L'Avion
Well Known Member
Last September, I and a good friend, Steve Price, began work on a 28 yr. old, tired RV-3, hoping to complete the wing mods that might return the aircraft to aerobatic status. As per my entry in the thread, http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=21839&highlight=wing+mod , we chose not to do the wing mod, but did go about a longer than expected restoration. We removed the wings, and all the flight controls, and anything else that could reasonably be removed (not the engine) and refurbished, and rebuilt the lower engine cowling, canopy side panels, and wing & tail fairings; re-wired & "neated up" much of the wiring that had been added over the years; added a Becker comm as Com 1 and left the old Wag-Aero radio as Com 2; installed new aluminum-skinned fiberglass (inner) fuel tanks, new fuel lines and gauges (no leaks & gauges work great); and stripped off all the old paint (major undertaking!); see new paint job below, chosen to cover up a multitude of "crows' feet."
Two days ago, I flight tested the a/c with new N# in place (N234FT, formerly N90516) and she flew just fine, with no gripes, but I had not checked out the NavAid autopilot, which was good enough reason to fly her again yesterday and check it out - all OK.
There's no way that I could explain here the trials & tribulations that Steve and I went through with this restoration, but most who read here will understand that it was no easy undertaking.
Barney
RV-3, N234FT, bought flying & restored
RV-4, N44LR, bought flying
Two days ago, I flight tested the a/c with new N# in place (N234FT, formerly N90516) and she flew just fine, with no gripes, but I had not checked out the NavAid autopilot, which was good enough reason to fly her again yesterday and check it out - all OK.
There's no way that I could explain here the trials & tribulations that Steve and I went through with this restoration, but most who read here will understand that it was no easy undertaking.
Barney
RV-3, N234FT, bought flying & restored
RV-4, N44LR, bought flying