...getting it started.
v/r,dr
v/r,dr
Van's Air Force
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WDYDWYRTW? Jul 26-27, 2025
- Thread starter DeltaRomeo
- Start date
After 4 weeks of fog and inversion layer in the region, we finally had a few flyable days. Sadly the best of them were during the working week, but Sunday dawned with a stunning red sky, a high overcast and good visibility so my wife and I decided to make an attempt to fly around the "Catlins" - the wild south-east coast of the South Island. Our two previous attempts at this scenic flight were foiled by fog and rain... so we were hoping it would be a case of third time lucky.
The transit to Balclutha went fast with a 20 knot tailwind at 6,500' giving a steady 180 knot GS. The descent through the friction layer required some planning but the journey along the coast at 1500' was very smooth. The remote beaches and ancient volcanic landscape made for a beautiful flight. As we closed in on Invercargill we decided to request clearance to 5,500' and transit to Mossburn where we were planning on meeting friends and grabbing a coffee. As we levelled out at the approved altitude a sudden banging noise started up outside the aircraft. The engine was running perfectly, all indications were fine, there were no control issues but there was a very loud and very disconcerting death rattle outside. I just couldn't figure out what it was. I'd polished the aircraft on Saturday and as part of this exercise you're visually checking everything over, so I knew there were no panels loose, yet it sounded like something was flapping in the breeze. Weird. Oh well, nothing for it but to make an PAN call and declare an emergency. I slowed to 110 knots and we dawdled across to NZNV. The noise persisted. We were cleared straight in and were a little surprised to see a welcoming committee of four fire engines with their red lights flashing and looking like they were ready to rescue the heck out somebody. I felt a little inadequate. It must have been disappointing for them that we greased the wheeler and taxiied in normally.
The origin of the noise was the rubber strip on the wingroot fairing, which for reasons that are beyond me suddenly decided to pull itself out of position and beat itself against the fuselage. In my 700 hours of flying RV-6's I've never seen this happen before. This machine has 210 hours and it's never even hinted at moving previously. Strange. I removed all the screws (photo is taken as I was removing the fairing to reset the rubber strip), reinstalled the rubber and buttoned it all up again. My wife went to the cafe and spent up large on muffins and scones which we delivered to the Crash Fire Crew and Air Traffic Controller by way of thank-you, then we headed to Mossburn for a much needed brew. After a couple of local Cheese Rolls (a southern delicacy) and a pot of tea we flew the final 35 minute leg home via the Nevis Valley to another greasy landing at Cromwell. Aside from the rubber popping out the journey had been fantastic and the scenery was just beautiful.
I'm still at a loss to understand why this rubber strip suddenly decided to make a break for freedom. Strange. I could have done without the distraction though.
The transit to Balclutha went fast with a 20 knot tailwind at 6,500' giving a steady 180 knot GS. The descent through the friction layer required some planning but the journey along the coast at 1500' was very smooth. The remote beaches and ancient volcanic landscape made for a beautiful flight. As we closed in on Invercargill we decided to request clearance to 5,500' and transit to Mossburn where we were planning on meeting friends and grabbing a coffee. As we levelled out at the approved altitude a sudden banging noise started up outside the aircraft. The engine was running perfectly, all indications were fine, there were no control issues but there was a very loud and very disconcerting death rattle outside. I just couldn't figure out what it was. I'd polished the aircraft on Saturday and as part of this exercise you're visually checking everything over, so I knew there were no panels loose, yet it sounded like something was flapping in the breeze. Weird. Oh well, nothing for it but to make an PAN call and declare an emergency. I slowed to 110 knots and we dawdled across to NZNV. The noise persisted. We were cleared straight in and were a little surprised to see a welcoming committee of four fire engines with their red lights flashing and looking like they were ready to rescue the heck out somebody. I felt a little inadequate. It must have been disappointing for them that we greased the wheeler and taxiied in normally.
The origin of the noise was the rubber strip on the wingroot fairing, which for reasons that are beyond me suddenly decided to pull itself out of position and beat itself against the fuselage. In my 700 hours of flying RV-6's I've never seen this happen before. This machine has 210 hours and it's never even hinted at moving previously. Strange. I removed all the screws (photo is taken as I was removing the fairing to reset the rubber strip), reinstalled the rubber and buttoned it all up again. My wife went to the cafe and spent up large on muffins and scones which we delivered to the Crash Fire Crew and Air Traffic Controller by way of thank-you, then we headed to Mossburn for a much needed brew. After a couple of local Cheese Rolls (a southern delicacy) and a pot of tea we flew the final 35 minute leg home via the Nevis Valley to another greasy landing at Cromwell. Aside from the rubber popping out the journey had been fantastic and the scenery was just beautiful.
I'm still at a loss to understand why this rubber strip suddenly decided to make a break for freedom. Strange. I could have done without the distraction though.
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Flew a search mission for a missing LSA. Guy bought the airplane from my next door neighbor and before departing told the seller he'd be doing a couple of T&G's before leaving the area. He left at low altitude and never returned. He didn’t answer on the radio. There was concern that he'd gone down somewhere on crosswind or downwind. I went up to look for him while the rest of the airport gang went out searching by auto. We never found him. He'd changed plans on the fly and left the area immediately after takeoff.
For what it is worth, doing an airborne search from the pattern is spooky. Lots of radio calls, but no guarantee that everyone is paying attention.
For what it is worth, doing an airborne search from the pattern is spooky. Lots of radio calls, but no guarantee that everyone is paying attention.
Finished my wiring harness as much as I could on the bench and began stripping the water based primer I originally sprayed so I can spray SPI Epoxy Primer as the sole interior paint. Once the epoxy dries I'm going to install the harness and put everything back together.
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Daughter, 16 in October, took her first lesson in the RV that I built. She's been warming up in the instructors Cherokee but he decided it was time to transition to the RV. Little thing that amounts to a big day for me.
He said she did great, a bunch of pattern work unassisted and better than she was flying the Piper. She's got a serious poker face, he said he seemed more excited about it than she was.
He said she did great, a bunch of pattern work unassisted and better than she was flying the Piper. She's got a serious poker face, he said he seemed more excited about it than she was.
Took my first passenger/lifelong co-pilot up.
I got the AW last year, but didn't have any interior except a used pilot seat for the longest time. That's great for phase 1 but not so swell for her.
When I finished phase one I said she was welcome to go up but she'd have to sit on a couch cushion. Not surprisingly, she decided to pass on that golden opportunity and waited until the Lemke interior arrived and got installed during the condition inspection.
I got the AW last year, but didn't have any interior except a used pilot seat for the longest time. That's great for phase 1 but not so swell for her.
When I finished phase one I said she was welcome to go up but she'd have to sit on a couch cushion. Not surprisingly, she decided to pass on that golden opportunity and waited until the Lemke interior arrived and got installed during the condition inspection.
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Awesome. Love it.
Yep, it's a fabulous feeling for us as pilots when the little ones grow up and suddenly we find them sitting in the front left seat. My daughter is 20 and is just finishing her CPL. She's not interested in the airlines - she'd rather fly a C185 in Alaska. My son was a late starter but has finally committed to getting his PPL at age 25 - mainly because his younger sister has the jump on him and he doesn't like being left behind. I'm waiting for the day when I go to the hangar and find my RV-6 gone. It's an event that's closer than I imagine.
One thing that I've really found hard to cope with is the difference between the dream - that the kids will one day learn to fly - and the reality - when I stand beside the hangar and with absolute pride watch my daughter disappear off into the great beyond, but find myself fretting evey minute she's away and praying for her safe return. Flightradar24 becomes your friend.
I remember sitting in the backyard and looking up at my Citabria fly over and realizing it’s my son up there flying
Looks like we were neighbors. Mine is the blue and grey RV6 a row ahead of the yellow one.
And since we're on the topic, my son and I flew home from OSH to SoCal in formation with another RV-6. We overnighted in Liberal, KS. Love the FBO there -- they always have crew cars, hangar space, and friendly people.
We got beat up by turbulence coming out of St. John's AZ and it lasted until almost the Hector VOR (HEC). No altitude was good. We finally settled on 12,500' for the "best" ride, but I spent hours in up and downdrafts just trying to keep the speed in a reasonable range. After that 3.3 hour leg, I was more than ready to get out of the airplane.
--Ron
I was doing some cooling duct tubing work today on the cowl ramps. I concentrated hard on not drilling into a finger when making rivet holes (successfully!). Promptly did a through and through stab of the fleshy part of my left index finger while using a 3/16" flat head screwdriver as a pry bar. 
The bleeding has mostly stopped, I have a call into my PCP for some antibiotics.
The bleeding has mostly stopped, I have a call into my PCP for some antibiotics.
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