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What did you do with your RV this weekend? (5/13-14/2023)

Brakes

My friend and I bled the brakes. See details in my VAF build log. (Search pilotjohns on VAF)

They say when you run out of things to do, it will be time to fly.
 

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Checking out some scenery in the Cascades just south of Concrete Wa (3W5) after meeting some new friends there ... what weather!!!
 

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72 platenuts

Installed 72 platenuts for mounting wingtips. That’s 144 rivets w/countersinks for those counting. I think I’ve got the burning desire to install platenuts officially out of my system!
 

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Lasers!

Lasers make everything better!

Time for condition inspection, and was trying to find a good way to check timing since my starter doesn't have a timing mark. I used a laser level to transfer the case split line over the baffles to the back of the starter ring -- picked up the idea from another VAFer.

Surprisingly easy to hack together with spare wood in the hangar ... and it showed that that the timing was more advanced than desired, about 27 degrees. A couple quick mag bumps and we were back in spec.

Passing along some photos in case it will help out you all...
 

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Overhead break

Practicing the "overhead break" - looks like I started a little early.

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Lasers make everything better!

Time for condition inspection, and was trying to find a good way to check timing since my starter doesn't have a timing mark. I used a laser level to transfer the case split line over the baffles to the back of the starter ring -- picked up the idea from another VAFer.

Works great. I have been doing it exactly like that for 15 years.
 
Hit a Milestone

After 18 years of flying N339A, we've crossed the 2000 hour threshold! That calculates to 111.111 Hours per year. In that time we've managed to fly to all the lower 48 states, Canada and five islands in the Caribbean.

Landing at 276 different airports. Not bad for my garage built airplane with a used H2AD engine, which now has 2780 hours on it. :)

vzBEiztJ1RDa4rCZTvTkTmCVUHo2rRsfM6AhOVKcfvfzMcnWa319diDj8lxqyyQkoW8_ft0WWaAy9RIy4Wi-ruCLBkwjI9w-xeDgWqIfS-v8AKnJdEGSO_EIqO9JNpDqwsm9d_y06_g=w800
 
After 18 years of flying N339A, we've crossed the 2000 hour threshold! That calculates to 111.111 Hours per year. In that time we've managed to fly to all the lower 48 states, Canada and five islands in the Caribbean.

Landing at 276 different airports. Not bad for my garage built airplane with a used H2AD engine, which now has 2780 hours on it. :)

Quite the milestone. Congrats Scott!
 
Wing tip nutplates....

Installed 72 platenuts for mounting wingtips. That’s 144 rivets w/countersinks for those counting. I think I’ve got the burning desire to install platenuts officially out of my system!

Oh, that brought back some (?pleasant) memories! I did the same thing and am glad I did. I have had the wing tips off several times, including putting in the wing tip lighting system. Screws make it a much easier job....
 

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Priming the firewall.
 

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'ArlingtonRV' and I flew our two RV-8s to Westport (14S) on Saturday for pizza and salad. On the way back we flew up the Pacific coast past Ocean Shores and over Copalis State Airport (S16) which is on the beach.

'ArlingtonRV' preflighting after lunch at Westport (14S):

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The city of Ocean Shores on the Pacific Ocean. The old Ocean Shores airport used to cut through the golf course at the lower left corner of the pic. On final you had to watch for golfers and golf carts cutting across the runway. The airport was closed many years ago and a new Ocean Shores Airport (W04) was built on the east side of the peninsula facing Grays Harbor. A much longer walk to the Ocean.

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Five airplanes at the Copalis State beach airport (S16):

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And our homedrome (KAWO) received fresh runway striping last Thursday. Note the towplane and sailplane combination airborne over the north glider grass on the right side of the pic, and an airplane climbing out midfield RWY 34:

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Couple of months ago I got my instrument rating.

So it's only natural that I should be able to create my own IMC.

Aluminum smoke oil tank fitted behind the pax seat. Quick-release self sealing hydraulic fitting on the firewall and power taken from a 12V lighter socket means the whole thing is removable in a few minutes when I'm not using it.

Also got 15 years worth of paint touchups, cowls and wings are shiny as the day they were new.

Great thanks to the tender ministrations of Lyndon Tretheway.

IFR on the way home. Nice arrival in Sydney through SCT CU and light showers over the Blue Mountains and the western part of the city, well timed because it became more or less impenetrable about an hour later.

ATC told me to slow down for sequencing. Didn't know that was allowed in an RV :)

- mark
 

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Another couple of hours flown off my phase 1 and also oil change number 2 on my new engine. I installed the K&P reusable oil filter. Only 1.4 hours until I hit 40!!
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Mother's Day flight :)

My sister and her husband brought my folks over for lunch today. After celebrating Mother's Day with family, I took my mom for her first flight in my RV. She is 83 and had a great time! She is very claustrophobic and initially had concerns, but once she got in, she had no issues in the 7A. It was an awesome flight! :)
 

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Couple of months ago I got my instrument rating.

So it's only natural that I should be able to create my own IMC.

Aluminum smoke oil tank fitted behind the pax seat. Quick-release self sealing hydraulic fitting on the firewall and power taken from a 12V lighter socket means the whole thing is removable in a few minutes when I'm not using it.

Also got 15 years worth of paint touchups, cowls and wings are shiny as the day they were new.

Great thanks to the tender ministrations of Lyndon Tretheway.

IFR on the way home. Nice arrival in Sydney through SCT CU and light showers over the Blue Mountains and the western part of the city, well timed because it became more or less impenetrable about an hour later.

ATC told me to slow down for sequencing. Didn't know that was allowed in an RV :)

- mark

Great to hear you're having fun. They're a neat cross-country machine and even better that you can create your own clouds.

How do you cope with the smell of the Smoke Oil inside the cabin? Especially on a hot Sydney day. I'd love to have smoke but not sure I could handle it.

I often visit Bankstown Airport - my employer is located there. Not seen your machine that I can recall but occasionally see an RV scoot past the window. I'll be sure to keep a lookout for you in future.
 
Went for a scenic cruise along the entire length of the New Jersey shore.
 

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To - From CSE4

Did a quick 2 day trip to a friend's place in Lachute, QC.
Strong winds all week-end and no luck as it shifted from NW to N the next day so we had 15-20 Kts on the nose going to and coming back...
Light to moderate turbulence included with 10 - 12 Kts crosswind landings at no extra charge... :rolleyes:
Most important, we had a great time with our friends (RV builder as well).
 

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Speaking of clouds, gotta go get my IPC done!

Checked the weather, checked the Fishline App, decided Saturday would be perfect to go get some $100 Halibut at Half Moon Bay.

Launched out of Minden, got to the coast an hour later. Dang it if there wasn't a marine layer just west of the runway that went all the way to Hawaii, and a 1 degree dew point spread. Nope, not gonna land and get stuck, flew back home. :(

Gorgeous view of the Bay Area, though, thanks to an accommodating clearance through the Class Bravo from NorCal Approach.
 
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Had to stir the oil and charge the battery while isolating a random ignition problem.
 

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How do you cope with the smell of the Smoke Oil inside the cabin? Especially on a hot Sydney day. I'd love to have smoke but not sure I could handle it.

I haven't had any hot Sydney days since Saturday, so that'll have to be my little voyage of discovery.

I have the system for airshow display flying. When I'm not using it, it'll be on a shelf in the hangar. RV-6's are W&B challenged enough that I don't want to spend my whole life flying around with an extra 20kg in the back when I don't need it.

I often visit Bankstown Airport - my employer is located there. Not seen your machine that I can recall but occasionally see an RV scoot past the window. I'll be sure to keep a lookout for you in future.

There's a small flock of us at Bankstown. Couple of RV-10s, couple of RV-7s, my RV-6.

Ping me next time you're coming, we can line up a fun weekend if you're in the area.

- mark
 
+2 more hours on the Hobbs for Phase 1. I’ve been testing my new AHRS mount and doing more of my “sawtooth climb” v-speed testing.

Took a break from testing to head over to Stockton to do some touch and goes.

Photo is of my favorite ground visual reference inside my usual test area!
 

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Cheers

Ryan, good to see you flying your machine. You provided a lot of good insight and questions to the group during your build. Fly on!
 
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