Van's Air Force

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First flight

REDII

Member
Finally, after seven years plus of trial and tribulations, N199LG took its maiden flight on 10/25/2025! This has literally been a childhood dream of mine to build my own airplane. I have to first thank my wife, Lucy, for encouraging me in this project and providing me the inertia to finish it. My brother in law, Jim, has also been a great help, spending seven years of weekends to help complete the build. Terry Lutz, saw this through completion providing me with the technical support and patiently helping me through the teething pain associated with getting all the parts to cooperate with each other. Terry was brave enough to perform the first test flight and report that I have a very nice flying aircraft! Of course, none of this would be possible without Vans and his company. They have been great to work with and have successfully created another Van’s grin!

Ryan Dodde
RV8, IO-360 with Sensenich ground adjustable composite propIMG_4603.jpeg
 
Finally, after seven years plus of trial and tribulations, N199LG took its maiden flight on 10/25/2025! This has literally been a childhood dream of mine to build my own airplane. I have to first thank my wife, Lucy, for encouraging me in this project and providing me the inertia to finish it. My brother in law, Jim, has also been a great help, spending seven years of weekends to help complete the build. Terry Lutz, saw this through completion providing me with the technical support and patiently helping me through the teething pain associated with getting all the parts to cooperate with each other. Terry was brave enough to perform the first test flight and report that I have a very nice flying aircraft! Of course, none of this would be possible without Vans and his company. They have been great to work with and have successfully created another Van’s grin!

Ryan Dodde
RV8, IO-360 with Sensenich ground adjustable composite propView attachment 100433
Congratulations
 
Thats great! You think you feed jazzed now, wait until the first time you strap it on and shove in that black knob.
 
Congratulations. Get some top notch transition training and fly that bird.

I almost got emotional first flight. It flew like I always dreamed. Also dreamed from childhood.
 
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