I can report that another RV-10 has joined the ranks of flying birds. N784JC took flight from Clarion, Pennsylvania, on May 6 and performed even better than expected. It flew straight, hands off, and the only squawk was a small seep of oil from the engine.
What a rush. Here is the mandatory
first flight video. I have additional in-cockpit footage, and will produce something much better when I find the time......
One of the wonderful aspects of experimental aviation is the opportunity to shape an airplane that reflects our own priorities and tastes, and to that end, my RV is simple and light, but built with attention to detail. Empty weight, including oil and interior but unpainted, is 1563 lbs, powerplant is the usual IO-540 / Hartzell combo, and avionics are built around a Garmin G3X system. Construction time was 6-1/2 years of chipping away on a slow-build kit. Mike Seager provided valuable transition training and Wayne Gillispie was my go-to person when I had questions. Vans staff provided valuable support on the few occasions that something didn’t line up right. Building this airplane was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I thank Van’s for providing us with such an opportunity.
I began construction the year before my twin sons were born, so they have been raised with an airplane in the garage.
The boys spent most evenings in the shop with me, building their own little projects alongside the airplane or sitting in the seats, flying to destinations in their imaginations. Many evenings I spent more time tending to the boys than actually working on the airplane, but it made the work a true family project. Our family enjoys long-cross country explorations by airplane, and we have crisscrossed the continent a number of times in our old Skyhawk. The RV-10 will allow us to fly to distant locations with relative ease, and leave us with more time for exploring when we get there!
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