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The Reveal - F1 Almost Ready for Flight!

Ironflight

Ironflight

VAF Moderator / Line Boy
Mentor
For those interested - yet another John Stahr paint job was rolled out this morning for the neighbor’s to see! While the F1 is still technically a “project” - Airworthiness Inspection is scheduled for next Friday - there is pretty much nothing more to do except go over critical things one or two more times. Weight and Balance are complete - she’s right down the middle of the envelope with pilot and fuel - and all the systems check out. We’re still waiting on the Registration to come out of OKC, and it looks like that will go down to the wire.

John Stahr and I started working on the design a year or so ago - after talking for several years about how he was going to have to take on this project. John has been to my hangar before - to paint Loki, the little jet. Since this airplane is intended to replace my RV-8, I told him that this was going to have to be an homage to the Valkyrie while kicking things up a notch - and I think he has succeeded! We had a good general idea of the layout and potential art when he arrived, but those concepts matured into plans as the week went on. We got a lot of ideas in place, and John was up until 3 AM on “day eight” to do the final clear coats.

The colors and striping carry over the from the Valkyrie while the art tells of my years in the space program. Easter eggs abound, and I’m happy wth how it al turned out.

Here are a few quick snapshots I took this morning after rolling her out of the hangar for some taxi testing. Formal shots will come - as will a name after she proves herself in flight!

The overall paint scheme is similar in style and color to the Valkyrie! I love how the painted FLyLED boards go with the stars on the turtledeck

IMG_9292.jpeg

There are 39 stars on each side of the turtledeck, one for each of the Shuttle missions for which I was a Flight Director. The nine brighter stars are for the missions which I was the Lead Flight Director. Ursa Major and the aurora pay homage to my roots in Minnesota.
IMG_9294.jpeg

I love a good P-51 scoop and a “hero pose”……
IMG_9298.jpeg

There’s a lot going on here - I think John went a little thin on the paint and the thermal tiles ended up showing through…..😉 Earth limbs at sunrise are always pretty from space - especially with city lights down below.
IMG_9295.jpeg

Similar but different - I have to remember that I was FLight Director for the International Space Station as well as Shuttle
IMG_9309.jpeg


Make your airplane your own - there is no right or wrong. I have been privileged in so many things in my life. And that includes workign with John on projects we both enjoy. Pay his expenses, buy the materiels, give him a fee and a place to stay and you’ll have a fun - if intense week. While he wants to cut back on travel, you never know what will catch his interest as an artist….. and that is the key to getting him on your project.

Now to get ready for insepction!

Paul
 
Unbelievably gorgeous. One might even say that it’s out of this world. Nice work!
 
Wow! I thought John did an amazing job on Loki, the little jet, but this one is even better! It's a true masterpiece that has to be one of the best aircraft paint schemes ever!
 
Absolutely a first class bird. I’ve always admired your paint on the 8 but you’ve taken it to the next level.

The only thing negative I can say is you won’t get to fly it because Louise beat you to the cockpit and is airborne before you can get the words out “when will it be my turn…..”

Please show some panel/cabin pictures.
 
Amazing. Nice work Paul. That was a fast paint job too. I will be doing mine in the coming months. Do you know how much weight it added? I hope registration comes in time from OKC and no delay. Given the latest, I think you should add an extra terrestrial alien on the tail while you're at it. :)
 
WOW Mr. DYE...JUST WOW...predicting a show stopper at Oshkosh..and perhaps a Lindy...
Benchmark! I will bet you John Harmon is smiling! The word "Legacy" comes to mind!! The lad from Bimidji done good...
:cool:😁
 
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Wow! :cool:

Planning on contributing to the dead grass around this machine when it makes it's OSH debut. It will most likely be parked on the flight line, next to Homebuilders HQ........the place Paul always gets to park. 😉
 
Ed_Wischmeyer said:
Completely amazing! But why is the spinner a slightly different shade of red? I bet there's a story there...
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It’s a complex and completely boring story having to do with travel logistics, timing, and the order we painted and assembled. A fade is coming when we have a chance, but have to get it ready for inspection.
 
edhunter said:
Beautiful! I didn’t know gps pucks could be painted though…
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Painting GPS pucks? You know that Garmin sells a black one, don’t you?

I will not recommend anyone paint their antenna in defiance of the instruction manual … this is an experiment, and we won’t be flying it IFR anytime soon. 😉
 
Stevea said:
Wow! :cool:

Planning on contributing to the dead grass around this machine when it makes it's OSH debut. It will most likely be parked on the flight line, next to Homebuilders HQ........the place Paul always gets to park. 😉
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Not for sure where we’ll park, but being a new airplane with no hours or years, it doesn’t qualify for HBHQ parking…. But it’ll be around if we get it to Wisconsin in July.
 
Someone asked about paint weight - we didn;t weigh it before because I already had it apart when John showed up. I have it from reliable sources that a typical paint job for a two-seat RV “back in the day” from GLO Custom weighed somewhere between 15-18 lbs. John uses a very light method - after the airplane is primed, he shoots the pin stripe gold in broad streaks where they will appear. he then masks off the entire scheme, but only paints one area at a time, so when it comes to paint, there is only one layer on the entire plane. the traditional method is to paint the whole airplane one color, then add stripes on top. This method is lighter and also des away with “layer lines” under the clear coat. It is amazing how little paint all that art actually takes - ounces, really.

I expect this paint weighs somewhere between 15-18 lbs….😉
 
Now that’s a sharp looking paint scheme! I’m looking forward to the first flight report.
 
Ironflight said:
Not for sure where we’ll park, but being a new airplane with no hours or years, it doesn’t qualify for HBHQ parking…. But it’ll be around if we get it to Wisconsin in July.
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Wherever you want to.

We do have a row set aside for Rockets, just north of the old NASA building/ home builders hangar. I believe you might know where that is?
 
Ironflight said:
For those interested - yet another John Stahr paint job was rolled out this morning for the neighbor’s to see! While the F1 is still technically a “project” - Airworthiness Inspection is scheduled for next Friday - there is pretty much nothing more to do except go over critical things one or two more times. Weight and Balance are complete - she’s right down the middle of the envelope with pilot and fuel - and all the systems check out. We’re still waiting on the Registration to come out of OKC, and it looks like that will go down to the wire.

John Stahr and I started working on the design a year or so ago - after talking for several years about how he was going to have to take on this project. John has been to my hangar before - to paint Loki, the little jet. Since this airplane is intended to replace my RV-8, I told him that this was going to have to be an homage to the Valkyrie while kicking things up a notch - and I think he has succeeded! We had a good general idea of the layout and potential art when he arrived, but those concepts matured into plans as the week went on. We got a lot of ideas in place, and John was up until 3 AM on “day eight” to do the final clear coats.

The colors and striping carry over the from the Valkyrie while the art tells of my years in the space program. Easter eggs abound, and I’m happy wth how it al turned out.

Here are a few quick snapshots I took this morning after rolling her out of the hangar for some taxi testing. Formal shots will come - as will a name after she proves herself in flight!

The overall paint scheme is similar in style and color to the Valkyrie! I love how the painted FLyLED boards go with the stars on the turtledeck

View attachment 118401

There are 39 stars on each side of the turtledeck, one for each of the Shuttle missions for which I was a Flight Director. The nine brighter stars are for the missions which I was the Lead Flight Director. Ursa Major and the aurora pay homage to my roots in Minnesota.
View attachment 118402

I love a good P-51 scoop and a “hero pose”……
View attachment 118403

There’s a lot going on here - I think John went a little thin on the paint and the thermal tiles ended up showing through…..😉 Earth limbs at sunrise are always pretty from space - especially with city lights down below.
View attachment 118404

Similar but different - I have to remember that I was FLight Director for the International Space Station as well as Shuttle
View attachment 118405


Make your airplane your own - there is no right or wrong. I have been privileged in so many things in my life. And that includes workign with John on projects we both enjoy. Pay his expenses, buy the materiels, give him a fee and a place to stay and you’ll have a fun - if intense week. While he wants to cut back on travel, you never know what will catch his interest as an artist….. and that is the key to getting him on your project.

Now to get ready for insepction!

Paul
Click to expand...
Curious why the “NX” n-number? 🤔
 
MED said:
Curious why the “NX” n-number? 🤔
Click to expand...
Part §45.22(b)....Amateur-built aircraft with same external configuration as an aircraft that is over 30 years old may use the "X" within the registration number instead of the 2" EXPERIMENTAL placard. (This is paraphrased)

The "X" is NOT part of the registration and is not used in any communication; It simply replaces the "EXPERIMENTAL" placard.
 
Mel said:
Part §45.22(b)....Amateur-built aircraft with same external configuration as an aircraft that is over 30 years old may use the "X" within the registration number instead of the 2" EXPERIMENTAL placard. (This is paraphrased)

The "X" is NOT part of the registration and is not used in any communication; It simply replaces the "EXPERIMENTAL" placard.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
gorgeous Paul! Too bad you ran out of paint before covering those heat shield tiles, but I kinda like it! ; )
 
As to the question on the slightly different shade of paint on the spinner, John Stahr sent this explanation, which I print in its original form and its entirety:

“As you read this, do so in your best Cliff Claven Boston,Mass. voice……(isn’t MIT located there with Harvard scholars?)

Well, ah, it’s common knowledge that the friction on the spinner, much like the nose on a re entering space shuttle, generates way more heat during penetration at the leading surface and can wear away or slightly erode the painted surface, and in this case, the F-1 rocket has a tendency to have a slightly lighter tone of color on the spinner due to its intense friction with air molecules, often referred to in Bernoulli’s basic principles of flight technology…. The other factor which is NOT common knowledge is the asbestos-like compound added to dispel the heat and preserve the paint on forward air penetration or piercing surfaces tends to give off a kind of iridescent glow, making the same exact color actually appear a little bit brighter. After conducting high speed flight the spinner can cool back down to its slight off color, but at speed the tones all match perfectly. Some inflight air to air photos should prove this out ... it’s all an optical dillusion of sorts…try not to think about it and it will look just beautiful! Focus any critical attention on the paint flaking off the belly and vertical tail surfaces….it’s just awful.”

Sounds good to me John! 😉🤣
 
Ironflight said:
Not for sure where we’ll park, but being a new airplane with no hours or years, it doesn’t qualify for HBHQ parking…. But it’ll be around if we get it to Wisconsin in July.
Click to expand...
You mean there is no reserved HBHQ parking for former NASA flight directors? How rude. ;)

No worries. If it's on the OSH grounds, I WILL find it.

Good luck with the flight testing.
 
Wowza! Takes all the superlatives. Congratulations. (And the LEDs on the black-background wingtips lights look like stars, too...)
 
What did you use to scuff the Flyled circuit boards without damaging them so they would hold paint? I've been wanting to change mine from the factory white color to red to match my wing tips.
 
Ironflight said:
For those interested - yet another John Stahr paint job was rolled out this morning for the neighbor’s to see! While the F1 is still technically a “project” - Airworthiness Inspection is scheduled for next Friday - there is pretty much nothing more to do except go over critical things one or two more times. Weight and Balance are complete - she’s right down the middle of the envelope with pilot and fuel - and all the systems check out. We’re still waiting on the Registration to come out of OKC, and it looks like that will go down to the wire.

John Stahr and I started working on the design a year or so ago - after talking for several years about how he was going to have to take on this project. John has been to my hangar before - to paint Loki, the little jet. Since this airplane is intended to replace my RV-8, I told him that this was going to have to be an homage to the Valkyrie while kicking things up a notch - and I think he has succeeded! We had a good general idea of the layout and potential art when he arrived, but those concepts matured into plans as the week went on. We got a lot of ideas in place, and John was up until 3 AM on “day eight” to do the final clear coats.

The colors and striping carry over the from the Valkyrie while the art tells of my years in the space program. Easter eggs abound, and I’m happy wth how it al turned out.

Here are a few quick snapshots I took this morning after rolling her out of the hangar for some taxi testing. Formal shots will come - as will a name after she proves herself in flight!

The overall paint scheme is similar in style and color to the Valkyrie! I love how the painted FLyLED boards go with the stars on the turtledeck

View attachment 118401

There are 39 stars on each side of the turtledeck, one for each of the Shuttle missions for which I was a Flight Director. The nine brighter stars are for the missions which I was the Lead Flight Director. Ursa Major and the aurora pay homage to my roots in Minnesota.
View attachment 118402

I love a good P-51 scoop and a “hero pose”……
View attachment 118403

There’s a lot going on here - I think John went a little thin on the paint and the thermal tiles ended up showing through…..😉 Earth limbs at sunrise are always pretty from space - especially with city lights down below.
View attachment 118404

Similar but different - I have to remember that I was FLight Director for the International Space Station as well as Shuttle
View attachment 118405


Make your airplane your own - there is no right or wrong. I have been privileged in so many things in my life. And that includes workign with John on projects we both enjoy. Pay his expenses, buy the materiels, give him a fee and a place to stay and you’ll have a fun - if intense week. While he wants to cut back on travel, you never know what will catch his interest as an artist….. and that is the key to getting him on your project.

Now to get ready for insepction!

Paul
Click to expand...
That thing looks freaking AWESOME.
 
Steve said:
What did you use to scuff the Flyled circuit boards without damaging them so they would hold paint? I've been wanting to change mine from the factory white color to red to match my wing tips.
Click to expand...
I didn’t scuff them at all - just did a quick alcohol wipe and shot flat black from a rattle can. Will see how they hold up!
 
Ironflight said:
For those interested - yet another John Stahr paint job was rolled out this morning for the neighbor’s to see! While the F1 is still technically a “project” - Airworthiness Inspection is scheduled for next Friday - there is pretty much nothing more to do except go over critical things one or two more times. Weight and Balance are complete - she’s right down the middle of the envelope with pilot and fuel - and all the systems check out. We’re still waiting on the Registration to come out of OKC, and it looks like that will go down to the wire.

John Stahr and I started working on the design a year or so ago - after talking for several years about how he was going to have to take on this project. John has been to my hangar before - to paint Loki, the little jet. Since this airplane is intended to replace my RV-8, I told him that this was going to have to be an homage to the Valkyrie while kicking things up a notch - and I think he has succeeded! We had a good general idea of the layout and potential art when he arrived, but those concepts matured into plans as the week went on. We got a lot of ideas in place, and John was up until 3 AM on “day eight” to do the final clear coats.

The colors and striping carry over the from the Valkyrie while the art tells of my years in the space program. Easter eggs abound, and I’m happy wth how it al turned out.

Here are a few quick snapshots I took this morning after rolling her out of the hangar for some taxi testing. Formal shots will come - as will a name after she proves herself in flight!

The overall paint scheme is similar in style and color to the Valkyrie! I love how the painted FLyLED boards go with the stars on the turtledeck

View attachment 118401

There are 39 stars on each side of the turtledeck, one for each of the Shuttle missions for which I was a Flight Director. The nine brighter stars are for the missions which I was the Lead Flight Director. Ursa Major and the aurora pay homage to my roots in Minnesota.
View attachment 118402

I love a good P-51 scoop and a “hero pose”……
View attachment 118403

There’s a lot going on here - I think John went a little thin on the paint and the thermal tiles ended up showing through…..😉 Earth limbs at sunrise are always pretty from space - especially with city lights down below.
View attachment 118404

Similar but different - I have to remember that I was FLight Director for the International Space Station as well as Shuttle
View attachment 118405


Make your airplane your own - there is no right or wrong. I have been privileged in so many things in my life. And that includes workign with John on projects we both enjoy. Pay his expenses, buy the materiels, give him a fee and a place to stay and you’ll have a fun - if intense week. While he wants to cut back on travel, you never know what will catch his interest as an artist….. and that is the key to getting him on your project.

Now to get ready for insepction!

Paul
Click to expand...
Beautiful aircraft Paul, looking forward to seeing it at Oshkosh.
Chris RV 4 N1212R. RV 8 627CS Gone but not forgotten.
EAA Technical Counsler 551677
Festus,MO.
 
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But the name, Paul, the name! Enquiring minds boggle with speculation and anticipation. Another from the Nine Realms of Yggdrasil, mayhaps? 🤔🤓🤷
 
Ironflight said:
For those interested - yet another John Stahr paint job was rolled out this morning for the neighbor’s to see! While the F1 is still technically a “project” - Airworthiness Inspection is scheduled for next Friday - there is pretty much nothing more to do except go over critical things one or two more times. Weight and Balance are complete - she’s right down the middle of the envelope with pilot and fuel - and all the systems check out. We’re still waiting on the Registration to come out of OKC, and it looks like that will go down to the wire.

John Stahr and I started working on the design a year or so ago - after talking for several years about how he was going to have to take on this project. John has been to my hangar before - to paint Loki, the little jet. Since this airplane is intended to replace my RV-8, I told him that this was going to have to be an homage to the Valkyrie while kicking things up a notch - and I think he has succeeded! We had a good general idea of the layout and potential art when he arrived, but those concepts matured into plans as the week went on. We got a lot of ideas in place, and John was up until 3 AM on “day eight” to do the final clear coats.

The colors and striping carry over the from the Valkyrie while the art tells of my years in the space program. Easter eggs abound, and I’m happy wth how it al turned out.

Here are a few quick snapshots I took this morning after rolling her out of the hangar for some taxi testing. Formal shots will come - as will a name after she proves herself in flight!

The overall paint scheme is similar in style and color to the Valkyrie! I love how the painted FLyLED boards go with the stars on the turtledeck

View attachment 118401

There are 39 stars on each side of the turtledeck, one for each of the Shuttle missions for which I was a Flight Director. The nine brighter stars are for the missions which I was the Lead Flight Director. Ursa Major and the aurora pay homage to my roots in Minnesota.
View attachment 118402

I love a good P-51 scoop and a “hero pose”……
View attachment 118403

There’s a lot going on here - I think John went a little thin on the paint and the thermal tiles ended up showing through…..😉 Earth limbs at sunrise are always pretty from space - especially with city lights down below.
View attachment 118404

Similar but different - I have to remember that I was FLight Director for the International Space Station as well as Shuttle
View attachment 118405


Make your airplane your own - there is no right or wrong. I have been privileged in so many things in my life. And that includes workign with John on projects we both enjoy. Pay his expenses, buy the materiels, give him a fee and a place to stay and you’ll have a fun - if intense week. While he wants to cut back on travel, you never know what will catch his interest as an artist….. and that is the key to getting him on your project.

Now to get ready for insepction!

Paul
Click to expand...
Paul,
So artistic and yet so personal.
Truly a flying work of art.
Daddyman58
 
Ironflight said:
Painting GPS pucks? You know that Garmin sells a black one, don’t you?

I will not recommend anyone paint their antenna in defiance of the instruction manual … this is an experiment, and we won’t be flying it IFR anytime soon. 😉
Click to expand...
I have painted quite a few with no impact on performance.
As a test I once painted one outside, while it was connected to a powered on GPS unit displaying the signal strength page.
Zero change while spraying.
 
Mike S said:
Osh dead grass contender for sure.

Looks even better in person......
Click to expand...
Somebody should be assigned to do this - after it leaves, take a pic of its outline in the grass (the dryer the wx is the more pronounced is the effect), frame it, pronounce it as the EAB - DGA (Dead Grass Award) winner, and present it to the owner. Always cool ... I did this for a friend's -8 way back when - he appreciated it.

HFS
 
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