alpinelakespilot2000
Well Known Member
After 2500+ hours over 7.25 years of building, RV-9 N817HS finally left the ground at about 7:30 Friday evening at Bowers Field, Ellensburg, WA. After a brief 20-minute flight, first flight pilot Bill White had no issues to report other than it flew great and that, perhaps, the Catto prop might be a bit underpitched. No wing heaviness, no engine issues, nothing. I can live with that!
Although not previously reported, I received my pink slip in mid May with the help of DAR Gary Brown out of Independence, OR. It took nearly a month to fit in the first flight b/c my first flight pilot is also a crop duster who flies every day that's nice. Added to that, my home airport is in one of the windiest airports in the state, and not all that conducive to first flights. However, on Friday afternoon, the stars aligned, and after a brief taxi, Bill said it was time to fly, so he did. Although I would have liked to have been the first one to fly it, prudence dictated otherwise and, in the end, it was pretty cool just being able to (kind of) relax and watch my creation fly. I've never doubted I would finish, have never ever contemplated selling the project, but seeing my own airplane fly is still pretty cool! Am really looking forward to taking it up myself sometime later this week after a thorough post-flight inspection.
Many thanks to those on this site, both those who know they've helped me and those who might not. Thanks especially to Doug for creating this great site. Having been around when VAF was still on the Yahoo groups, and having survived the heated debate over why Doug should not have switched from the Yahoo group format to the current one (remember that, Doug?!), I can honestly say that my plane is much better for Doug and the VAF community.
Because it was later in the evening, and relatively unplanned (only in the sense that we unexpectedly had time to do it before sunset) I didn't have time to call my photographer or videographer, and so I had to take a few pictures myself. They're not the greatest, but they'll do. More updates, questions, and (I'm sure) obstacles to come!
Takeoff...
And landing...
Although not previously reported, I received my pink slip in mid May with the help of DAR Gary Brown out of Independence, OR. It took nearly a month to fit in the first flight b/c my first flight pilot is also a crop duster who flies every day that's nice. Added to that, my home airport is in one of the windiest airports in the state, and not all that conducive to first flights. However, on Friday afternoon, the stars aligned, and after a brief taxi, Bill said it was time to fly, so he did. Although I would have liked to have been the first one to fly it, prudence dictated otherwise and, in the end, it was pretty cool just being able to (kind of) relax and watch my creation fly. I've never doubted I would finish, have never ever contemplated selling the project, but seeing my own airplane fly is still pretty cool! Am really looking forward to taking it up myself sometime later this week after a thorough post-flight inspection.
Many thanks to those on this site, both those who know they've helped me and those who might not. Thanks especially to Doug for creating this great site. Having been around when VAF was still on the Yahoo groups, and having survived the heated debate over why Doug should not have switched from the Yahoo group format to the current one (remember that, Doug?!), I can honestly say that my plane is much better for Doug and the VAF community.
Because it was later in the evening, and relatively unplanned (only in the sense that we unexpectedly had time to do it before sunset) I didn't have time to call my photographer or videographer, and so I had to take a few pictures myself. They're not the greatest, but they'll do. More updates, questions, and (I'm sure) obstacles to come!
Takeoff...
And landing...
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