RV-8 "Moody Rosie", B-KOO, Hong Kong

[HighSchoolBuilders]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

English is mandatory in high school in HK, so that is not an issue for them. We do have to teach them measurement in inches/feet. Things like AN426AD3-3.5, we tell them what does the numbers mean and they apply that in their practice kit.

This project has became their pride and getting into the project is competitive. I only have tools for 20 students, so I can't take everyone in. When they do get in, they are really into it and take it seriously, I am very proud of them.

GA is extremely limited in HK. There are only 2 airports, one is the international airport, equivalent to the class B in the U.S.; The other airport is the military airport which allows weekend flying only, minus bad weather and military exercise closure, there isn't much days you can fly GA in a year.

Experimental/Homebuilt does not exist. There were many case of builders fail to get thru the red tape and force to take their project home. When I approach the school, I took a gamble to promise them the aircraft WILL fly, it took us 4 years to breakthrough that red tape and we are granted one traffic pattern.....yes you heard me right, one traffic pattern! After that, we do not have the right to fly in Hong Kong again.

As much as I would like to protest, I don't want to jeopardize what might be the only opportunity for the student to see their work take flight. We are baby-stepping, I am sure more opportunities will knock on our door when we have a successful first flight.

One thing I learnt from the project, is you can't wait for everything to line up nicely before you take the step, just have to deal with challenges as it comes.

Will post more photos later....

[rv6ejguy]

Thanks for filling in the gray areas Hank. You have done an amazing job organizing this whole build given the difficulties and red tape challenges. Keep up the great work and we all hope the powers that be allow more than one flight when you are all done.

[pierre smith]

Perhaps the "Powers-that-be" should be invited now and become befriended with them. Then invite them to watch the first flight and discuss the dependability, the quality construction and so on.

After all, Fernando Abasolo managed to fight for the right to fly IFR in experiments, in Chile and it is now allowed.

Best,

[sergioam2009]

Dear Cheng,
I?m eagerly waiting for updates to this fascinating story. The school year has restarted in Hong Kong? Please keep us posted. (My HK ID # is P842***(4) )

[HighSchoolBuilders]

It must be a busy year when it felt like yesterday when I posted my last update on the project. It was indeed an extremely busy year to get the aircraft ready to fly. I am extremely fortunate to have a fellow pilot from my airline to join the building effort. Geoff from Australia built 2 RVs before, with his knowledge, he saved the project both time and money from potential traps and hurdles. On a sad note, Michael Tam, a friend who helped the project since the beginning, past away in a car accident. He was the electrical guru and extremely skilled pilot, the electrical system was his "baby" and it was completed the night before his departure.

One positive aspect of moving from the school to the maintenance hanger, is that the project attracted a lot of interest from local engineers and mechanics. The project was at the stage where their skill and knowledge comes into play, and I can't ask for a better sets of hands to help out.

The aircraft is now almost completed and ready for her first engine run. Our next hurdle is how to bring the aircraft back down to the ground from our roof top workshop....


Building the ADAHRS Rack


ADAHRS wiring and lines routing


Pitot/AOA Probe Plumbing


Probe testing


using a tester from the maintenance facility that I can't afford otherwise


Panel Planning


Panel for real!


Michael powering up the panel for the first time, it works!


Building the avionic rack


Canopy cutting. We waited for the summer of Hong Kong where temperature does not go below 90F.

[HighSchoolBuilders]

It was easier than I thought but can't let the guard down


Clean cut


We went the Sikaflex route and am happy with the result


I am surprise they sell them here in Hong Kong, and cheap! less than $10USD a tube!


Canopy Skirt went on okay, on and off countless time for trimming


Engine arrived!


Looks new!


Geoff in his element


Baffling was probably the most annoying part of the build, Titan didn't make it easy with the tapered cooling fin, we modified the Van's baffle kit so that it will contour the fins to allow max cooling.


Begin to look like an airplane

[HighSchoolBuilders]

A brand new Catto RV8 Prop, sponsored by Catto prop! Took delivery when I operated to SFO and visited Craig's workshop. Many many thanks to Catto Prop for their generosity and support!


Problem.....


Problem solved


Arrived safely!


Love the three blades prop!


Tim is an engineer by trade, but he is a natural born artist. He drew this cutaway of our RV8 hoping it will raise the fund we need for our first flight. The insurance alone for our first flight at the international airport is $11,000USD (yes, that's for one flight only).


This is the draft only.


Painting day! Engineers gave instruction to the student on the basics of painting and safety equipment




Try on smaller parts before going big

[HighSchoolBuilders]

First homebuilt registration in Hong Kong: B-KOO


Almost there!

[JordanGrant]

Great work! I can't wait to see the video of the first flight - and then the second one, too!

[Snowflake]

Wow, that went together fast! Nice work everyone!

Looks like the name changed from "Moody Rosie" to "Inspiration"?