Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend. v/r,dr
Daily RV Pic …Jerry Lawlor RV-8
RV-4 #4175 Fastback Conversion …climbak update
Finally got it trailered over to it's new temporary home and now it has some new friends for a few months. Should have some actual progress starting this weekend. Tail feathers are coming off and top skin is getting drilled out.
13-03 Step 3
Q: What are the 14 #40 holes, that are countersunk, used for?
A: You mean these ones? These are for the forwardmost top and bottom flanges on the main wing ribs. Note that the Top and Bottom shown here are NOT the top and bottom of the topmost flange. It refers to the top portion of the upper flange and the bottom portion of the lower flange. In the future, I suggest you might want to post more information such as the drawing, or a description of what you're working on.
Canopy OPEN Warning light, but HOW?
(Roadjunkie1 reply). I can't answer for anything other than what I did on SuzieQ, an RV-4. There is a microswitch positioned so the canopy rail opens the microswitch (turning the RED light off) when the canopy is closed and locked. It is positioned to be pretty sensitive and the canopy has to be CLOSED to move the switch arm enough to open. It can be seen in the photograph in front of the nylon block that holds the canopy rail in the closed position. The canopy is in the TAXI position in the photo. The microswitch is held in place by a bracket that is bolted to the nylon block with the same bolts that hold the block in place. It has never failed and never turned on in flight. It is on my CHECK LIST in several places. The first line of my predeparture check list is CANOPY: DOWN AND LOCKED; SEAT BELTS: LOCKED (and the RED light is off!) BOOST PUMP: ON; FLAPS: SET 20 DEGREES; GAS: RIGHT TANK etc all of which I say out loud as I have done this so many times it is welded in my memory!.
Another Ticking Time Bomb …DanH find
You're looking at a rubber lined hose running close to the #2 header. No shielding of any kind, and likely more than 10 years old. Safe bet the rubber liner will snap like a dry twig when removed and flexed.
If a full re-route isn't practical, this one needs a shorter hose, an insulated pipe shield, a reflective wrap on the hose, which should be Teflon lined.
Let's up our game folks.
West Coast Formation Clinic 2024 - Madera, CA …Cougar
This year’s West Coast Formation Clinic 2023 will be on April 25-28, 2024 in Madera, CA KMAE. Applications will be closed by the end of the day on 19 March 2024. To apply and/or for additional details, visit the WCFC 2024 website link below. Open the page and clink on Application tab and submit your info.
RV-12 Cowling fitting success before powerplant installation?
I built a legacy RV-12 and in contrary to the KAI I first installed the engine and then cut and fit the cowling. It definitely can be done that way plus it allows for more precise distance between spinner back plate and cowl.
OFF TOPIC:
PS: Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:
Daily RV Pic …Jerry Lawlor RV-8
Daily RV Pic
vansairforce.net
RV-4 #4175 Fastback Conversion …climbak update
Finally got it trailered over to it's new temporary home and now it has some new friends for a few months. Should have some actual progress starting this weekend. Tail feathers are coming off and top skin is getting drilled out.
RV-4 #4175 Fastback Conversion
My 4 is down for a bit for a several little projects, like elevator reskinning due to some cracking, adding a light to the tail, possibly electric trim, fiberglass repair due to some less than perfect fits over the years, etc. While it's down, I decided to make it way worse for time and money...
vansairforce.net
13-03 Step 3
Q: What are the 14 #40 holes, that are countersunk, used for?
A: You mean these ones? These are for the forwardmost top and bottom flanges on the main wing ribs. Note that the Top and Bottom shown here are NOT the top and bottom of the topmost flange. It refers to the top portion of the upper flange and the bottom portion of the lower flange. In the future, I suggest you might want to post more information such as the drawing, or a description of what you're working on.
Canopy OPEN Warning light, but HOW?
(Roadjunkie1 reply). I can't answer for anything other than what I did on SuzieQ, an RV-4. There is a microswitch positioned so the canopy rail opens the microswitch (turning the RED light off) when the canopy is closed and locked. It is positioned to be pretty sensitive and the canopy has to be CLOSED to move the switch arm enough to open. It can be seen in the photograph in front of the nylon block that holds the canopy rail in the closed position. The canopy is in the TAXI position in the photo. The microswitch is held in place by a bracket that is bolted to the nylon block with the same bolts that hold the block in place. It has never failed and never turned on in flight. It is on my CHECK LIST in several places. The first line of my predeparture check list is CANOPY: DOWN AND LOCKED; SEAT BELTS: LOCKED (and the RED light is off!) BOOST PUMP: ON; FLAPS: SET 20 DEGREES; GAS: RIGHT TANK etc all of which I say out loud as I have done this so many times it is welded in my memory!.
Canopy OPEN Warning light, but HOW?
Everyone seems to have one. But how is it done? And what EXACTLY are you sensing? Contact between canopy and rail? Handle fully closed? Handle locked? I know there is a world of micro switches out there Installing one, or even two to sense close proximity of canopy and rail isn't theoretically...
vansairforce.net
Another Ticking Time Bomb …DanH find
You're looking at a rubber lined hose running close to the #2 header. No shielding of any kind, and likely more than 10 years old. Safe bet the rubber liner will snap like a dry twig when removed and flexed.
If a full re-route isn't practical, this one needs a shorter hose, an insulated pipe shield, a reflective wrap on the hose, which should be Teflon lined.
Let's up our game folks.
Possible Serious Fuel Fire Averted
I am about 1/2 of the way into my phase 1 flight testing. I routinely inspected the engine compartment for anything that could cause problems. After doing about 5 hours of flight testing, I thought I smell fuel. I tracked down the tanks and found nothing. Today, I removed the upper cowl and...
vansairforce.net
West Coast Formation Clinic 2024 - Madera, CA …Cougar
This year’s West Coast Formation Clinic 2023 will be on April 25-28, 2024 in Madera, CA KMAE. Applications will be closed by the end of the day on 19 March 2024. To apply and/or for additional details, visit the WCFC 2024 website link below. Open the page and clink on Application tab and submit your info.
West Coast Formation Clinic 2024 - Madera, CA
This year’s West Coast Formation Clinic 2023 will be on April 25-28, 2024 in Madera, CA KMAE. Applications will be closed by the end of the day on 19 March 2024. To apply and/or for additional details, visit the WCFC 2024 website link below. Open the page and clink on Application tab and submit...
vansairforce.net
RV-12 Cowling fitting success before powerplant installation?
I built a legacy RV-12 and in contrary to the KAI I first installed the engine and then cut and fit the cowling. It definitely can be done that way plus it allows for more precise distance between spinner back plate and cowl.
RV-12 Cowling fitting success before powerplant installation?
Building a legacy RV-12 and still waiting for my powerplant/firewall forward kit that was supposed to be crated in November. I would prefer to not do the cowl fitting until after powerplant installation to insure proper fit but I'm running out of things to do. By plans it is done before engine...
vansairforce.net
OFF TOPIC:
PS: Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:
Van's Air Force
Doug Reeves Vans Aircraft Kit Forum Official Build Experimental RV
www.vansairforce.net