RV-4 dust award

[xblueh2o]

Originally Posted by Jstov

The gentelman I purchased it from flew it here was going to repaint it and fix a few things on it. Unfortunately he had a botched eye surgery shortly after he started working on it and stopped flying. He was an ATP guy flying for delta so he lost his job at the same time.

And that right there is why I will continue to just wear glasses thank you very much.

Great "barn find". Best of luck with it. Should be fun.

[Jstov]

I do have some decisions to make. I will probably do a full inspection, fix a few things, rebuild engine and go fly. I am lucky the airport I am at is a very active home building environment. There is multiple rv builders there including one 4 builder. I have never built a plane but my father has a Jabiru powered Sonex and I also have a J-3. I do all the work on both the planes and in return get full access to the Sonex. I am used to light controlled aircraft and already have the formation/aerobatics bug!

[smokyray]

Originally Posted by Jstov

I do have some decisions to make. I will probably do a full inspection, fix a few things, rebuild engine and go fly. I am lucky the airport I am at is a very active home building environment. There is multiple rv builders there including one 4 builder. I have never built a plane but my father has a Jabiru powered Sonex and I also have a J-3. I do all the work on both the planes and in return get full access to the Sonex. I am used to light controlled aircraft and already have the formation/aerobatics bug!

J,
First, congrats!
I was bitten by the RV4 bug with a perusal of a Kitplanes magazine in our F16 Squadron Intel vault in 1988. Bought a tail kit on faith, never having even seen an actual RV4. 26 years later and three RV types back I have learned a couple of things. Here is some advice from the cheap seats:

1. Buy a set of plans if you haven't already: https://www.vansaircraft.com/public/manuals.htm

2. Draft a operators manual as well, here's a good sample from Dayton: http://www.vansairforce.net/poh/rv4_dayton.pdf

3. Have an experienced RV IA help you with the C.I.

Questions?

V/R
Smokey
smokyray@rocketmail.com

[Paul K]

Great find! I am forever amazed at how long some people will pay monthly hangar rent while their bird collects dust!

[Jstov]

Thanks smokey great advice. I have already ordered the plans hopefully they will come in this week. I looked at that operators manual, great example and very well thought out. I think Piper and Cessna should also look at it they might learn something. The guys around the airport are great and a good buddy of mine is a very thorough a&p so I shall be taking his advice on most things. I think I am going to pretty much start over and treat this plane like a fresh build. I am not going to be in a a hurry to get it flying as I have two other planes to fly. It needs rewiring for sure, builder used all automotive wire in it so that is a no go in my book. Smokey I heard you are in central Fla. I am at X59 Valkaria on east coast. If you are ever over this way let me know.
I can't imagine how much he has lost over the years paying hangar but it is substantial!
I am going to the airport early tomorrow to give her a wash and start on my plan of action. I will take some more photos once the 10 lbs of dust ballast is removed!

[jlisler]

This not the "Purple Passion" is it?

[Monkey]

Wow! I love stories like this! My 6 also was a 'barn find rebuild" after sitting for years! Looking foward to seeing the process. Please pay close attention to the fuel system as it probabaly has sloshed tanks. I would take the whole system apart including all the hard lines and selector to check for proper flares and restrictions. My 6 had slosh pieces wrapped around the pick-up tube inlets and some in the selector

[daddyman]

Great advice.
Resist the temptation to fix or upgrade everything. Only fix things that are broken or truly NFG.
Otherwise, you will pay to fix them more than once.
Wash it, inspect it, FLY THE **** out of it, then upgrade.
The paint looks good, yet I understand it is not yours until you make it so.

I've almost hit the 100 hr mark on my "Dream Flyer".
She is mine now.

Dues paid through June.

Daddyman

[ijustwannafly]

Very nice! I wish my luck were so good as to find something like that and be able to push her home! Congrats!

Post some more pics when you have the time. I would love to see the specs, avionics, and engine information

[Johnnybgoode]

Originally Posted by SHIPCHIEF

I say:
Scratch the big plans, inspect it carefully, fix what needs fixin' and GET FLYING!
Let 'Dusty' talk to you for a year before you start changing very much.
That year will provide you with much needed flight time.
That year of flight time will reveal the kind of mods you really would like, and push aside the impractical and expensive ones.
Good choice in aircraft!
My T-18 sat a mere 9 years before I bought it. It was similarly dusty, about 1 year less dust. It needed a complete inspection of the fuel system (9 year old mogas) and some fuel system parts. The rest of the plane was in surprising good condition. I changed the tires & tubes to be safe.
PS; Join an RV oriented EAA chapter, you will get the guidance you need, and maybe start aerobatics and/or formation flying.

Plus one on the advice given above!
Patrick