job2 over the weekend - quick KingAir gear and radio down and back turned into storm delays, missing a return flight and having to stay two days more on one set of clothes. Academy for cheap T-shirts! Cracker Barrel multiple times. RV-6 sat home in the hangar making smirking faces at me. Hoping to RVate here in a day or so, WX permitting. For my sanity! LOL
Hope your weekend had better laundry facilities…..and some RVs in the FOV. <g>
v/r,dr
PS:
Unmentionables and flying shirt needed again in 48 hours. Letting them dry post-shower. The glamour of part time contract and weather <g>. VAF helped me pass the time…. And that view!!!!!
dr
Mothership
Marc Cook Joins Van’s Aircraft as E-Commerce and Media Manager
www.vansaircraft.com
131CM FS
RE: RV-12iS Fuel Pump issue …Tony Kirk reply
I assumed from the first post it was a new build, not a flying aircraft, my bad.
According to the electrical schematics in the POH (and the Rotax Installation Manual) the Fuel Pump Switches only switch the ground side of the Fuel Pump circuits. There is no "fuel pump power" going through the HIC connectors from the ECU or to the FP Switches.
Bob Y RV-12
RE: Electric Flaps install RV4 - Looking for someone who has done it!
…fixnflyguy RV-4
I put them in during my RV-4 build, so it was very easy. If you aren't a "builder", It may be challenging, as it's not a bolt in operation. The R/H tunnel web has to be modifiied and cut, you will need the entire center floor removed, and the VANs supplied weldment/control arms require a second set of nylon pivot blocks located/installed. There will be a hole through the belly skin for the bellcrank arm pivot bolt and brackets for the actuator. While not complicated, it's got quite few moving pieces. There are quite a few RV-4's with a homebrew much simpler retrofit which installs the actuator vertically in the R/H sidewall and ties into the existing weldment, but the VANs kit is less intrusive to the passenger environment. I have my flap control buttons on my stick grip along with aileron and elevator trim...I LOVE the HOTAS system and never have to reach for anything on the panel. I also built close-outs for all the interior areas that have moving parts, and here is no flap handle for passenger foot fouling. You can see most of the parts in the pictures. I probably have some better shots in my build book, but it's not with me at the moment.
RE: section 58-02 yaw servo install question, before big join
…lipper03
I went out and took a photo, the issue is you can't get CS-00002 through the bulkhead hole and the F-1489A because F-1489A is too tall, without it, CS-00002 just fits sliding in from the aft. It doesn't fit trying to slide from the front into the aft.
And you can imagine if the bell crank was installed, it just makes things worse, as it's totally in the way to slide in from the aft.
Hopefully this clears things up.
mcgaughy RV-7A
RE: Plenum changes -- Transparent Aluminum -- or similar material needed.
…Richard Connell
The plug I formed up doing a layup on top of the cowl. Then made some edges out of foam sandwich. Set that at about 1/2 under the inside of the cowl.
Spent a bit of time making the oil filler recess.
Once it was all done I 2k the plug and polished up.
The mold was just polyester. Cheap and quick.
I did go down the rabbit hole on post curing and high temp resins but it was the middle of Covid and it all got too hard. I thought about making an oven too. I ended up talking to a well respected composite builder locally that convinced me to do the layup in vinylester. I got one locally that has a Tg of 135c so 275F.
Miraculously I pulled that part on the first attempt. It was also my first ever infusion. So beginners luck I guess!
After that sucess I made a set of engine mount bolt covers for the rear baffle. That was trivial by comparison.
Fugitive RV-6
jcbarker
OFF TOPIC:
Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!
Please consider donating yearly to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:
Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:
THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)
Hope your weekend had better laundry facilities…..and some RVs in the FOV. <g>
v/r,dr
PS:
Unmentionables and flying shirt needed again in 48 hours. Letting them dry post-shower. The glamour of part time contract and weather <g>. VAF helped me pass the time…. And that view!!!!!
dr
WDYDWYRTW? 4 / 26-27 / 2025
...getting it started. Hoping you're having a nice one. v/r,dr
vansairforce.net
Mothership
Marc Cook Joins Van’s Aircraft as E-Commerce and Media Manager
Marc Cook Joins Van’s Aircraft as E-Commerce and Media Manager - Van's Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes
Marc Cook has joined Van’s Aircraft as E-commerce and Media Manager. In this role, he will help drive the expansion of the Van’s webstore and lead improvements to customer-facing systems and communications. As editor in chief of Kitplanes magazine for a total of 11 years (and more than 130...
www.vansaircraft.com
131CM FS
FS: RV-8A N131CM. Less than 200 hrs TT.
$145,000 Less than 200 hours TT. [ed: I’m posting this for my mechanic/friend, Randy Richmond. If he says it's solid, it's solid. He’s the contact to reach out to if interested. His email is: rrv8er 'at’ yahoo ‘dot’ com. v/r,dr] Full size images at...
www.vansairforce.net
RE: RV-12iS Fuel Pump issue …Tony Kirk reply
I assumed from the first post it was a new build, not a flying aircraft, my bad.
According to the electrical schematics in the POH (and the Rotax Installation Manual) the Fuel Pump Switches only switch the ground side of the Fuel Pump circuits. There is no "fuel pump power" going through the HIC connectors from the ECU or to the FP Switches.
Newest Paint Job!
Ron decided it was time to honor his beloved pup, “Aileron”. Big thanks to Ron for letting us tackle a project so close to his heart.
vansairforce.net
Bob Y RV-12
12iS Spark-Plug Wire Chafing
When performing my 5-year coolant hose replacement, I had to unbolt the ignition coils to gain access. When I folded them back, I discovered the #4 cylinder top spark-plug wire had been rubbing on the air box and worn through the outer jacket and into the core. This was at 450 hrs. Five of...
vansairforce.net
RE: Electric Flaps install RV4 - Looking for someone who has done it!
…fixnflyguy RV-4
I put them in during my RV-4 build, so it was very easy. If you aren't a "builder", It may be challenging, as it's not a bolt in operation. The R/H tunnel web has to be modifiied and cut, you will need the entire center floor removed, and the VANs supplied weldment/control arms require a second set of nylon pivot blocks located/installed. There will be a hole through the belly skin for the bellcrank arm pivot bolt and brackets for the actuator. While not complicated, it's got quite few moving pieces. There are quite a few RV-4's with a homebrew much simpler retrofit which installs the actuator vertically in the R/H sidewall and ties into the existing weldment, but the VANs kit is less intrusive to the passenger environment. I have my flap control buttons on my stick grip along with aileron and elevator trim...I LOVE the HOTAS system and never have to reach for anything on the panel. I also built close-outs for all the interior areas that have moving parts, and here is no flap handle for passenger foot fouling. You can see most of the parts in the pictures. I probably have some better shots in my build book, but it's not with me at the moment.
Electric Flaps install RV4 - Looking for someone who has done it!
I am installing the electric flaps with the kit from Vans. Got the install instructions. Would love to get in touch with someone who has done the install and perhaps see pictures! Would be great to have a good visual understanding before starting the project! Endre
vansairforce.net
RE: section 58-02 yaw servo install question, before big join
…lipper03
I went out and took a photo, the issue is you can't get CS-00002 through the bulkhead hole and the F-1489A because F-1489A is too tall, without it, CS-00002 just fits sliding in from the aft. It doesn't fit trying to slide from the front into the aft.
And you can imagine if the bell crank was installed, it just makes things worse, as it's totally in the way to slide in from the aft.
Hopefully this clears things up.
section 58-02 yaw servo install question, before big join
I'm looking at section 36, 56, and 58 to do the servo bracket installs while I have the tailcone free before the big join. When I rivet the yaw servo mount (F-14189A/B) to each other and F-01407-L/R, will I be able to remove the bellcrank plate (F-14139)? I'm wondering if others can let me...
vansairforce.net
mcgaughy RV-7A
Lower Cowl doesn't match plans with newer nose strut
Take a look at the attached photos. I was wondering if anyone else has ran into this...and if you did, you did you solve? RV7a with newer style cushion nose strut, horizontal induction cowl. The bottom of my cowl is level with the bolt holes for the gear strut leg fairing and it should be...
vansairforce.net
RE: Plenum changes -- Transparent Aluminum -- or similar material needed.
…Richard Connell
The plug I formed up doing a layup on top of the cowl. Then made some edges out of foam sandwich. Set that at about 1/2 under the inside of the cowl.
Spent a bit of time making the oil filler recess.
Once it was all done I 2k the plug and polished up.
The mold was just polyester. Cheap and quick.
I did go down the rabbit hole on post curing and high temp resins but it was the middle of Covid and it all got too hard. I thought about making an oven too. I ended up talking to a well respected composite builder locally that convinced me to do the layup in vinylester. I got one locally that has a Tg of 135c so 275F.
Miraculously I pulled that part on the first attempt. It was also my first ever infusion. So beginners luck I guess!
After that sucess I made a set of engine mount bolt covers for the rear baffle. That was trivial by comparison.
Plenum changes -- Transparent Aluminum -- or similar material needed.
Hello hive mind, I am reworking my plenum cover and looking for material that's stiff enough to resist bowing/bending from the incoming air, yet flexible enough to span 4 cylinder heads and absorb their movement relative to each other. Pictures of the current plenum cover below. I used...
vansairforce.net
Fugitive RV-6
Proper repair procedure for cracks in aft bulkhead.
I have sent these photos with a brief email to Van's and awaiting on reply but I'd like to get thoughts from brain trust here. We found cracks in aft bulkhead on 1995 RV6 with 1700 hours. The bulkhead appears to be two identical bulkheads sandwiched back to back. Thoughts on proper procedure?
vansairforce.net
jcbarker
Jack points on fuselage
I'm getting ready to mount my wheel fairings. The wings and emp are in the hangar waiting for the arrival of the fuselage which is in the shop at my house. While working through the KAI on mounting the wheel fairings I realized that the fuse needs to be jacked up in such a way as to remove the...
vansairforce.net
OFF TOPIC:
Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!
VAF Charity Cap: Help your charity and promote this site.
Get the cap all the cool kids are wearing! I don’t get a penny. It’s around $15. $5 more if you want your N-number on the back (I put 'STAFF' on the back of mine because it makes me laugh. Put STAFF on yours too if it makes you smile). And down the road $10 to the charity of your choice...
vansairforce.net
Please consider donating yearly to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:
Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:
Doug's Area ...The VAF News, About VAF, My Resume
Pushed out every now and then.
www.vansairforce.net
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...
vansairforce.net
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