The VAF News - 3.25.2026. #6516. So much RV news it takes two posts…

[DeltaRomeo]

1/2

Meditations on a Grounded RV

XXVI. On Baffles Upon an idle engine A divider to endow, In shiny sheets of silver Borders bracing on the brow, A royal crown for cooling On the queen of throbbing thrust, To guard against a galling Overheated head to bust; Behold! The angled anchors Latch the leaves upon the...

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WDYDWYRTW? Mar 21-22, 2026. Chuck Norris and more.

Flew the -6 Saturday morning in meat servo mode for .5 with a lazy pass by the former home of the late great Chuck Norris (lived there for a few years while filming Walker TX Ranger). Dipped a wing. North shore of Grapevine Lake. Rest in Peace, sir. Not a cloud in the state and 80*F -...

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Rivet gun attachment

Would it be wise to get on of the longer offset rivet gun attachments for reaching the rivets in the Horizontal build? About to start this and I have one but its only like 6 inches. Thanks

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Flap trailing-edge forming

I hit the backorder wall on wing assembly and have moved on to the flaps. Everything is deburred and primed and flap substructure riveted. I’m ready (I thought) to rivet the skins. A couple of early posts implied that skin edges were pre - bent to their final shape, and at least one on-line...

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Garmin G3X Touch POWER Indication vs Lycoming Chart

The indication of the Power Setting in % on the G3X Touch seems to indicate 2 % less vs the Power Chart The engine is an IO-540, leaned to best power -see pictures attached -any idea why it's off? The difference seems to increase a bit with higher power settings.

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First Flight: Thomas Dieker RV-8

My very first rivet was set at a free workshop at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. At the time, I really had no idea what I was doing, I just thought building an airplane sounded like something I wanted to try. That small moment turned into something much bigger when I officially started the project in...

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[DeltaRomeo]

2/2


Here's the wreckage - bent forward arms and broken rear welding.

Widening canopy frame

Hello folks, I'm working on the initial fitting of the canopy frame. The KAI requests the frame to have a 1/32'' overhang with respect to the fuselage skins. My frame's rear side is about flush with the fuselage, so I need to open it up by about 1/16''. I've tried Van's method of squeezing the...

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Dry tappet clearance after Port and Polish.

I read some older posts on dry tappet clearance, but none of them ever seem to come up with a clear solution. I was hoping a repost may reveal any new solutions. I just got my cylinders back from Lycon with a hone, port, polish, and 9:1 ceramic coated piston upgrade……. But I cannot get the dry...

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"Temporary nuts"?

When temporarily attaching the vertical stabilizer to the aft fuselage on page 10-28 of the RV-14 plans, it says to use "temporary nuts". What are these??? Is it adequate to just put in the cleco and bolts then clamp the VS in place to ensure it's in the proper position before drilling the two...

vansairforce.net

New Product: Quick Access Fuel Filter System - ACF-400 (Collab w/ Flyboy Accessories)

Hi everyone, I wanted to introduce a new product we’re now offering at Fairings-etc that I think many RV builders and owners will find genuinely useful. The ACF-400 Quick Access Fuel Filter System—developed in collaboration with Flyboy Accessories—is designed to make fuel filter inspection...

vansairforce.net

Top and Bottom Cowling Fitting

I've been working lately on fitting my Top and Bottom Cowling. I thought things went relatively well on the Top Cowling. I then moved on to fitting the Bottom Cowling. Initially that looked pretty good too. Lots of iterations, but slow progress. Once I got the Bottom Cowling in place though I...

vansairforce.net

LH F-770 Concical bend done!
Thanks to VAF and all the RV'ers who have posted techniques on how to do this. I'm sure I would have stuffed it up just following the manual.
2 replacement skins and freight to Australia, US$380+Freight
VAF Patronage - Priceless.

RV-7A #73840

Well, I've officially started building an RV-7A I'm the third owner of this Kit and if you haven't read Vans warnings about buying older kits, particulary the bit about unboxed, original packaging you should. When I unboxed the kit for the first time in its 14 year life, this is the result of...

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Past ‘VAF News’ issues:

Doug's Area ...The VAF News, About VAF, My Resume

Pushed out every now and then.

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THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

The VAF List ...a list of RV-related lists. RV-related things you might want to browse over (a closed post that is sticky and maintained by dr). Link to this in 'Links' in the menu. v/r,dr Small businesses that help bring you this list of RV-related lists: 360 Avionics www.360Avionics.com Ace...

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