FIRST FLIGHT!!

[bsacks05]

First flight of RV9 N659DB took place at Perry-Houston Co. Airport (PXE) in central Georgia. I am a low time pilot (<200 hrs) with less than 20 hrs T/W experience but this plane took care of me very well. Climb rate was incredible! Control response immediate, and rock solid stability. It was a short flight as I saw some lightning and rain showers in the distance. It took me three attempts to land because she just didn't want to slow down! I learned a lot about airspeed management yesterday!!! I can tell that this plane will be a patient and forgiving teacher and look forward to many hours learning the ways of the RV9!
Pictured with me after the flight is my daughter Diana and son Bruce

[Mike Armstrong]

Great picture Bruce!...and congrats!!!!

[smithhb]

Congrats Bruce. You need to fly it up to Blairsville, GA and show it off to us builders needing inspiration when you fly off the Phase 1.

[RV7Guy]

Great job and congrats on the flight. I only had 27 hours TW time when I flew my 7. I learned very quickly that you have to nail the approach speed or you will float FAR down the runway. Fortunately the RV is a great plane and will treat you nicely. You will adapt quickly.

Good luck on your Phase I. Fly often, fly safely.

[rv8guy]

awesome, another RV in Georgia!

Athens is just a heart beat away! Come see us

I passed 70 hours yesterday - what a blast

[N722SH]

Very Cool Bruce!!!

Keep us informed on how the TW-9 handles - I'm planning one myself.

Scott Harding
RV-9 Slow building wings
Sugar Land, TX

[bsacks05]

Had a good long flight today and she flys so smooth and effortlessly. All temps and pressures in the green on my IK Technologies engine monitor. At 8000' the air is so cool! I had in full right aileron trim, probably as a result of flying solo but may need adjusting. Faster than 70 mph on final seems to lead to a long float down the runway so pattern speed is critical but I nailed it on the first go round this time. It is really amazing how Van's can help an average Joe like me get into the air with such a high quality plane. Thanks for the well wishes and I look forward to visiting RVers in Georgia and everywhere else.

[Red Voodoo]

Congratulations Bruce, and let me know if you ever fly into Savannah. I'd love to get a close up look at your achievement!

[godspeed]

Glad to hear Bruce, it has been fun watching these
come together, I bet your feeling pretty good about
now, can't wait to get there.. I am very happy for you..

Your Friend
Danny..

[n2prise]

Athough my RV-9A is registered to me at my home in East Ridge, TN...I have a friend who gives me hangar space just across the state line in Georgia. He is building an RV-8 with my tools and me giving him building tips along the way.

I am a native of Dalton, Georgia as you can discover on my web site about building and flying my RV-9A, N2PZ "Enterprise" since October 2002 beginning of construction, to first flight, June 9, 2005. Now, the Hobb's meter has 189.6 hours on it as of my return from Denver last weekend (June 25th).

You can see what I did during construction and my flights around the country. I have yet to make to the Pacific Ocean, but I have been to Oshkosh, the Great Lakes, New England, Florida several times, Texas twice, LOE5 in New Mexico (just west of El Paso), and recently to Denver and back on business. That last trip was the first one where I used a new video camera mounted on the dash panel with the sound from my intercom and radios being recorded simultaneously to the video tape.

As for travels in Georgia, Athens is not that far away, and also Blairsville is not that far from Chickamauga, GA (Chattanooga area).

Jerry K. Thorne
East Ridge, TN
www.n2prise.org