What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

What did you do with your RV this weekend? (9/3-5/2022: Labor Day Weekend)

The Texas Sky is Ablaze

Last evening, I flew down to Georgetown TX to fly in a 6-ship formation fly-by with Falcon Flight for an Austin high school's football season opener. On the way back up to 52F, God lit the Texas sky ablaze for my enjoyment and wonderment. Had to share.

IMG_9106 (1).jpg
 
Flew to Syracuse NY to visit my mother and sister.

In the RV-8 it's an easy 1.5 hour ride.
 
The weather wasn't much good for flying so it was a good opportunity to install the LEMO plugs for my new ANR headsets, give the belly a clean, and tidy up a few small jobs which have been waiting for the proverbial "rainy day"...

The rest of the time was spent looking at the windsock, wishing it would rest for a bit instead of pointing east with such enthusiasm.
 
Third trip through Phase I

Just finished flying off the hours assigned to me in my third and latest Phase I adventure. This came after installing a new main wing and tail. The new wing's span is lengthened three feet and equipped with a monolithic spar designed to support 7.5 "G's" at 2200 pounds. An RV-14 horizontal stab and elevators along with an RV-7 vertical stab and rudder also were installed. The plane is now flying extremely well and I'm very happy with the results. After twenty years of engine and airframe changes, I can now say that I'm finally done tinkering! She's exactly what I wanted!

Chuck Brietigam
RV-6XXL
 

Attachments

  • E6F67997-4D47-4489-8CFA-6F569AAF71FA.jpeg
    E6F67997-4D47-4489-8CFA-6F569AAF71FA.jpeg
    306.9 KB · Views: 309
  • 233C2ED6-11D7-4D2D-ADFC-0CE8BB5774ED.jpeg
    233C2ED6-11D7-4D2D-ADFC-0CE8BB5774ED.jpeg
    348 KB · Views: 269
Original RV8 rudder installed:eek:
GloCustom did a great job matching and painting.

2022090319075883--1131765071990880778-IMG_1905-X2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Just finished flying off the hours assigned to me in my third and latest Phase I adventure. This came after installing a new main wing and tail. The new wing's span is lengthened three feet and equipped with a monolithic spar designed to support 7.5 "G's" at 2200 pounds. An RV-14 horizontal stab and elevators along with an RV-7 vertical stab and rudder also were installed. The plane is now flying extremely well and I'm very happy with the results. After twenty years of engine and airframe changes, I can now say that I'm finally done tinkering! She's exactly what I wanted!

Chuck Brietigam
RV-6XXL

Nice looking machine you got there Chuck and I can see a number of cool innovations in those photos but I'm guessing there are tons more I can't see. Care to share more photos?

:)

Cheers,
 
Quick trip for some crab cakes

Took a quick trip up to Maryland for beer and crab cakes with some friends. Left Saint Simons Friday morning for Easton for an RON.

Met up with 4 old, and I mean OLD, friends. Great dinner at Doc’s Sunset Grill in Oxford. Next day played around sightseeing up towards Philly and headed home.
FFBBB87B-5215-4303-B314-A27CE5422572.jpg

Beautiful trip back south. Just a little weather around Savannah that privided spectacular views.

CB9AF332-9EDB-4504-B15B-3F3C31FC1BAF.jpg

These planes are made for trips just like this.

Keep pounding.
 
Took a quick trip up to Maryland for beer and crab cakes with some friends. Left Saint Simons Friday morning for Easton for an RON.

Met up with 4 old, and I mean OLD, friends. Great dinner at Doc’s Sunset Grill in Oxford. Next day played around sightseeing up towards Philly and headed home.
View attachment 30458

Beautiful trip back south. Just a little weather around Savannah that privided spectacular views.

View attachment 30457

These planes are made for trips just like this.

Keep pounding.

Am I responsible for starting a crab cake trend? Nice pictures of clouds, but I want to see some crab cake pictures!
 
Just finished flying off the hours assigned to me in my third and latest Phase I adventure. This came after installing a new main wing and tail. The new wing's span is lengthened three feet and equipped with a monolithic spar designed to support 7.5 "G's" at 2200 pounds. An RV-14 horizontal stab and elevators along with an RV-7 vertical stab and rudder also were installed. The plane is now flying extremely well and I'm very happy with the results. After twenty years of engine and airframe changes, I can now say that I'm finally done tinkering! She's exactly what I wanted!

Chuck Brietigam
RV-6XXL

Nice Chuck. I can’t wait to see your plane again. If anyone gets a chance, this is a plane to see. From the motorized canopy to the landing gear, this is one of a kind.
Chuck flew my phase 1 for me and flew with me to Michigan to get my plane from Idaho to my new location.
 
Bought a new battery for it.

Last month, 24 volt batteries were difficult to find. This month, it’s 12 volts that are more difficult..
 
Home of Aviation

8229A248-00C0-435C-A877-A64F857D47F0.jpg

Peg and I visited the Glen H. Curtis Museum today. Great museum to visit for Aviation history. Spent most of the afternoon there. Talked with some of the guys in the restoration shop. A lot of History.

Even a VAF hat sighting
 

Attachments

  • 756FAE1E-84DC-49CE-AEAC-84642A5C01A3.jpg
    756FAE1E-84DC-49CE-AEAC-84642A5C01A3.jpg
    288.9 KB · Views: 182
  • F74025C1-F468-4BD7-8494-547A040A4EA2.jpg
    F74025C1-F468-4BD7-8494-547A040A4EA2.jpg
    506.6 KB · Views: 189
  • 5290DFEC-95F4-4C70-941B-AEA6CCBAD886.jpg
    5290DFEC-95F4-4C70-941B-AEA6CCBAD886.jpg
    430 KB · Views: 231
Last edited:
Finished a 3,800 Mile trip

Finished a 3,800 mile trip to the northeast with a bucket list flight down the Hudson River. Loved every second of it!
 

Attachments

  • Image 9-3-22 at 9.20 AM.jpeg
    Image 9-3-22 at 9.20 AM.jpeg
    299.6 KB · Views: 235
  • Image 9-2-22 at 8.22 AM.jpg
    Image 9-2-22 at 8.22 AM.jpg
    227 KB · Views: 226
  • Image 9-4-22 at 8.05 PM.jpg
    Image 9-4-22 at 8.05 PM.jpg
    356.1 KB · Views: 219
  • Image 9-4-22 at 8.07 PM.jpg
    Image 9-4-22 at 8.07 PM.jpg
    385 KB · Views: 216
  • Image 9-4-22 at 8.08 PM.jpg
    Image 9-4-22 at 8.08 PM.jpg
    328.6 KB · Views: 254
Day trip in my RV-8 to Fort Bridger, Wyoming for their annual Mountain Man Rendezvous.

What would normally be a four-hour drive was just an hour in the airplane - and flying over the same country (Wind River Range) where the actual mountain men trapped 200 years ago.

Love my Van's aircraft!
 

Attachments

  • Photo_0006.jpg
    Photo_0006.jpg
    2.2 MB · Views: 218
  • Photo_0007.jpg
    Photo_0007.jpg
    2.7 MB · Views: 184
  • Photo_0009.jpg
    Photo_0009.jpg
    2.4 MB · Views: 194
  • Photo_0008.jpg
    Photo_0008.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 221
  • Photo_0012.jpg
    Photo_0012.jpg
    2.3 MB · Views: 268
Battery box

Speaking of batteries, I drilled the lightning holes in my Van's 680 battery box.
Had just over 2.5 oz. of scrap. Hardly seems worth the effort.
 

Attachments

  • Battery box.jpg
    Battery box.jpg
    255.1 KB · Views: 199
After a week of crappy weather, and a week on steroids due to CMC osteoarthritis (a new phenomenon in my right thumb, hurt like ****), the weather looked doable and the drugs were out of my system, so it was off to Claxton, GA, a whole 34 nm away, for cheap gas. I thought I had 20 gallons left in the RV-9A, but didn't want to burn it all in the pattern and then not be legal for IFR to get more gas at Claxton.

So we launched, overtaking a Cirrus that took off right ahead of us (maybe an SR-20 instead of a -22) by 20 knots and outclimbing him as well. There was one cloud we missed on the way out, but there were scattered to broken clouds just this side of Claxton, not as forecast but anticipated -- seen that many, many times before.

Departure gave a phone number to call to cancel IFR (had it in the cell phone already) but I cancelled in the air.

On the ground, an older teenager an his dad were watching the planes, and he knew from FlightAware that a plane was headed to Claxton. He commented that I was a few minutes behind schedule -- at least according to FlightAware.

If I had a four seater, I'd have taken the time to give them rides.

With clouds a-buildin', I filed IFR for the trip home as we watched a Sundowner (Musketeer) make some nice landings. It was still legal VFR, and I don't know where their home was, but IFR was a lot easier -- no cloud clearance to fuss with.

Runup completed, I called the phone number that departure gave me to cancel IFR. It rang five times and then I got an answering machine... wasn't going to get a clearance that way. So I called one of my numbers for Savannah tower, and they told me to call the other one to talk to the radar folks. Got the clearance, and off we went.

Listening to approach, I heard them tell somebody else that they were number eight (!) for the airport. We were indicating 135 knots when approach requested minimum speed. I offered 80 knots and they said, well, maybe 25 faster. I went for 100 knots and we slowed down.

A few minutes later, approach said, "I'll take that 80 knots."

I did a poor job of maintaining precise speed in the up and downdrafts, and especially after glideslope intercept.

I asked tower if they still needed us at 80, and they said spacing was perfect for a 172 ahead. Should have checked the ADS-B before I made the offer.

We broke out at 1800 feet or so and I offered to take the other runway, tower declined the offer but did give me a long landing. Touchdown was gentle squeaks from the main gear, one at a time, but no stall warning.

At least some of the tower/radar folks know me and what the RV-9A can do, and it's always fun to get these non-standard instructions thrown at you. I wonder if I'm being egotistical or if others get these speed changes, too.
 
A new battery and a trip to Vermont

Spent parts of Thursday and Friday swapping my old PC680 battery for an earthX ETX680 replacement, then launched from the NashDrome for Warren VT to meet my wife and pup for the Sugarbush Glider Fest. Friday had to be one of the nicest flying days we've had this summer - calm winds and not a cloud in the sky!

As for Labor Day traffic, I didn't see any... :p

ds
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4514.jpg
    IMG_4514.jpg
    348.3 KB · Views: 266
  • IMG_4513.jpg
    IMG_4513.jpg
    209.1 KB · Views: 214
Last edited:
Epic backpacking trip

This weekend I returned from an epic week-long backpacking trip in Idaho's Sawtooth mountains.
From my home in Seaside OR it would be 11 hours one way by car; instead the -6 got us there in 2.5. From there, a boat took us across Redfish Lake to the trailhead.
The return trip was challenging with smoke, turbulence and light to moderate rain along much of the route, but the ol' -6 proved plenty capable.
I've made many memorable trips in my -6 but this one is right up there near the top.

FfAa1xBpDy4U9yobfvXvXWKp5HjTtbB9Z4GoTxcOXZs3H8dWOwJstW1QpAP9yqqARkauftkgEzcyv-h-7Pltcm-PIKxhMIbFCwjpERBmKa3EaC086N9djg4CPTUHPBsB88s7hRK1sJs=w2400


DpFnqIaSOAqS3BG8oRvPWK6OxprFDHOyyluZwsO2C6WQ9z4pXz9zQIq29jUllEe_I43BtU_Ly_xrOxb2EWcylKOBdxY7b9KHwh4ocyqof0XrUrVVUWG0FNy4PtRr4zGHlToMSQyx7pY=w2400


S18r6_GhwW4xRsIqFK3p7ooU1pOoITZIV7l72dmwL1cVz3aeSTbONxfkBFOd9F7hAAbYML-vFQc3dRSwX5QTzS-TDbBwHO9PMDgMuqbm6miUXUegy7cA8ljjL58bqJW3MtgeLbGLG3Y=w2400


6oCD8YM0-KYisiwFVy5r4o2QdSLrO1kUGgskUefZeHOn7SXdYycQWanVIaKRPoB-gUC1_7X_SavKa7euRcP5jN2T1sfGxpTBUDg6VUAUkTkcKDzDFcg_lU87pjziz0wlS4lctjjP63Q=w2400


m5JqNmqTRv8eEUfcQIjFH5t0pb7yDdXUhzMQ_MkPcvxb5af_PS7ZDPVc1ASVp4z6-b2QHeUxYmgVaXIZ0-RIR8WYbYPQU3vAuamTv1Up4yHvOLX6CU-8jMTzhl2FH_6CpynJmPCaShU=w2400


IKow_aC-wmvIMDOH9TIkQhd1zEC-ApHrIL_znwzvCXWAogUZSkZtgI02fsLy2bMRNyxjt7C32XEWAxB79dJmfqjU8yk70GtpQArqLSCsqEXYK_O4Mmv-KGox58oFIgvMilNk5u8gajA=w2400


coD2AT95bBgBFQLATxl9Ko9ghEajPAaBvcZu3E3cNgyKZThS13VkPlZ7KUBVNhGJXfYDVg5ZxaoYMNmJfSrZnSso9nqISkALZgopwC13D_yuM7Y8gJDsdS6fqihxjGHwf2jkQvrwMNI=w2400


29XFDJC4rNn3VrP4pDoKbWfTYOFPc-9gxnQJ6wg5rYq79BZGLRTqSsktj7qteqW9gxO7o_xtOq_YEmkGa8H9LCT44JrhG4vJhGtD-luKoJIudK63ZFZHqeDMG8ZGJaIfSraeSlPefa4=w2400
 
Last edited:
Father's 1st RV Flight!

I took my father for his 1st flight in my RV. He had great time. It was a little challenge getting him in and out, but it was uneventful. He is 84 and was a NASA engineer during the Apollo program. He spent a lot of time working on the Saturn V, the LEM and the LRV.
 

Attachments

  • 20220905_173503.jpg
    20220905_173503.jpg
    575.6 KB · Views: 309
  • 20220905_173549.jpg
    20220905_173549.jpg
    304.1 KB · Views: 206
  • 20220905_173303.jpg
    20220905_173303.jpg
    281.8 KB · Views: 204
I scaped the heat from Los Angeles and went to the high elevation in Arizona. What a beautiful weather there.
Took off at 5am Friday morning and it was already 82 degrees at WHP
Today I had a great trip back with a lil tail wind pushing.
 

Attachments

  • 29D530B5-4C84-45BF-BE30-11BDE4505B3F.jpg
    29D530B5-4C84-45BF-BE30-11BDE4505B3F.jpg
    377.4 KB · Views: 222
  • 67DDDB50-ACA0-4AD4-B74E-9D665FF8F44E.jpg
    67DDDB50-ACA0-4AD4-B74E-9D665FF8F44E.jpg
    446.6 KB · Views: 187
  • 9D4CFCE7-6D84-4931-ADA8-513847D3281D.jpg
    9D4CFCE7-6D84-4931-ADA8-513847D3281D.jpg
    278.5 KB · Views: 239
  • F43428A4-1778-434E-9DD3-A4331DBE19E9.jpg
    F43428A4-1778-434E-9DD3-A4331DBE19E9.jpg
    641.3 KB · Views: 220
  • 9B49774B-0C08-448E-9909-6EA0D4F07E14.jpg
    9B49774B-0C08-448E-9909-6EA0D4F07E14.jpg
    309.3 KB · Views: 199
  • 891EDF0F-C618-458A-B56E-0D408C7D238B.jpg
    891EDF0F-C618-458A-B56E-0D408C7D238B.jpg
    236.1 KB · Views: 230
  • 63DBD672-81EA-4AD8-8AED-FB8F0223B658.jpg
    63DBD672-81EA-4AD8-8AED-FB8F0223B658.jpg
    290.7 KB · Views: 202
USAFA RV flight

Chris and I work at the Air Force Academy together, and found out we both have RV's through VAF. So we decided to do a USAFA RV flight today. We flew from KFLY down to KDHT (Dalhart Texas). Turns out they have a really nice diner right on the airport next to the FBO.

Here is Chris's 7, and my 6A on the flight line as we parked to go to lunch.
XsNdYWxZpXQFDIlWWmVmSrXuFNEGvhLoGaEK4FoPv73e6Gly-STPShzw-hLrUhZGymdejODj6hXyeWMfAKxXa-8i0E2xtnaRAnkNsL3j_-m_iCsCL9PmNj1e_XZEdVVVVWWgF4ySUg=w800


Here is the best air to air shot of Chris's 7 I got. I need to bring a real camera next time we do this.
rwoFE6WJqXG5Uy3d3WT6hRilDCxpZKE5QZWrzK9GS0PI90qEP6xh4hgbbLAO8nD56LsxPoiF8H-PCgSr6tBWvtfq7x6XD8keq47p6FAWwQ8cQojNgAYKl5GXNTy-QuIAjp_JgFtH5g=w800


It is only an hour and fifteen minutes there, so I am sure we will be back!

Blue skies
Geoff
 
Flew a Pilots n Paws rescue mission on Saturday. Flew from KRUT to KGSO to pick up a 6 month old puppy named Pogo and a cat named Floki then to KRWI to pick up 3 kittens. Dropped the kittens off at KWLM with Cat Tales Rescue from Seabrook NH and Pogo and Floki at KLEB with Upper Valley Humane Society (Pogo) and a new owner for Floki.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0933.jpg
    IMG_0933.jpg
    307.6 KB · Views: 150
  • IMG_0941.jpg
    IMG_0941.jpg
    289.4 KB · Views: 178
  • IMG_0953.jpg
    IMG_0953.jpg
    712.1 KB · Views: 213
  • IMG_0960.jpg
    IMG_0960.jpg
    392 KB · Views: 177
  • IMG_0981.jpg
    IMG_0981.jpg
    642.1 KB · Views: 231
  • IMG_4325.JPG
    IMG_4325.JPG
    460.5 KB · Views: 207
  • IMG_4327.JPG
    IMG_4327.JPG
    405.8 KB · Views: 185
  • IMG_4593.JPG
    IMG_4593.JPG
    130.8 KB · Views: 195
Last edited:
Flew from home base KIKW in Midland, MI to KCWC in Wichita Falls, TX to visit my son who is an instructor pilot at Sheppard AFB. This was our third trip there in just over a year. The RV-14A is an efficient cross-country machine! We dodged some thunderstorms on the way there and back and I got in a couple of approaches along the way to help maintain currency. Cheaper and faster than flying commercial!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1773.HEIC.jpg
    IMG_1773.HEIC.jpg
    354.1 KB · Views: 202
  • IMG_1779.HEIC.jpg
    IMG_1779.HEIC.jpg
    168.5 KB · Views: 191
  • IMG_1783.HEIC.jpg
    IMG_1783.HEIC.jpg
    460.2 KB · Views: 186
  • IMG_1791.HEIC.jpg
    IMG_1791.HEIC.jpg
    420.8 KB · Views: 215
  • IMG_1804.HEIC.jpg
    IMG_1804.HEIC.jpg
    389.6 KB · Views: 213
  • IMG_1826.HEIC.jpg
    IMG_1826.HEIC.jpg
    234 KB · Views: 185
I parked my airplane in a bad neighborhood :)


Condition Inspection continues...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4169.jpg
    IMG_4169.jpg
    461.5 KB · Views: 297
Installed toilet in RV6

I installed a toilet in the RV6 yesterday. Can't use this with a tip-up and works well with a slider. Gets a little windy when in use. :)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1672.jpg
    IMG_1672.jpg
    405.1 KB · Views: 302
Getting Rivet Ready

Putting skins on and rivets in.
 

Attachments

  • 2022-09-06 07.41.24.jpg
    2022-09-06 07.41.24.jpg
    865.8 KB · Views: 189
I installed a toilet in the RV6 yesterday. Can't use this with a tip-up and works well with a slider. Gets a little windy when in use. :)

A very useful modification. We should make that a sticky post. Needs a placard that can only be used at speeds below Va to avoid the possible occupant ejection capability during use though.
 
"Quick" Trip from Flat and Humid to Cool Mountains

A perfect RV trip for two Texans who have severe hot-humid-flatland syndrome. Wife and I departed the home airpark after work Thursday and landed about 10 minutes after sunset in Taos (670 nm). Rental car brought to us at the plane while unloading. Loaded up and headed to our accomodations just north of Red River. Three days, 4 nights of 35-40 degree mornings and *not* flat terrain. Return trip just as nice Monday, with routing assistance from (amazing) basic ADS-B onboard weather reporting.
 

Attachments

  • aIMG_9899.jpg
    aIMG_9899.jpg
    200.2 KB · Views: 184
  • b20220901_193521aa.jpg
    b20220901_193521aa.jpg
    324.8 KB · Views: 269
  • dIMG_0214a.jpg
    dIMG_0214a.jpg
    496.1 KB · Views: 209
  • c20220901_192606.jpg
    c20220901_192606.jpg
    191.1 KB · Views: 176
  • e020220902_160633.jpg
    e020220902_160633.jpg
    622.8 KB · Views: 168
  • e20220903_154105.jpg
    e20220903_154105.jpg
    940.1 KB · Views: 171
  • f20220904_123648.jpg
    f20220904_123648.jpg
    639.9 KB · Views: 183
  • g20220904_112936(0).jpg
    g20220904_112936(0).jpg
    361.7 KB · Views: 243
Grandson's first flight

I took my grandson on his first flight in a small plane. His exact words were 'This is amazing'! I may need to invest in a better fitting headset.:)

 
I took my grandson on his first flight in a small plane. His exact words were 'This is amazing'! I may need to invest in a better fitting headset.:)


Awesome!! He looks to be close to the same age as my little dude, they should hang out!
I’ve found the light speed’s with the “taller” head cushions have fit all my kiddos quite well.

I flew by your strip 4 times over the extended weekend and seriously have to stop in sometime!
 

Attachments

  • 177C65CE-11DF-4342-BC4A-89E77602A244.jpg
    177C65CE-11DF-4342-BC4A-89E77602A244.jpg
    211.9 KB · Views: 115
Didn't do anything special....just picked up the -8 from paint!!!!
 

Attachments

  • BAD1C7DB-CD5E-461C-B303-C4210ED8160E.jpeg
    BAD1C7DB-CD5E-461C-B303-C4210ED8160E.jpeg
    312 KB · Views: 144
Good Looking Plane

Glad he could make it. Great looking plane Chad.

My dad was retired Navy and used to tell me are you going to get this thing done before I die. I did first flight on 8/23/2012. He passed on 6/12/2012. Sure wish he could of seen it.
 
Good looking Plane

Glad he could make it. Great looking plane Chad.

My dad was retired Navy and used to tell me are you going to get this thing done before I die. I did first flight on 8/23/2012. He passed on 6/12/2012. Sure wish he could of seen it.
 
Back
Top