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Thanks guys! I know everyone says this but keep pounding rivets because the end result is so worth it. My best advise if you are a first time builder (like me) is to get as much technical help from tech counselors or experienced builders as possible. I was very fortunate to have access to a couple great counselors who checked things throughout and once I moved to the airport, stopped by many, many times to help and check things over. Also, can't say enough about using Vic Syracuse for my DAR as his knowledge of RVs and what/where to look for potential issues was invaluable. With all the help and insight, the first flight was actually not that stressful as I was 100% sure everything was airworthy and had been looked over many times by knowledgeable eyes.
 
Congrats!

Congratulations Chris!!!
Great accomplishment. The more you fly it the more you?ll love it.
 
Aft Fuselage Attach

So the other day I decided to attach the Aft Fuselage. I was able to do this by myself without any issues. Took just over 2 hours.
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Engine mount installed today and landing gear about to be mounted. My panel shipped today from Stein and the engine should be here in late June. Moving right along...
 
Some good progress over the last week or so. Engine mount and landing gear have been installed and the left wing went on (temporarily, of course) yesterday.

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N1402 is Officially an Airplane!

-814 Days (QB)
-Several Pints of Blood
-Gallons of Sweat
-Many Sleepless Nights
-Threw-in-the-towel (numerous times)
-Maybe even a few tears

100% satisfaction receiving my Airworthy Certificate!
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-814 Days (QB)
-Several Pints of Blood
-Gallons of Sweat
-Many Sleepless Nights
-Threw-in-the-towel (numerous times)
-Maybe even a few tears

100% satisfaction receiving my Airworthy Certificate!
MBHgJxxKsel7L4mJtFxJmLAxbxV-CCSs-JurngTQXLskafm7_K1sE25coVqGrzhseeKJXX8dJPdAEVfChw2xZvDjetS0HZ1D9-P7hDxSMZ-S7brS6MqhN8Pz8BVK2cRjIOHHhQuaPBJ0sZWVqL0BM_g4Y_1tgDgC72praKYmXVJ2VwTYu4DoZw418nNPXHTSk3umPVbIJm-GVeVO6jjIoxhBWvB39NK121cBltm-zeYWDlIr-slz8_SKceJnxLW-m8dc0U4nIoraq52rtaHFsRRjlNdEaUGlqBf3LASCZv5TNnCNcojhegW2ABBPkVxmmK-sC-TjrPSMNsTRvOTpdj7P__AtTILxdVcwT-Tr2WOCMgot7yf27xcjYOSLtr4C0HHsdd8txDfFUN0PfYZ7StrVzc8iZHX-0AsVsjbI_0cNSCRnAVRJXi7sRKlvq9kdOqwwZsczjaNogMJ1ejo_5z2vv3-yVfk6pBuaYbMNHM-nG9jEpPOEHCHP4zSWB50aB4EQ-742PwZ-XsSU9ZiHnEUPP1AcLNQij0kFOBiFc7O-qiDRkkR6mHokKVw5FiRZKerCA9d7C1cdhb_Q7bEKRvbEInx2SKl5KGPJp5mPugXsLO8VlWgICu3wxSxjLxFAu2g5vcij1Q9PSYldoUqQVUI3y1lTliOtTRv7VwXgq9o4TaU_Ofhi37WKvzSx1UdhWUyiFiw6gPTrCPrEw3Bj1RxIzi0l8xUaWWaZxhXYCuQlDPcp=w1065-h800-no

Big congrats!!

I'm looking forward to joining you a week from today...
 
Congratulations, Kevin!! I am so very happy for you! Visiting you and your build has given me ides, hope, and inspiration. I look forward to meeting you in the skies.

My first package from Advanced Flight Systems is due to arrive today. I can hardly wait!

Jeffrey Turner
N39JT on hold
 
-814 Days (QB)
-Several Pints of Blood
-Gallons of Sweat
-Many Sleepless Nights
-Threw-in-the-towel (numerous times)
-Maybe even a few tears

100% satisfaction receiving my Airworthy Certificate!

Ken, thanks for the ever important reminder of how much it's worth it. I'm deep into the sleepless nights/a few tears/towel throwing phase right now. But I'm way too far up this mountain to turn around now.
 
Big milestone for me

Finally looks a bit like an airplane.

After years of starting and stopping, I am getting momentum back into the project.

Fuselage kit is on order for a late September/Early October delivery.

I am trying to figure out if I need/should do Chapter 11 and 12 where you assemble the tail surfaces now or wait until near final assembly. Does anyone have any advice? I need the space, so if I mounted everything it would be temporary. Is that the intent of Chapter 11? Some of the steps seem like permanent steps.
 

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defer mounting tail feathers

I completed my emp kit first almost 5 years ago. Kept the h and v stabs and the rudder and elevators stored in cradles since then.

I mounted the stabs permanently a few weeks ago and have had the rudder and elevs on and off to finish the stab fairings.

Worked out fine not mounting the stabs for a few years. Just make good notes on what was deferred and exactly where all the smaller bits and pieces are stored for resurrection a long time later.
 
Finally feels like I'm going downhill

Or - light at end of tunnel doesn't appear to be moving away as fast, now one step forward no steps back.

Last two months has been doing all the prep to get to the Prekote step.

Started yesterday with Prekote on the fuse/horiz and vert stab+fairing, rudder, cowling halves, and wings followed by the epoxy primer coat. Then today two coats of white urethane base coat on those parts.

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Painting done

Finished de-masking this morning - all done, substantially complete. Will do touch-up and all the small fix-its during or after flight testing.

I expect to be ready for the final inspection before the end of 2020 (I thought I would be ready by end of 2019 a year ago). I'm more hopeful now.

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WOW Jeff! Looks beyond great! Can't wait to see it flying.

Rob T
RV-8 sold
RV-7 sold
Rv-8 flying
 
Looks great, Jeff! Can't wait to hear about upcoming 1st flight. We spoke last Sept at Triple Tree about our progress on the -14
 
Canopy Frame completed Starting on plexiglass.
 

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Never really finished, but this sure is close!!

First day and "last" day photos. October 2014 to September 2020. If you keep showing up and getting things done, you can end up with one of these too. Pretty cool...
 

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First day and "last" day photos. October 2014 to September 2020. If you keep showing up and getting things done, you can end up with one of these too. Pretty cool...

Very nice. Who did your paint?
 
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Yes - tell us who did the paint!!

First day and "last" day photos. October 2014 to September 2020. If you keep showing up and getting things done, you can end up with one of these too. Pretty cool...

Beautiful.
Very interested in who did your paint.
 
Finally finished the empennage sheet metal work with the final rivets in the tail cone assembly.

QB Wings and Fuselage are coming by the end of next month.

Should I do Section 11: Empennage Attach or wait until I get to the hangar? I can't leave everything assembled in my garage. I would have to assemble then disassemble.

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in the garage

I was at the same stage a couple of months ago, and decided to complete Chapter 11. I had to install/uninstall elevators several times to get everything adjusted correctly. Depending on your setup, that might be easier in you garage. There are a few holes to drill, but mostly it's a lot of putting together and taking apart. I didn't start on the fairings, but that would require having the tail assembled.
 
wait to assemble tail feathers on to emp

I am right at 6 years since starting and I waited until recently, after painting all of the parts, to assemble the stabs and rudder/elevators.

The emp with those parts attached do take up a lot of space and would make it difficult to move everything around unless you have lots of space to maneuver.
 
Fuse Almost Done!

Emp done.
Fuse Getting Close!
 

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I already have the side skins riveted on and the Vans handle installed. How would it be to do a retro fit?

It can be done. Careful measuring and cutting. All of the QB folks that want this must retrofit. Not to hard.
 

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I already have the side skins riveted on and the Vans handle installed. How would it be to do a retro fit?

The kit is designed for that. You just have to remove the lower bracket for the oem latch, then cut the holes, refit the bracket below the new latch, and your done.
 
It can be done. Careful measuring and cutting. All of the QB folks that want this must retrofit. Not to hard.

I've been debating the plain aluminum handle vs the red anodized version. Your photos have sold me on the red one ;)
 
My RV14A plane is a real airplane!

This morning, I flew 1.2 hours to reach the magical 40.0 hours I needed to leave Phase 1. All major issues sorted out. A handful of minor ones (example: canopy seals) left to do.

Bruce

2003 RV-8, bought, flown, sold
2007 RV-10, bought, flown, sold
2020 RV-14A, built, flying
 
Baggage Floor Done!

Man, I used to look forward to blind rivets. The baggage floor must have 20,000. At lease it seems so. My carpal tunnel syndrome is coming back, not to mention arthritis.

And, how many nut plates? I think there's 50. Doing this solo was challenging, but I got a bunch of 8-32 1/2" machine screws and attached each nut plate with the 8-32, then inserted the rivets and squeezed each one with the Numatx. Worked great and I didn't squash my finger once.:D
 

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Beringer Brakes Installed Today!

Slight upcharge for these brakes, but well worth it IMHO. All AN-3 and 3/8-24 fittings with armored teflon hose. Master cylinders are works of art as is the parking brake valve. The plastic tubing from Van's is probably fine, but I really like the robustness of the AN-3 fittings. Any potential leakage is pretty close to eliminated.

I also got the Andair Model 7 fuel valve with braided hose to the firewall. I just like the Left-Right-Off in the positions corresponding to where Left and Right actually are in the plane. I know.....I'm easily confused.
 

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Primed and Painted the SubPanel, etc

First application of the Sherwin Williams AcryGlo urethane primer and topcoat. This project is starting to feel like it might actually wind up as a flying machine!
 

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Engine Baffles

Attached the baffles, red cube and upgraded hoses from Aircraft Specialty.

The baffles fit really nicely- as advertised hardly any cutting required just a few small spots to file off for a good fit.

I’ve gone with the stock location for the red cube.

And the hoses from Steve are top notch. Really fit well and nice clean look.

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Thunderbolt IO-390 w/ Hartzell Raptor Prop - Hung

Hung my Thunderbolt IO-390 EXP119 a few months ago. This weekend I mounted the Hartzell Raptor Prop. I'll get more shots after I screw on spinner and remove the plastic - this is just a teaser. Thanks to Jeff and team at ThunderBolt for a beautiful engine.
 

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