RV formation (record attempt) over Chiefs-Raiders Football game 2013

[Mark Dickens]

I got a chill up my spine watching the video and listening to the engines...amazing, just amazing! Fantastic job!

[rvmills]

So how do you make pink smoke, you ask?

Well the smart guys at KC Flight have put a lot of effort into making this a reality. They sourced smoke canisters, then built brackets to fit their RVs. In the past 2 years of the NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Flyovers, they have fabricated at least 70 sets of smoke brackets. Mav (Richard White, RV Builder, A&P/IA) is the mastermind and lead on that effort. He welds them, paints them and fits them to each RV...custom fit! The entire KC Flight team works hard with Mav to make this happen.

The brackets are attached to the wingtip via the last 4 wingtip screws on the top and bottom of each tip. The measurements to those holes is the custom fit part. This picture shows Dula's tip in flight (same one Mike posted). There is a flat flange on the top and bottom of the wingtip, with a felt pad, through which the screws are placed. Then 2 small connecting pipes run aft and slightly outboard to the canister receptacles. All welded in place on a jig, then custom drilled, then painted. Tons of work for the KC Flight guys. There is also a small, adjustable flange that fits on the trailing edge of the wingtip for security and stability. You can see those in the 2nd and 3rd pictures.


The canisters slide in the receptacle (tight fit), and are cotter-keyed in the front loop of the receptacle


The wire to the firing squib comes out of the back of the canister, and most of us run that to a connection to the Nav lights. Some used small DB connectors, some used molex connectors, and some ran a pigtail from their outside mount Nav lights, and just twisted the wires. Everything gets taped down nice and tidy. This pic shows Stephen Cristopher's bracket ready to be wired (the wire to the squib is very long, its just stuffed in the tube till he cut it to length, wired it up and taped it down).


To activate the smoke canisters, the call from BeeGee was "Nav lights on...off". The draw is miliamps, but we don't want to run 12V continuous through the small squib wires and connectors...that's why the "off" part of the call is there. The canisters are a one-shot deal. Once on, they smoke for 2 minutes...no off switch available.

Its a really neat little set up, and KC Flight has done Pink, Red/White/Blue, and even Yellow/Black (for Sprint Cup). Hats off the KC boys for some real creativity with this!

They have manufacturing pics too...maybe Ripper will share some of those too...neat stuff!

Cheers,
Bob

[N941WR]

Just an outstanding effort by everyone!

That is a lot of work, getting enough qualified pilots, getting them and their planes at the same place at the correct time, getting the smoke canisters made up, wired up, and functioning.

Congrats to all!

[Rotorheadrob]

Good Job everybody.

Looked Great, despite the wind.

PINK skies!

[crabandy]

"This site strives to be a stress-free, civil place for fans of Van's RV kitplanes to virtually network and solve building issues. The goal is that when you finish your RV and fly places, and meet in person the people you have talked with here, you will already kind of know them. First and foremost this site is about good people."

Thanks to RVMills for the invite, not to mention riding along on the afternoon practice flight! Amazing experience and amazing people!!

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by crabandy

Thanks to RVMills for the invite, not to mention riding along on the afternoon practice flight! Amazing experience and amazing people!!

Not to mention an amazing plane

[Pat Hatch]

Originally Posted by crabandy

Great photo of Bob Mills and his plane! Got to hand it to you guys, quite a feat! Beautiful flight, great fan reaction! (Bob, I like that seal you have on your canopy rail there! )

[N54SG]

Since I don't have an RV here in Kansas City I am a bit of an outcast! haha

Instead of being in the formation, my wife and I got to dress the formation prior to going over the stadium. Here is my perspective starting 2 minutes prior to pink smoke on!

http://youtu.be/G_p-R2i13HU

I am having to locate the problem plane, then find them on the diagram to get their call sign, then dress them on the radio, while looking up. Definitely some of the coolest flying I have ever done!

[Geico266]

Very cool indeed.

[WishIHadOne]

Living in Lees Summit I saw some of the practice and then the "pre-game" warm ups. Couldn't help but think "This must have been what some Europeans heard and saw during the war." Just a massive amount of planes getting ready for their run blocked up in groups of 4. Really a cool sight. Even cooler however was the return to base. Stood at my shop and watched a beautiful ballet of Flight of the Bumble Bee, as all the groups headed north and then broke right for the sweeping approach turn. Kuddos fellas...