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The RV News Roundup 
  A site catering to the lifestyle of building, flying and socializing about RV kitplanes.  Pushed out M-F 1300Z(ish).

Fri May 16, 2008 1147z
  Thursday was pretty weird.  No flying, but we did have a runway incident at 52F which resulted in no physical injuries, but some pretty shaken folks and two damaged airplanes.  The NTSB will have the final word, of course, but let me remind folks again how important it is to get a mental picture in your head of what's in the pattern before you pull on the runway.  The two folks here were apparently in radio contact, but there was confusion obviously.  Runway 35 at 52F has trees at the south end, so I prefer to fly a steeper than usual, slipping 180* turn to final when the wind is out of the north.  The runway dips down a little there at the south end and if a plane at the run up area pulls way up against the very end they don't get a wide, unobstructed view of what's on final.  When I'm about to takeoff on 35, I do my run up on the TAXIWAY a hundred or so feet north of where most folks do.  Call me chicken, but I like to be able to look down a long final for the occasional Baron or light twin draggin' it in low.
  Hope you can make it to TEX on Saturday - gonna be RV rich (I hope).  I'll charge the camera and take lots of pics in case you can't come.
  Have a happy and RV-filled weekend!  See you Monday and fly safe. 

Runway Incursion at 52F Thursday  (this part posted yesterday afternoon - moved up top for today)
 There was a runway incursion at my home airport (52F) a few hours ago.  A Cherokee landed on top of a Stinson.  Everyone involved walked away without injuries.  When landing runway 35 here, a pilot should be aware there is a row of trees that can conceal an aircraft at the run up area.  It's very important when flying into 52F to be vigilant of possible aircraft there, especially high wing aircraft, and to use proper traffic pattern radio calls.  Thank God nobody was injured.
  I took several images (below) and will present more tomorrow.

(media outlets are more than welcome to use these images free of charge IF VansAirForce.net is credited)

(16) pictures online at: http://picasaweb.google.com/VansAirForce/52FRunwayIncursion_051508
...a pretty good argument for doing a complete visual scan of the entire airport taxiway system while you're on downwind.

After clicking on the image below, maximize your screen and click 'Slideshow'.

(media outlets are more than welcome to use these images
free of charge IF VansAirForce.net is credited)

Aviation WX Guide for Pilots Available Free on New Site: www.aviationweather.ws/ ...brought to my attention by Don Hull.
  

New Van's Item: RV-12 Pocket T-shirt Click here for more information
   

TEX '08 This Saturday

SoCal Gathering This Weekend

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Shaun Frendo (Melbourne, Victoria), Mark Turner (UK), Scott Powers (PA)

RV-7 Builder Brad Oliver Is Documenting His IFR Lessons In A Blog That You Should Visit ...Good Stuff.  Be sure to watch the May 8th video of a cat III ILS.

Motivation
RV-10 Out of the Paint Shop: Mark Steffensen of Milton, GA
   "N888FF has 65 hours and first flight was June of 2007.  Paint was applied by Advance Aircraft Refinishers (Griffin GA) by Tony Diaz.   You may remember Advanced Aircraft Refinishers as they painted the 2007 AOPA "Catch a Cardinal" as described in 2007 AOPA Magazine.  The RV1O is a great aircraft and performs as per Van's performance numbers."
   related: The RV-10 Forum

RV Classifieds Spotlighted
	New listings in the forums classified section:  F.S.: RV-10 COMPLETED EMP. and TAIL CONE  RV-7 For Sale  FS: Fuel Selector, Fuel Gauges (2)  FS: RV-10 IO-540 Dual Cheltons, Electronics Internation  RV-8 Pe-punched tail kit 85%  O 360 A1A for sale  RV-8 Wing and Empenage kits for sale FREE to post and view. (posting tips)
VAF Calendar 60 Days Out (go to Main VAF calendar)
	ADD and EDIT your own area's RV events. 05-17-2008: EAA Chapter 302 Fly-in, TEX '08 (KJWY), IAC Ch.25 "Two Design Aerobatic Contest" for Rv's, EAA Chapter 91 Breakfast (KLXT), KPSO Fly-In Breakfast, RV fly-in at Chino (CNO), CA, EAA 445 AirFest 2008 & RV Fly-in (KTLH) 05-18-2008: EAA 445 AirFest 2008 & RV Fly-in (KTLH) 05-23-2008: Damme (EDWC) Van's Aircraft Fly In 05-24-2008: Damme (EDWC) Van's Aircraft Fly In, AGUA DULCE AIRPORT (L70) FIRST ANNUAL FLY-IN AND BBQ, 5th Annual Center Fly-In (F17), EAA Chapter 95 Open House at KC09 05-25-2008: Damme (EDWC) Van's Aircraft Fly In 05-26-2008: EAA Chapter 1115 Fly-In, Mooreland, Ok (KMDF) 05-31-2008: RV Fly-In - Bloomsburg, PA (N13) 06-01-2008: RV Fly-In - Bloomsburg, PA (N13) 06-06-2008: Golden West 06-07-2008: Golden West, RV Picnic, 9G3, Akron, NY, Fly-in Breakfast KSJN, AZ 06-08-2008: Golden West 06-14-2008: 17th Annual NW RV Fly In - Scappoose, OR KSPB, EAA 146 Spring Breakfast Fly-In, EAA 1209 Fly-in 06-21-2008: Blake's 50th Birthday Party - KDVT, Cuyler Airpark Ice Cream Social, Eagle Mountain Airshow (KPTV) 06-28-2008: EAA Chapter 91 Fly-in/Drive-in and Great American Barnstormers (KLXT), Colorado 150 Air Race 07-04-2008: EAA Chapter 91 Fly-in/Drive-in (KLXT) with "Aluminum Overcast" 07-05-2008: EAA Chapter 91 Fly-in/Drive-in (KLXT) with "Aluminum Overcast" 07-06-2008: EAA Chapter 91 Fly-in/Drive-in (KLXT) with "Aluminum Overcast" 07-09-2008: Artlington 07-10-2008: Artlington 07-11-2008: Artlington 07-12-2008: Artlington 07-13-2008: Artlington  - sub calendars: Oregon / California / N. Texas / S. Texas / Florida

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
New RV-12 Tool Kit Being Offered By Avery Tools
...from the Averys, "We have a new tool kit for the RV-12 builders, based on the recommended tool list from the Van’s RV-12 builders manual.  For the first 25 RV-12 Tool Kits we sell you get a free VAF Hat & T-shirt (need to know size of the shirt you want). There will be a donation going to Make-A-Wish for each hat / shirt given away in this promotion, courtesy of Avery Tools.
Bob & Judy, Ken & Mimi Avery"
1.800.OK.AVERY to order.

Order your VansAirForce.net Shirt Today!

Thu May 15, 2008 1300z
  Wednesday I finally took Flash up for a .9hr flight - first time to fly the RV in nearly two weeks.  Man, it felt good to get some space between me and the ground!  Went over to Bridgeport for (cheaper) fuel, played with the newly installed ASA flight timer, remote compass and listened to some tunes while puttering around at 17 inches.  This round in the air was soundtracked with Common Disaster by the Cowboy Junkies, Tears of Rage by The Band and Where the Devil Don't Stay by The Drive By Truckers.  Weird set and odd taste, I know, but it works for me <g>.  I like bands that play real instruments.  Call me a purest...
  Updated picture of the cockpit (3,000 pixels wide) posted on Flash's page at www.N617AR.com.
  If you can come to TEX this weekend, please do.  The WX is looking good.  Hope you have a swell Thursday! 

New Article: How Long Have You Been Building...by RV-8 builder Chris Mallory (currently stationed in Baghdad)
...from Chris, "I've been in the military since 1987, flying jets and having a great time. In fact, I couldn't get enough, and so I've been building an RV-8 for the past 6 years. Since then the military has moved me twice, four hurricanes have threatened, and I've deployed twice. In fact, I'm writing this note to you from Baghdad. Through it all I've continued to make progress on my RV-8, and the next time I move, I'll be flying it out!

I wrote a little article about my adventures that I think your readers might enjoy (attached). I've been a regular visitor to your site since I began my RV-8 project, and I've seen a few projects mentioned that took longer to build, but I don't think anyone has had to pack the whole project up so many times. I would be very happy and honored if you would post this story on your site.

One way I've been keeping my RV-8 project on my mind during the "groundhog days" of my current deployment is by building a web site about my build. This site discusses the particular problems I faced and ways I overcame them, and offers tips and advice for other builders. I'm looking forward to returning the States, and adding many more pictures. Please have a look, at kit-plane-advice.com.

Sincerely,
Chris Mallory"
[ed. Chris' article has been added to the 'Articles' section (look for the icon).  You can jump straight to it HERE.  dr]

My RV-8 is like the Concorde and SR-71! ...pretty fun read and a nice math exercise.

"OK, before you come to the conclusion that I've fallen off my rocker or been taking a bit much from the bottle, hear this...

While my airspeeds will never match, come close, or even remotely be in the same league as the aformentioned aircraft, my 200 hp, constant speed prop bird does exhibit a similar characteristic. That characteristic my RV-8 and all RVs have in common with the Concorde and SR-71 is... aerodynamic heating! Due to high airspeed, the friction of the air on the aircraft skin will cause a temperature rise. I know what your thinking... "that Jerry must be delusional."

So how did I come to this silly conclusion? Well I noticed my OAT never seemed accurate. I know folks have reported higher temps than actual and I know in some cases it was caused due to poor placement of the probe. However my probe is on the underside of my right wing in the NACA scoop for the copilot vent. It is well away from any potential exhaust. So why did my OAT consistently read about 4 deg C higher than what I though it should read even though I had calibrated it?

On one of those nice flying days (really, aren't they all nice), I noticed my OAT rose about 3 deg C while accelerating from 70 KIAS to about 170 KIAS despite maintaining level flight. Hmmm. I slowed down, the temp went down. Naahh, that couldn't be. It must be some weird air mass thing. Everytime I changed airspeed regardless of altitude, the temp followed. Now, that got my attention and got the electrons in my brain stirring.

So I turned to my favorite information resource... the internet! There I found calculators and formulas that reinforced what I was seeing. I figured I should have been seeing a 4-5 deg C rise? Why the difference? 4-5 deg C rise is from 0 to 170 KIAS, I was going from 70 to 170 KIAS. Thus at 70 KIAS I was already seeing a 1 deg C temp rise due to aerodynamic heating!

OK, sounds great. Can this really be true? Well today I was on final approach into ATL in one of my company's Boeing 757s. Our aircraft and most high performance aircraft have a SAT (static air temp) gage and a TAT (total air temp) gage. The TAT is the sum of the SAT (the true OAT) and the temp rise due to aerodynamic heating. As we approached the final approach fix, we maintained 170 KIAS and 3500' MSL and guess what... The TAT read 4 deg C higher than the SAT!

I can now consider my hypothesis to be correct... At our typical RV cruise speeds, our OAT gages will read about 4 deg C higher than the actual OAT and thus I'm sure my fuselage will stretch a few millimeters as I accelerate to 170 kts! I don't think I 'll be needing any of the space shuttle's thermal tiles or exotic metals, but I do find 4 deg C to be significant if not interesting. The 4 deg C difference will have a minor effect on true airspeed calculations and anything else where temperature is a factor. While saying my RV-8 is like the Concorde and SR-71 is a "strectch" (pun defintely intended), I am astonished that our little airplanes can go fast enough to cause a temp rise! I hope the next time you observe your OAT rise due to increasing airspeed it puts a smile on your face like it does me."

Jerry
N84JE
(discuss)

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Ron LeDuc (FL), Dean Billing (OR)

Motivation
-8 In Flight:...courtesy JR Davis.  Link to more pics.
  

Construction
Ribs Riveted to Spars:...courtesy Mike.  "Last night, I riveted the main ribs to the front and rear spars. I am now working on my wing jig."
  

Two Weeks To Go (I Hope)....Maciek in Poland.  Posted in the The RV-10 Forum.

Event News
Rocky Mountain Regional Fly-In Date Changed To September

Miscellaneous
Shirt Sighting: Somewhere over Marble, CO...sent in by Jay Pratt and Carol.

Top 3 fuel-saving techniques for pilots  By AOPA Pilot Information Center staff
A top concern among AOPA members is the rising cost of avgas. Although alternate fuel sources are being explored all over the world, it will be some time before any of them have a direct impact on general aviation. continue

Wed May 14, 2008 1115z
  Spent the lion's share of Tuesday at Monk's working on the RV-6.  Monk has the static lines the way he wants them, updated the software on the Dynon to see the new remote compass and OAT probe and has done a million other things.  It's really coming together.  I have two antennae cable extensions in the mail that should be one of the last things to do before continuing the 'ol IFR lessons.  Updated both Flash's page and the IFR rating page with the new info and latest pics.
  This'll equipment will be more than adequate to get an IFR rating - some of the YouTube videos I've been watching of WAAS-autopilot coupled approaches have me stoked for the new panel down the road (one example video).  That'll be a hoot!
  The Reeves women commandeered the TV to watch Steel Magnolias Tuesday night, so I made myself a White Russian^w and spent some quality time with John and Martha King.  The Dude abides...
  Have a swell Wednesday - doesn't look like they'll be any VFR flights from Dallas to Austin this morning. 

RV White Pages Current...courtesy the lovely Susie.  Currently listing (2,464) RV projects and planes in (26) countries.

Stein of SteinAir Is Selling his RV-6...pics and complete description.  Nobody is taking bets that the panel doesn't work <g>.

Some New First Flights Being Reported On The Mother Ship

A Tour of Mario's RV-3 Build...fuse on the gear.  Mario lives in the Balearic islands of Spain.

Grady Update.  I stopped in Grady's to see if there was any paint activity going on.  Here's what I got...

Checkers anyone?	Grady's version on Stonehinge.
In the booth.	Next in line...
related: www.GLOcustom.com

Monkey's New Nose Art.   Goes with the yellow plane nicely.
  

Medical
Bifocal Contacts:  Next Chapter...an update from Dean Pichon from this thread
   "After reviewing all the options offered on this topic, I elected to try the bifocal contact thing. The idea of completely giving up glasses is just too enticing. This evening, I went to the eye doctor to be fit for contacts. He immediately suggested lens replacement surgery, then progressive lens glasses, then contacts for distance with glasses for reading. I held my ground and said "bifocal contacts". He said most people don't like them - less than a 50% success rate. I said, "I'll try them." He relented, I tried them and I love them. The sample pair he fit me with allowed me to have better than 20/20 near and far. I would never have believed the concept of a bifocal contact could be so successful. I can't wait to fly with them.
   As soon as I am a little braver and a little richer, I will try lens replacement surgery, but in the meantime, I am thrilled (so far) with these contacts.
   Thanks to all for the input. I am continuously amazed at the breadth and depth of experience of this group.
Dean Pichon"

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Roger Burdorf (OH), Eric Silvers (TX), Steve Jasmer (WA)

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
www.RVengraving.com Back Up...the site was down for a few days but they got it squared away.

Miscellaneous
FAA ISSUES NPRM ON SPORT PILOT RULE
NTSB RELEASES 2007 AVIATION ACCIDENT STATISTICS FAA RELEASES FACT SHEET ON ASDE-X FAA TO INSTALL RUNWAY SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM AT BOSTON LOGAN
www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2008/May/AVNewsUpdateMay2008.pdf

Tue May 13, 2008 1254z
  There are few things funnier than seeing the automatic sprinkler pop up and start spraying water a foot away from your dog while he's, you know...  It happened a few minutes ago with our Chihuahua.  I think the day might be downhill from here.  Might have peaked early ;^).
  Have a swell Tuesday.    

Black Magic Trip Narrative (Motivational?)...by Dana Overall
   "Black Magic officially became a passenger carrying time machine this past weekend. It's not a Bahama trip summary, a Monument Valley picture album, but ya gotta start somewhere.
   Elaine and I loaded up luggage for us, along with a pillow and book for her, and launched out of i39 for the Cincy River Rats formation clinic at MWO Friday afternoon around 1430. I will have to say it was "way cool" actually putting baggage in the airplane for the first time. Anyway, with a borrowed 496 with XM weather, off we went northbound and out of the ol test area. Not being fully comfortable IFR with the airplane yet, we knew we may have to put down short of MWO and either rent a car, hang out and assess the weather ahead or spend the night. We made it about 2 miles south of Cincy's mode C vail when the ceiling had lowered to my pre determined no go levels. We turned around and flew about 10 miles to the south, in a nice clear rain corridor shown on the 496, and landed at an airport we had previously flown over. Don't you just love weather on board and the nearest function. I have the 430 in the panel but the 496 is one fine piece of equipment. We still got a little wet in the pattern but Black Magic needed a power wash anyway. Nice airplane outline on the ramp. I know, I know...I'm working on the wheel pants and gear leg fairings this week."  continue

Rocket Man (panel) ...nice pic brought to our attention by Doug Rozendaal.

Another way to cut your canopy (use a cast cutter) ...idea by Joe Salomone
   "Yesterday I was preparing to cut the canopy on a 9A when an old friend "IA" stopped by to visit and asked what I was going to cut the canopy with. Like everyone else, the die grinder and a cutoff disc. He said he had something better and returned in the morning with an orthopedic "CAST CUTTER". That is correct, doctors cut the cast off a broken bone etc.
The old "IA" has been cutting plexi/Lexan for 40 years with it with no problem.
   I tried it and was amazed......no dust at all....no need for a mask.....no hot chips....no melting plastic......thin circular blade appears to be rotating but it's not, it's oscillating.....very fine control....does not want to climb if going in the wrong direction........ you can put it on your hand and it will not cut you.....and it's quiet, no compressor or high speed angle grinder noise.
   First cut was to "score" a groove as a guide, second pass was right through like butter.  Find your doctor friend and see if he will let go of one. You'll never give it up.
   Works good and lasts a long time...." more info

You CAN Paint Your Plane ...Ken Morris is doing it.
   "After 300 hours, it is time. I am in the middle of painting my RV7A. I built a paint booth in my hangar and I am using DuPont AF700 series basecoat/clearcoat aviation paint. One nice thing about using this product, if you make a mistake, you can wait 6/9 hours and sand repaint. I used some metallic colors and these must be re-coated if sanded." more info

Aint Life Great Part IV (Fiberglass) ...Frank Stringham
   "During the past few weeks...or is it months....when you are enjoying yourself who counts..... I have been knee deep in the infamous FG process.  I have custom made with FG the ram air induction inlet/throttle body air filter enclosure/main gear lower intersection fairings/upper nose roller intersection fairing/HS-VS fairing cosmetic surgery...............what fun.!!!!!!!  Here are a few pix of the custom made nose roller fairing/HS-VS. I use Aereoepoxy resin/hardner, bi and uni cloth and molding clay...."

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Mike Robertson (WA), Steve Wyman (CO)

Milestones
200,000 Posts To Search Through
    Reached in the forums yesterday.  Thanks again for goofing off at work and making this knowledge base possible.

1,000 (Paris, France)...Pascal
   "Today, our project got over the 1000 hours mark.  To make it a special day we took the canopy out of storage and put it on the fuselage.  You can guess what the next task will be."

Miscellaneous
A Little Nod
   A few months back I was contacted about using a picture in a magazine.  "Happy to help, of course.  Take any picture you want and let me know if you need more."  I few days back I got the magazine in the mail (a nice gesture) and was pleased to see Paul Schattauer's RV-8 off the Oregon coast on page 28 of the Spring Issue of the University of Portland's magazine.  I took that picture from the back seat of Danny King's 'Beautiful Doll' on an afternoon flight down the Oregon coast during Homecoming '04.  They actually reversed it in the mag (the original / another from the same flight).  You should be able to read the article about Van when they get the current issue on their web site.  It's a nice read.
   I think they picked a good picture and subject matter for their magazine! 
  
     a couple of pics of the magazine on my sidewalk

Mon May 12, 2008 1144z
  Didn't RVate any this past Friday, but I did get to play a little golf...and by little I mean bad.  I'm not what you'd call an 'accomplished' player by any stretch of the word.  Susie attended and offered support when needed (most holes).  Pity aside, we did get to hang for a few hours with two RV fellows and a Globe Swift guy out at Willow Springs west of Alliance airport, got to enjoy the lack of clouds, low humidity and moderate temps.  Shot par on two holes and almost did it a third time, but choked on a five footer.  Great fun, lots of airplane talk, and plenty of opportunity to see where my game is lacking.  Fun in the Texas Sun.  I did come up with a name for RV-8 builder and attendee Rob Reece, who knows his way around a golf course:  Michelangelo from San Angelo.
  Saturday I went down to Granbury, TX to attend the Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In - an awesome gathering of planes, people and pecans.  The actor who played Chewbacca lives nearby, so who wouldn't feel safe?  Chewy's got your back!  More on the fly-in below...
  Sunday was doing whatever Susie told us to do, you understand that.  Watched the final round of The Players...all 5.5 hours of it...while trying to string together a RV-related sentence or three on the laptop.  Paul Goydos ALMOST pulled off a Cinderella win - no sponsor and wearing a college baseball cap.  Man, we were all screamin' for him.  Bet he has a sponsor next week <g>.
  Hope to get out to 52F Monday to see how the old girl is doing.  IFR test studying this weekend: zero hours.  Hope you had a happy and safe RV-filled weekend and your Monday goes swell. 

   not related at all:  pics from Friday's golf game | map of course
  
    SPOT track of round <g>

First Flight: Steve RV-9A (Roy, Utah)  [last name not given]
   "After 3 years 10 months with 2150-ish hours, s/n 90979 took wing today. It weighed in at 1045 lbs without outside paint but primed and painted inside. Day VFR with an ECI o320 and Sensenich prop. Interior by Classic Aero. Garmin SL40 and GTX327 with a PS1000II intercom. Vans gages."

Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In Pictures
   Great fun.  Flash is getting some plastic surgery done (below), so I flew the Miata down to Granbury for the '08 Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In.  1.2 hrs...only about twenty minutes more all told than if I'd taken the plane (it's really not that far).  Some of those curvy roads around here were very entertaining, and I really should have had the top down for it, but I was trying to negotiate my way around a Whataburger taquito with sausage and didn't want to make it any more work.
   When I arrived I popped the trunk to get out the camera gear that I'd brought - four lenses and enough memory to do it right.  Unfortunately, I left the camera ON the entire drive down and the battery was now kinda low.  Plan B was the pocket digital spare.  Good O' spare.
   Don Christiansen gave several of us a tour of his and Linda's about-to-be-finished house (beautiful).  Saw a lot of the usual suspects (Jay, Carol, Rich, Pat, Don, Danny, MJ, Mike) and a few folks I don't see very often (Bill/Debbie and John Parks).
  There were formation passes, plenty of food, helicopters, a jet, ultralights, thousands of pecan trees and lots of laughs.  It's one of the great gatherings and I'm lucky to live semi-close to it. 
  The (39) pictures I took can be found at: http://picasaweb.google.com/VansAirForce/Pecan08.  Hope you enjoy!

Flash Update
   The ADI is back in on the right side, the Dynon remote compass and OAT probe are hooked up, the MX20 has been removed and a nice open-faced glove box is in its place (lined with scrap leather and with a lip modeled after the headstock of a Gibson ES-335).  Stuff going there are things like AF/D, plates, candy bars, spare camera, batteries, sunscreen, etc.  The antennae farm I had on the dash has been relocated to a new tray running parallel to the roll bar support bracket per Tony's idear.  Of special note is the alum tube curving around the roll bar on the right side housing the antennae cables.  Room for one more antennae.  Tony is a metal artist!  All this is a temporary state until I get the new panel installed in a few months, but it's nice to get it squared away solid.
   Pics upper right on Flash's page... N617AR.com 

A Virtual Tour of Ray Roerr's Flying RV-10 ...posted by Ray.
   "After two years of flying, I finally painted my RV-10. Now when I fly to Oshkosh, instead pf identifying my plane as a Cherokee, they are likely to call me a Columbia 400 or Cessna 400. Here is a link to a bunch of pictures of the painting process for N519RV (40250)"

New RVator Is Online...from the factory site.
   

Jim Cone RV-12 Flaperons Done.  Final Wing Pics.

New Tail Art Pic

Pics: Timing is Everything ...trust me....it's funny.

Are Needle and Ball Obsolete? ...by Iron
   "OK, here is a question that my raise the ire of the more experienced pilots in the room - is flying by needle, ball, and airspeed obsolete? Now before you get out the pitchforks, torches, and AN Low Frequency Range receivers, let me elaborate…..
   There is no doubt whatsoever that no matter what airplane you are flying under IFR, you need to have backups in case of failures. In the old days, we all learned that if you lost your vacuum pump, you were going to lose the Attitude Indicator and DG, so you were left with the Turn and Bank, Airspeed, and Altimeter - a daunting and difficult prospect under the best conditions and level proficiency, and seat-clenchingingly difficult in the bumps. We’ve all been there….but will current and future students of instrument flying need to be?" continue

Lucky's RV-8...a virtual tour.

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Tom Rogers (IL), John Hill (WA), Gary Henn (UK), Danny Sheridan (OR), Dave Cole (Ohio), Scott Lane (OR)

Milestones
Left Wing Complete: Steve from Santa Clarita, CA
  "Left wing is complete, including aileron and flap (not shown here)...Many thanks to Jim Deas for helping me get this task completed finally, so I can move on to the other wing. Also, many thanks to my neighbor Alex for his help getting me to this point.  Building on...
Steve
  

1000 And Counting 

Seats Done (Rv-10): Michael Wellenzohn of Switzerland
   "Since I don't have any experience in upholstery work I decided to get some professional help. Mr. Kress helped me with the design and did the entire work in his company.  You can tell if someone is passionate about his job. It's the first time he did aircraft seats seems like a good challenge compared to the regular Bentley, Rolls Royce and Aston Martins he is usually working on ;-)"
   
    related: The RV-10 Forum

Safety
New APRS User: Scott Card 

Fri May 9, 2008 1247z
Have a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend! 

Any Weekend RV Plans?  ...have an event you want to promote?  Put it in the Main VAF Calendar, or in one of the area-specific sub calendars: Oregon / Texas(N/S) / Florida / California .  You can also view area activity in the Regional Section.

Do You Remove Your Oil Pickup Screen At Every Oil Change?

What Wax Do You Use...an interesting discussion on products folks use to fly faster? (Rosie is a NU Finish man.  Chris Pratt doesn't wax).

Gary Sobek Has 1,100 hours On His Champion Spark Plugs...see how he does it.

Kahuna's Oxygen Refill Station (pics)....start here and read down the next three/four replies.

A Virtual Tour of Ed Coudon's RV-4

Reid-Hillview Users, please read (California)
...posted by Michael Coyle in the 'California' section
I'm sure more than one person on this forum is based at or has used Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose (RHV). In case you aren't aware, RHV is once again threatened with closure by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. An RV-6 owner friend of mine mentioned that the VAF forum members might want to know what the story is. The executive summary is that the county is facing a massive budget shortfall, and some local officials believe that the answer is to sell off county assets, including RHV.

Even if you aren't based at RHV, consider the impact this closure would have. If the county manages to void its agreements with the FAA that require it to keep the airport open in exchange for federal grants, it would set a terrible precedent that would make it easier to close other airports around the country. (The county counsel has stated in the past that she believes this can be done.)

My reason for posting about this now is that we need your help. Local organizations like CRAMP (www.cramp.org) and RHVAA are joining the fight (with help from AOPA and others). Specifically, we need to support candidates for Supervisor who believe that the airport is an irreplaceable asset.

We're supporting Dave Cortese (www.cortese4supervisor.com) by hosting a BBQ fundraiser for Dave Cortese on May 17th, starting at 5pm, at the Amelia Reid Aviation Hangar at RHV. We are suggesting a minimum contribution of $100, which when you think about it buys only 20 gallons of 100LL for your airplane in most of CA.

If you can't make it to the BBQ but donate to the candidate anyway, please mention that you are a pilot and that you support the candidate's efforts to sustain Reid-Hillview. Alternately, we welcome donations to the CRAMP-PAC (see http://cramp.org/cramp-pac/).

Please feel free to PM me if you want additional information. Or if you feel this sort of post is objectionable. Thank you.

Michael Coyle
pilot, Mooney M20C

Donations Section Updated By Susie

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Milt Sadoway (Vancouver), Jim Polk (CA), Michael Coco (TX)

Spotlighted Thread
Sticker Spotted...there I was...driving down the road minding my own business...
    related: Wanna free sticker?

Event News
TEX '08 is on the 17th

Thu May 8, 2008 1253z
  Wednesday evening I finished the FARs section of the King IFR DVDs and added a little table at the top of that section showing how the IFR rating progress is....well....progressing.  AIMs next...  There's hope for me yet <g>.
   Updated the 'Travels to Date' map on Flash's page (www.N617AR.com).  I needed to add a trip line for a flight last year up to Petit Jean, AR.  I should have added a line down to Houston, because it flew down down there once with Ironflight as PIC, but since I wasn't in the plane I didn't count it.  Paul can start his own map of trips he's taken in my plane .
  Hope you have a great Thursday!!! 

Update on Flash's Facelift
   The OAT probe and remote compass are installed.  Monk took these pictures of the O2 doubler plate Tony made up to mount my bottle where I can reach it.  The bottle is now mounted (sorry for the blurry pic).  Work continues...

Newly installed O2 bottle mount...


 
  Some more pics of the remote compass install
(opens new window)

POTUS over Waco Thu-Sun (daughter getting married)...fair warning.

Aircraft Spruce Sale (Georgia Location May 17th)...sent in by Desiree in their Marketing Dept.
  "We have an event coming up in our Georgia location which is our Aircraft Spruce East Super Sale & Fly-In. The link on our website with the information is: www.aircraftspruce.com/eastcoastSupersale.php
Thank you,
Desiree"
  [ed. ...from their site: "There will be many vendors in attendance as well as prize giveaways, discounted products and free hotdogs and sodas!"]

Rene Felker's RV-10 POH   ...Rene sent this in and I put it in the POH section.  You can use it as a starting point for compiling your RV-10 POH.

   related: The RV-10 Forum | The RV-10 Registry (finished) | The RV-10 section of the RV White Pages

Jim Cone RV-12 Flaperon Construction Pics

May Issue of the ch377 'Fly Paper' Is Online...and there are some RV photos in there.

VAF Family
Welcome To The VAF Forums: Don Winters (IN), Vince Himsl (ID), Brett Woods (Boise, ID)

Milestones
Ready to fly: Bruce Meecham (RV-4 fastback)
   "Ready to fly and waiting on paperwork from FAA registration"

Canoe: Mike in Kentucky
"Just wanted everyone to see I'm really building something also and just not posting.  Mike H came over this last Sunday and helped me finish riveting the forward skins on the plane."

Safety
Probable Cause #57: Out Of Control
...from avweb's reprint of a June '07 IFR Refresher article
  On the morning of Jan. 18, 2000, a King Air Model C-90, on a Part-91, single-pilot, IFR flight from Columbus, Ohio, crashed into the guy wire of a 460-foot AGL radio tower on approach to the Somerset-Pulaski County--J.T. Wilson Field Airport (KSME) in south-central Kentucky. The pilot and four passengers were killed in the subsequent crash. Somerset weather at the time of the crash was IFR, but with good surface visibility -- not what might be considered a challenge for the PIC who had logged nearly 20,000 hours of flight time during his career. During the post-crash investigation, discrepancies in the pilot's total flight time logged wer