RV-9A #91894 Bruce Hill - Page 9

EDog · #81 12-02-2013, 09:26 AM

Lets get that thing moved to The airport and ready for flight!

bruceh · #82 12-08-2013, 06:39 PM

Big day today. I got the fuselage moved to the airport with some help from Eddy (EDog). I ended up having to call a flat bed tow truck to do the hauling. The trailer I thought would work was about 5" too narrow for the gear. The tow truck worked out great. Took less than an hour from start to finish and only cost me $100.

Safely in the hangar. Ready to begin final assembly.

crabandy · #83 12-08-2013, 06:41 PM

Congrats, getting closer!

rockwoodrv9 · #84 12-08-2013, 07:18 PM

Good deal Bruce. Getting to the airport is a big deal!

jpharrell · #85 12-08-2013, 08:56 PM

Way to go Bruce! That is a big step toward getting in the air. I will be watching for your big day.

bruceh · #86 12-16-2013, 04:48 PM

Got some time in over the weekend to start putting the tail pieces on the fuselage. I fitted and drilled the tail pieces probably 2 years prior, but this time I can start messing around with fitting the empennage fairing.

HS is on there for good, but the pitch trim servo wires need to be routed. The VS will probably need to come off so I can get the nutplates on for the empennage fairing mounts.

The initial fairing fit was pretty bad.

After doing some trimming, sanding and massaging with the heat gun, it started to lay down much nicer.

It still bows out on the other side around the VS, so I will need to do some cutting, filling and fiberglass layups to get this fairing looking nice. Hopefully, it will fit nice enough to eliminate some of the many screws that Van's calls out in the plans.

bret · #87 12-17-2013, 06:09 AM

That is not a Vans emp fairing is it? I had so mush fun with mine, I hope yours goes easier!

rzbill · #88 12-17-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceh

The initial fairing fit was pretty bad.

Nice work Bruce! Remember FLOX is your friend

bruceh · #89 12-22-2013, 06:11 PM

Passed my flight review yesterday! I hadn't flown at all in 22 years, so getting back into flying took a few sessions with my CFI. It took about 4 hours of flight time in a Cessna 172. I had never flown this type of aircraft before, so it took about an hour to get the basic processes down pat, then another hour of doing all of the basic maneuvers and stalls. Finished off with lots of touch and go landings to get my coordination of controls working again. After the holidays I will get in some solo time, then some more work with the CFI to get familiar with the local airspace around San Diego and visit some of the other airports nearby.
The flying club has a Citabria, and I think the next step will be to get checked out in that and start working on my tailwheel endorsement even though I'm building a nose gear model. That should get me up above 150 hours and ready for some RV transition training.

rockwoodrv9 · #90 12-22-2013, 07:50 PM

Bruce, great news. Makes me feel like there is hope for me too. I haven't flown as PIC in as long as you were out of the left seat. Great you were able to get back in the saddle in only a few hours. The trick now is to not get over confident - at least that is my worry for me!!

Good idea on the tail wheel time. I have flown in a Kitfox several times and I was surprised how easy it landed. I don't know how the RV compares to the Kitfox as far as landing but I think the speed on the RV is quite a bit higher. Getting some tail wheel time can be nothing but good.

Have fun!