. I'm wondering whether I should be concerned with it in a flight scenario? I'm thinking not, because when fuel is being used up from the tank, now we're dealing with a vacuum situation in the tank, and the vent line is used to pull in air into the tank. It's just going to happen to pull that "leaked" fuel back into the tank.

The real concern I have is whether the vacuum in the tank, in normal flight, will become too much for the tank because the vent line is filled with fuel, and maybe compromise the tank? I'm thinking not, but I'm just posing the scenario. Too many memories of reading too many posts here relating to balloon leak tests and pulling vacuums to pull in Locktite to seal weeping rivets, and posts saying that too much pressurization or vacuum will rupture the tank.

May 8, 2018.   Issue #4,560.
  Susie, Tate and I ate dinner Sunday at 4pm because Tate needed to go into work early.  Nothing on TV so after I pushed out the Monday edition we drove out to the airport, waited until about ten minutes before, then launched in the RV to catch the sunset forecast for 8:14pm - turned out to be 8:21pm at 2,000'.  Smooth air and all the airspace was ours.  Landed just as the runway lights came on and still got home before Tate :^).

 
enlarge

Monday night was spent digging in the yard trying to find a sprinkler system leak that has been 1) watering a big patch of the backyard below the surface (uncommanded) and 2) keeping me from using the rest of the sprinklers (it's turned off).  Bought some PVC knee boots from Lowes for the festivities.  No way am I paying a sprinkler guy to dig....I can dig for free <g>. 

Use auto plugs- NGK- Check those ferrules are tight

You know, the ferrule, the little metal bit at the top of the plug where you plug the wire in.

I just checked my plane -- four out of four were loose and wobbly.
They are brand new NGK plugs replaced at annual only ~5 hours ago. I didn't notice them to be loose when I installed them, but didn't explicitly check them for this. And I've been using this brand/type for the past 10 years, never noticed this before.

I recently had some ignition trouble (old thread here) which I think was caused by this. First I thought it was caused by ignition wires (two of them were indeed flaky when bent just right so maybe I prevented a future failure there), then I thought it was the Lightspeed coil (one coil was indeed bad), but the root cause, according to Lightspeed, was probably the loose ferrule which causes heating in the coil and failure.

And of course who knows what kind of weak spark you get when that thing is loose...hopefully a gentle turn with a pair of pliers will keep them in place.

 

Panel Pic ...Rstansley RV-4

7A Rebirthing ...kentlik

I didn't realize how HUGE the passages were in the originals until I made my own.  This helped a lot for fitment, like, a whole bunch!  Maintained my parallel to deck on the side rails as well.

My RV-12 is painted!! Finally! ...pstraub

http://www.vansrv6.com/

Turbo69bird in the VAF Forums.  His site with a lot of pics.  Like this one...

May 7, 2018.   Issue #4,559.
  What started as a 'Where should we fly to breakfast this fine Saturday morning?' for three of us turned into a close up and personal tour of warbirds, complete with DC-3 and 1930's era biplane fly-bys.   We picked Mt. Pleasant, TX (KOSA) and drove the courtesy car to Herschel's for, what was described by an airport guy we met, as 'upscale Dairy Queen'.  I ordered grits for the first time in 40 years.  They were good.  The unsweet tea dispenser is today's off topic.

  Pictures and videos can be found HERE.  You want to stand in the shade one foot from the folding mechanism of a Corsair for an hour?  With no crowds whatsoever - just pondering the awesomeness of 78 year old engineering?  Mt. Pleasant, ladies and gentlemen.  I updated the VAF Courtesy Car & Food list accordingly.

  These RVs really are amazing.  I forget sometimes how much fun picking a place and just going there to see what you'll find can be.  Randy brought up the point that bringing a lawn chair and just setting there in the shade watching these old planes fly around the pattern on a Saturday would be just about as good as it gets.  I think he might be right. 
  Hope you had a nice weekend also.

From the Mothership...

"When registering your plane with the FAA, please retain the serial number assigned by Van’s Aircraft to your RV project. With over 10,000 RV’s in the sky, replacing an assigned number with an original number may be a nice touch, however, down the road, it is not practical. Scenario: plane is registered with an “original” serial number. Plane changes hands, Van’s isn’t notified, and someone changes the tail number. Now there is no way to track down the original account. In essence, this means that if a service bulletin is issued regarding some parts intrinsic to that plane, the current owner will not receive the notice. I know the EAA has information to the contrary, but with over 10,000 flying RV’s, it is a matter of safety that Van’s has the ability to contact all RV owners should it become necessary.

Blue skies, and be safe”.
Cynthia A. Schrantz
Administrative Assistant
Van's Aircraft, Inc.

New build - bent aluminum question

Hi All,
I'm a new builder staring a -14A. Working on Vertical Stabilizer (after having done the SportAir class and a few practice kits) and really enjoying it.
Today I was working on the top tip rib, part VS-706, on the step where I need to radius the corners at the Tip Rib flange to ensure a good fit when skins are installed.

While making the radius on the scotch-brite wheel, I accidentally caught it wrong and it bounced off of the wheel and slightly bent the forward tip of the rib.
Picture below:

Mallards Landing Fly-In PIREP ...Vic S

Yesterday was a lot of fun. At one time there were 2 Stearmans, an RV-8, A Woody Pusher, a Maule, a Cherokee 180, RV-10, a Champ, and a C-172 in my back yard. There are days like this when I think someone is going to pinch me and wake me up!

But, the HIGHLIGHT of the day happened at the start of the day. I was on my deck with some Young Eagles I had taken flying and was filling out their Certificates. From behind me I hear someone trying to get my attention, and so I turn around and it is a young gentleman who introduces his wife and 9 month-old baby girl. He says he just wanted to come by and say thanks, as I took him for his Young Eagle ride when he was 16, and now he is a commercial pilot.

How neat is that? He is now the 3rd YE that has come back to Mallards and told me they got their pilot's license.

I know many of you do the same, and hopefully have some of the same stories to share. So, keep doing it!!! Who knows whom we will inspire? I bet some of us could be sitting in a rosking chair someday watching one of these new pilots landing on Mars.

Whelen Tail Strobe Wire Routing ...Jeff A

This is from when I had the Whelen strobe installed, but the same idea worked for the Suntail.

Milestone: Private Pilot!

After about 9 months, 55 flight hours, and around $6,000 (estimating, I haven't added everything up yet) I am finally a private pilot. Working around the runway closures at my base airport, I took my check ride this past Monday on a typically gusty north Texas day. It wasn't my best flying, considering the conditions, but I passed!

With training done I will have quite a bit more time and money to work on the RV. I'm still working to get this thread caught up with my actual progress.

__________________
Zach Miller
RV-7 Empennage

Forward top skin tip ...RV-8

I fitted the top skin before cutting out the panel for the baggage door. While fitting I took the left over angle from rolling the lower fuselage skin to make a couple of hold bars between the firewall and the next aft bulkhead. This holds everything aligned for baggage door and cowl fitup.

May 4, 2018.   Issue #4,558.
  Heads up N. Texas, TFR Friday...VIP movement.  Milestone this weekend: Met my wife on 5/5 back in 1984 - 34 years ago.  Nickel beer night (the mullet apparently irresistible).  We're celebrating the anniversary trying to figure out what the cost will be on our first colonoscopies (she and I both 52).  Our self-employed insurance is <expletive> - asking them the question 'How much will my colonoscopy cost me?' apparently requires a Cray supercomputer and a Manhattan Project sized team of scientists.  An hour on the phone with them produced no answer.  Frustrating.
  Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled colonoscopy...I mean weekend.  Sorry, dealing with a lotta shit here. (badump)
  [ed. Update: Email from Steven B.  Try this.  Flat rate.  Steven, thank you! dr]
 

Cedar Meadows RV-12 PIREP ...Vlad the traveller

Today two RV12 landed at Cedar Meadows.  [ed. Fly-in May 26. dr] Dave and Mark followed me all the way from PA and MD good job guys! Landed long and still were able to stop at the middle of 3,000 feet runway. Come back and show them some attendance. <g>

RV-8 Back Seat Stick Base Cover ...Ron RV8

Pretty easy to do in aluminum. Do a card stock stretch-out first... I took out the drink holder, too much chance of water bottle interference with the stick... Water bottle now lays forward of the cover, still accessible....

Carb Update: Problem Solved ...todehnal RV-12

Well, I'm pretty sure that I have found my problem as well. First, a few more details.

After reading everything that i could find on the subject, all things pointed to the cards, and that included suggestions from Rotax gurus. I ordered the small carb kits from Lockwood, and when they arrived, I went to work. By the way, like many things, the scary part of the job was the unknown. After watching a few videos, and reading up on the process, I set up a very clean area with lots of light an a magnifying glass. It was really pretty straight forward, and to be honest, I didn't find the smoking gun. There was a little black residue hear and there which cleaned off nicely. Oh, I guess the choke works a bit smoother now.

After re-installing the carbs and doing a run up, the roughness was still there on Ignition A, and with all of the black plugs, I was still unable to identify the bad cylinder. So much for carbs being the problem. Everything that I read stated that ignition component failure is very rare, but I thoroughly did a physical inspection again of all ignition connections. I tugged on every connector, seated every plug, and verified that there were no broken or chafed parts.

So, I ran it up again and had the same roughness but this time I kept it up at about 3600 rpm, putting up with the roughness for a couple of minutes and the did a radical shutdown. This time I could detect that cylinder 1 plugs were worse. .On a whim, and really not expecting anything good to come of it, I dig out the old plugs, picked the best looking two and put them in cylinder 1.

Wow! It was like magic! So I did the carb balance and everything looks good. Bottom line, I guess I had replaced a bad spark plug with a fresh out of the box bad spark plug. Thanks for everyone's help. ..........Tom

14A Status Report ...didja

Currently nearly completed with the tail cone. Started Nov 1st of 2017. I am expecting my wing kit to arrive in about a week or two!!!

May/June FAA Safety Briefing Online

7A Rebirthing Update ...kentlik

So the weather has been far too cold to cut acrylic. I have since moved to skirting work:

Here are the side skirts:

RV Interiors Press Release ...Rich Meske

"Take advantage of the Spring and plan to add one of our interior packages to your aircraft. We are offering interiors for models RV-6, RV-7, and RV-9. Other aircraft are possible as well. Choose your own materials and we will make your seats, armrests, and stick boots. The seats feature an inflatable lumbar support. An optional EZ-Step can be incorporated in the seat. It is a convenient place for a person to put their foot upon entering the aircraft. See this feature along with our newest products at aircraftextras.com."

May 3, 2018.   Issue #4,557.
Heads up N. Texas, TFR Friday...VIP movement.
 

West Coast Ravens at Beale Air Force Air Show ...360* video (huh?)

...clip sent to me by AX-O.  If you have a smart phone or tablet you can 'look around' during playback by moving your phone.  If your browser supports it on your desktop you can change your view by dragging your mouse.

I wonder if you'll do what I did - move the phone to follow lead pitch up and over to the right, then spin around to AX-O's head and watch him alternate attention between the other three planes and his panel as he gets configured for landing.  Neat video!!!

Gentle Reminder from the Mothership RE: FAA Registration

"It appears that a few members in our community need a gentle reminder that a paper trail of ownership needs to be on file before an 8050-2 Aircraft Bill of Sale can be issued by Van’s for any RV aircraft. A plane may be comprised of kits purchased from several different individuals, and as long as there is documentation in the form of bill of sales in the file for each component, an 8050-2 Aircraft Bill of Sale can be issued. If the documentation does not exist, then the builder will need to contact the FAA and register it using an original make and model of his or her own device."

RV-Lancair Brotherhood Day ...snopercod

Today, Darwin and I flew to Hickory for a cheesburger. There's a great little burger joint right in the terminal. As an added bonus, there's also an air museum there. The docents told us there's having a "grand opening" of the P-3 Orion on the 19th featuring the retired Admiral [?] who used to be in charge of the entire fleet of sub hunters. Burgers and hot dogs will be served.

I'm now an owner -)

Hi everyone. Thought I would introduce myself. After a lot of searching which almost felt like a quest at times, I am proud to officially join the VANS community as an owner.

My first build was a Sonex. The goal was to see if I liked owning and building. One of those was proved true, I love owning my own plane. The other, not so much. I love spending my time in the air, no question about that.

The search for an RV took the better part of a year. After a several failed attempts, followed by a failed pre-buy, my luck changed and a perfect bird popped up not far from my home base.

Thanks to Vic for all the help and time over the past year. I have learned a lot and look forward to learning from everyone.

I am now a proud owner of an RV-9A tip up powered by an O-320. I've logged 14 hours in the past week and couldn't be happier. So glad to be a Vans owner. Hope to meet some of you at Oshkosh this year. ...snip
__________________
Cheers, Josh
N62KG RV9-A

Another small step ...RepmikeBrown

Actually got to take her out for a stroll around the the ramp for first time. A little fuel and taxi back

Improving wingtip fit?

As I'm trial fitting the wingtips, and especially when adding the rib, it looks like there is noticeable distortion when riveting the curved tip to a flat rib. I'm considering filling in that gap with epoxy/flox mix. Anyone else try this, or see potential problems?  more pics

RV flyin at Ramona (KRNM )

Just a reminder the Ramona RV flyin BBQ is May 5, 10-2pm.  Always great to see a bunch of beautiful RVs on the ramp at one time, Checkout the flier or contact me for info.

Ongoing Maintainence ...Piper J3 RV-12

It looks like most ignition mounting bracket failures are the stubby 90 degree brackets on the back of the ignition coils. I have not had this failure, but now at my latest oil change (325TT), I noticed the long front bracket has failed just below the 90 degree bend. This is PN 29 in the attached drawing. The bracket is 0.080” Stainless Steel. I have fabricated a new bracket from 1/8” mild steel and added 1/8” to the overall width for additional strength.

Attached photos show broken bracket and 1st iteration of new bracket to test fit. A second more professional bracket is now installed on the engine

Do you know where I can get one of these?

...asking for a bud.  I started a thread. 

6th (sort of) annual Cedar Meadows fly-in VA/WV ...May 26

Saturday May 26
Cedar Meadows Airpark, located between Winchester, VA and Martinsburg, WV
Runway information: We are not on sectional charts, but Highview Farms (61VA) is about 1 mile SE. RW 9/27 Left traffic.
3000 X 80 good turf. Pattern Altitude 1500. Monitor 122.9
Runway condition is suitable for "A" models. ALL aircraft welcome.
Wi-Fi available. Not broadband, but acceptable.
Schedule: Open at 9am. Food from 11am to 1 pm. Free lunch. Menu TBD.
Formation demonstration courtesy Dragon Flight at approximately 11am. Chicken bombing contest at 1pm.
Restroom on site.
Overnight camping allowed. Adult beverages begin at 5pm (or earlier) Probably grill again for dinner.

May 2, 2018.   Issue #4,556.

RV Hotel List Updated and Current

PH Aviation Flap Actuator Install in a RV-7

Yesterday I finished the installation of a PH Aviation flap actuator. This is a short post of the fabrication and installation process. As the website states, it's not a direct replacement. But it was easy nonetheless

I first learned about this new actuator by reading this thread on VAF.
Here's the website where I purchased the actuator. First thing I did was email Pat Hatch with some questions. Pat answered really fast and was easy to communicate with.

So the installation... Pat's instructions were for a RV-6. After looking the plans over, I decided the edge distance for the pivot bolt hole in the bracket was a little too skinny for my tastes. So I did a little redesign.

I basically used some of the methods Van's uses for their actuator and combined that with the RV-6 plans...shook it up a little and came out with a nice installation. I kept the geometry the same as the plans for the -6, so I didn't have to reinvent the wheel and could use the rest of their plan guidelines.

Just to get orientated, here's a photo from Pat's website showing the difference between the Van's installation compared to theirs.
Pat's is on the right, Van's on the left.  ...

David Paule RV-3B Status Report