Tue 06.30.09 1202z
  After a morning of paperwork and typing, I just might head out to 52F for a little mid-day time with the RV-6.  Things all over the floor (doing annual with Monk), but progress being made.  New tires are on.
  Have a great Tuesday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● July Calendar Wallpaper Now Online ...this month's is a BEAUTIFUL shot by Mark Burns of Zack Spivey's RV-8A
  

● Trip Write Up: Las Vegas - Clapton, Winwood, and LOP with the Lycosaur! ...John Wiegenstein (RV-6)
   I will apologize in advance if this is a bit off topic, but it does involve another passion (besides flying and RVs) that is close to your [dr's] heart, so bear with me...
   Why go to broiling hot Las Vegas at the end of June? Well, if you obtained a pair of tickets ($$$) to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the MGM Grand on June 27, you would definitely want to make that flight!
   Laurie and I launched from Bremerton late Thursday morning, got up above a pretty solid undercast, and had a smooth ride into Lakeview, OR (KLKV) for gas. Lakeview is a large, easy to find airport just north of the CA border, and Bert and the rest of the FBO crew there were friendly and helpful as usual. We had planned to stop in Carson City for the night, but there were late afternoon t'storms moving through that area, so we opted for Susanville, CA (KSVE) instead. After a short but somewhat bumpy flight to Susanville we tied down at Susanville Aviation, where Ed, Angela, and the rest of the staff were super friendly and helpful. We grabbed the crew car and toured the town, and got a room at the High Country Inn and dinner at Mazatlan Grill. Both were very good.
   Friday morning found us out at the airport early to take advantage of cool, smooth air, and that is just what we got. After a smooth, easy flight of ~2.2 hours we descended under the Las Vegas Class B and arrived at Henderson Executive, where the "follow me" van directed us to parking and handled our bags for us. This FBO has received many kudos on Airnav.com for fabulous service, and we were not disappointed.
   A short cab ride had us in Vegas and we entered a very strange world (I've never been there before). We stayed at the Signature by MGM, which is next to the MGM Grand but is designed for a quieter, less raucous crowd (i.e., old fudds in their late 40s like us...). A very nice suite and great service, but expensive in all ways ($6 for a bottle of Bud? are you kidding me?) -->

● RV-12 Plans Revision/Change ...Section 38, Page 9 (posted 6/29)

Motivation
● 7.5 hrs and LOVING IT!
   Flew N234JJ tonight for a 1.1 hour flight in my Phase 1 Flight test program. I think tonight was my favorite flight I have ever flown! It was a 'cool' 89 degrees (been crazy hot here in Texas lately) and the air was smooth after a day of thunderstorms. I had been slowly working out a left wing heavy tendancy and tonight all the control surfaces were finally balanced and the rudder was neutral at cruise. It just literally flew hands off. I have recently replaced the carb with a 4164 MS carb and that eliminated the 'hot' cylinders and now at full throttle and 2500 RPM, 3,000 MSL, staying near 400 CHT and only 203 degrees oil. I have 7.5 total hours and am impressed with the performance of the plane. Don't really feel any penalty for the bigger tires and LOVE the way the RV-4 'auto' lands! -->

● A Picture of Dayton Murdock's RV-4 and Snow ...for the folks where it's hot.

● A Peek At Ed DArcy's 'Old School' RV-6A Panel
   This is old school, finished 1999.  The 430 &, ap was added under the panel. 496 and ipod mount on left.

Video
● RV-8 'Crazy Woman' ...enjoying her new home in Texas.

Milestones
●  First Light: JCBarker's Panel
   Well finally. Flipped the master switch for the first time today. Every thing lit up and the smoke stayed on the inside!

Miscellaneous

● OT: Missing Moon-Landing Videotapes May Have Been Found
   Just in time for the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, NASA may have found the long-lost original Apollo 11 videotapes.  If true, as Britain's Sunday Express reports, the high-quality tapes may give us a whole new view of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's lunar strolls. -->

Mon 06.29.09 1300z
  Good morning fellow Vanheads!!!  It was HOT down here in Texas over the weekend, and with me still down for a long annual I didn't fly, but Saturday morning while mowing the lawn (and getting bee stung) a lone RV-4 flew over my house at 1K' agl.  NW to SE with a slight dip to the left.  I think it might have been Wynn flying over the neighborhood (he lives around here also).  About an hour later, while on sprinkler adjustment duty, a white and red RV-6A flew SE to NW at about 2K'.  Unlike most in the neighborhood that might have seen the same planes, I know exactly what that feels like, and was with 'em there for just a bit in my mind.  The rest of the day was the normal blur of domestic stuff.  104°F in the garage.  Ugh.
  Sunday was just as hot, so I started taking steps to cool down our south-facing garage.  I dug up a small Texas Red Oak that was sprouting through the flower garden (squirrel planted) and moved it over to a spot in the yard where it would shade the garage doors from morning sun here in a coupla/three years.  And I'm looking at garage a/c options now.  It was 104°F in the garage at 2pm when I stepped out to work on the RV-3B project for a bit.  I didn't last long.  Went inside, crawled under a fan, and watched Paul Goydos almost win (the guy Susie always pulls for).  Kenny Perry made it look easy.  On the book front I finally finished up 'Truman' over the weekend and started 'With The Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa', recommended to me by RV-8 driver (and Marine aviator) Jerry Lawlor.  Can't put it down...
  On the VansAirForce.net charity hat front, I delivered a new batch to Avery's on Friday (pic).  OSH is coming up, it's an easy way to identify site viewers at the event, and at least once a year it results in a big check getting handed to the Make-A-Wish North Texas office (100% of the profits go to charity).  How to order.
  Consider yourself briefed <g>.  Have a great Monday.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Flight: Stan Sutterfield RV-8A
   Another RV Grin is born.  The first flight of RV-8A N884P was 28 Jun 2009 at the Spruce Creek Fly-In, Port Orange, FL.  Thanks to my wife, Pat, for enduring while I followed my dream to build a unique airplane - Eight For Papa.  My heartfelt thanks to my brother Nelson who worked tirelessly for several years with me to complete this airplane. His camaraderie and expert advice were vital to the safe operation of the airplane.
   The airplane is powered by a Barrett IO-390-X turning a MT 3 blade. The injection is Airflow Performance and I used the Rod Bowers ram air intake. I made my own plenum. Ignition is dual P Mags.   Interior is Classic Aero and EFIS is Blue Mountain with an Advanced Flight Systems AF-3400 engine monitor and SL-30. I have two batteries and one Plane Power alternator to power two redundant electrical systems. I'll paint it in a year or so.
   What a nice flying airplane - no heavy wing, ball centered, no issues. Gotta like that! Thanks to Van.
Regards,
Stan Sutterfield

● Trip down to South Lake Tahoe in N119WB
  Vivian and I are still flying our RV-9A, more now than when we completed her in 2004 -- the following is a link to pictures showing our trip from Seattle down to Sunriver Oregon and then into South Lake Tahoe Airport, which was built in the 40's -- the Sunriver Oregon Resort isn't a bad place to stay either. We had always wanted to fly into South Lake Tahoe in our 9'er -- once we finally made it in, the experience exceeded our greatest expectations!
http://mysite.verizon.net/res10mt30/
Enjoy,
John and Vivian :~)
RV-9A, N119WB

● East TX Hop ...Scott Card
   Today our presence was required at my Grandfather's 90th birthday party/lunch in Lufkin Texas. This was a suit and tie event at the country club for the family from all corners, and about 75 of his closest friends. He was an Instrument flight instructor at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station during WWII.
   The few hour drive through the piny woods from Austin is ok, but pretty boring. Good weather and an RV make for an easy day. We saddled up 22C at about 9am for the one hour flight over the top of the thick, hot, oppressive, murky, crud that was the first 9k' that passes for "clear" skies this time of year. At 10.5k', it was almost as if we were skimming along a vast ocean of visible hot below. This was Tanya's leg of the trip to be PIC. Once we got above the hot and it looked like she had things stabilized, I turned on the XM radio for some tunes (classic rock). We both sat there just about as happy as two people could be tapping our feet and swaying back and forth in unison to the music for the next thirty minutes. This is about the time that I still just can't resist breaking the squelch with "This is awesome". -->

● Gratitude: A Flying Post By Duane Wilson
   I am feeling very thankful for all the wonderful people my wife and I met on our trip from Washington state to Southern California and back last week in our RV-9A.
   1st hop was Kelso to Cameron Park CA. Stopped by to see Mike Starkey's RV-10 project. Mike escorted us from the runway to his home and parked our RV9A outside his house. What a great time we had talking with Mike and taking him out to a wonderful Mexican lunch. He introduced us to a neighbor of his who also has a place near ours at Sunriver. Had a great chat.
As we were leaving I noticed the tinnerman washers on the front bulkhead of my spinner were charred and broken. Not good.
Mike took me into his shop and supplied me with new ones and a Torx screw driver to replace them. -->

● What I did today ...Kirk Groves
   Well today I went and flew with a friend of mine in his T-6C!!  -->
  

● The first 100(or so) hours as a taildragger. ...Joe Portman
   When my baby flipped back in 2007, I decided that if it ever happened again, there would be no question whose fault it was.
   I had originally shied away from building it as a tail dragger, foolishly thinking it would be more difficult to land, harder to insure, and harder to sell, if it ever came to that.
   Well, after 100+ hours as a TD (about 220 TD total) in my 7, the verdict is in.  -->

● July EAA ch105 Newsletter Is Online

Motivation
● Self-Portrait:  Zack Spivey RV-8A
  

Construction
● Update: Stephen Christopher ...bending longerons to fantasy flying
  

● Panel Status: Paul Gray
   

Safety
● Dangerous VFR ...was using Flight Following.  Flying into the Sun with haze.
   Yesterday was severe clear coming home into M16. Not a cloud in the sky at 5:30pm. Winds calm. Good day to get a tan when flying. It was a perfect day for a VFR pilot only...or was it.  -->

● Are You Physically/Mentally Up To Flying Today? ...Terry Kohler's explanation of 'I'M SAFE'

● Tiny APRS iGate ...Sam Buchanan
   In case anyone thinks you need a lot of equipment to set up an iGate, here is the new version of my station.
  

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Air Box At Conditional Inspection ...Luis Luciani
   A couple of days ago I noticed that the plate on top of the air box had what seemed to be a small crack. When I took it off I noticed that all for corners were cracked. -->
  

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Larry Vetterman of Vetterman Exhaust Looking For A Sidekick ...part of an email from Larry over the weekend.
   "BTW,  I need (a) help(er), do you know any one that would like to get into this business, move to the  beautiful  Black Hills area, and make a good living."

● TCW product update: SmartStart
   Just a quick update regarding our SmartStart product. We have added a new option for use with our SmartStart anti-theft and safety starting module. We now are offering SmartStart with an optional airspeed switch that allows for in-flight restarting without having to re-arm the system. The airspeed switch (ASW-2) is available as an add-on for those who have already installed a SmartStart module. We are also making the system available as package which includes the SmartStart module, wiring harness and an airspeed switch.  -->

Miscellaneous
● Comedy: The "Other Woman"
  

Fri 06.26.09 1229z
   Flash is down for annual, so no flying this weekend.  My airport transits over the next several days will be at three feet and on a '75 Vespa.  The RV-6 has been put up wet a few times over the past few, and she has a list of things in need of attention.  A broken off screw head in each of the wheel pants, gear leg fairings in need of some bondo and touch up paint, transponder check, plugs cleaned, compression checks, new tires and brake pads, fresh grease from front to back and some tweaking inside, like finally installing the Garmin 430W that has been on my shelf for six months collecting dust.  Seems I go through this drill every year before Airventure, getting her all dolled up and presentable before the annual gathering.  I'm probably the only person doing this. ;^)
  Monkey is putting the magic hands on her as you read these words, and I'll lend a hand as soon as I push this online and throw the Miata into first.  And yep, I know I can do these annuals myself, but Monk always finds stuff that needs addressing that I seem to miss, and I sleep better knowing a bud who works on airplanes 40+ hrs a week has looked it over good and given his blessing.  I'm smart enough to know I don't know enough about FWF, and I'm of the opinion that since my life quite literally hangs on that prop, I'll happily hand over the money to have it professionally inspected.  I'm there in front of him taking off inspection plates and looking over the same things, and that doesn't hurt either.
   For me it's money well spent, and it's not that much.  I'm certain I spend more on Dr. Pepper each year than my RV annual.  If I had grown up working on engines I'd probably feel different, but I grew up jumping on trampolines, pretending I was Evel Knievel and playing guitars.  I change the tires and pack the bearings and most of the other stuff 'even a caveman could do', but I leave carburetors, magnetos and compression issues to bona fide A&P/AI types.
  Completely unrelated and with no segue possible, I just finished Bud Shrake's 'Billy Boy' last night.  If you like golf and are a fan of the Colonial and Ben Hogan, and if you read and enjoyed Richard Bach's 'Illusions', let me recommend Billy Boy.  You can read it in an afternoon.
 Have a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Long Cross-Country: David Maib (RV-10)
   Mary and I took our airplane from our home base in New Smyrna Beach, FL to Wichita, KS last week. The reason for the trip was a sad one, as Mary's father was very ill and we were going to visit. Sadly, we got the news that he had passed away on our fuel stop enroute to Wichita. So, we ended up spending a week in Wichita for the funeral and helping her mother deal with everything. We will be going back and forth to Wichita fairly frequently, I am sure.
   This airplane is a real dream to fly on trips like this. Our fuel stop enroute to Wichita was at General DeWitt Spain (M01) airport in Memphis. This is a great stop! Fuel was $3.75 and the airport is nice. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Overnight hangar space is available for $25. Met another RV-10 flyer who is based there. Friendly folks! We will be visiting friends in Memphis in the future and this will definitely be our airport of choice.
   We went in to Wichita Mid-Continent (KICT) instead of a reliever airport because it was close to where we were staying. I cannot say enough about Yingling Aviation in Wichita. The line and customer service staff are the best. I was treated as well as if I had been in a corporate jet. Self-serve fuel at Yingling is not too bad at $3.82. Hangar space is expensive, but they were willing to work with me on that.
   Coming home yesterday, we stopped at Shelby County Airport (KEET) in Alabaster, AL. We used this airport for a fuel stop when we were ferrying the airplane to New Smyrna Beach in January. Great new facility, friendly RV'rs on the field, and a good customer service and line staff. Self-serve fuel was $3.52.  -->
  

● Show your airport ride....Tom Prokop
  

● Break-even point  ...when your RV flying hours match your RV building hours.  Started by Larry Pardue.

● David Domeier's Oil Cooler Install Pictures
   Here are several pics of my installation of the 8432. The idea is borrowed from the RV-10. Air flow from #4 aft baffle is via 4" scat. The 4" flanges are available from Vans. The box is made of scrap aluminum.
   The cooler will fit mounted to the baffle but this set up has the advantage of no cooler vibration and no reinforcement of the baffle. The disadvantage is it is a crowded install but it all fits. There is a Vans air shut off sliding louvered device under the cooler. It doesn't work too well, there is much air leaking around it at present. Highest oil temp observed so far - 180 - with the shut off closed.  -->
  

Milestones
● Canoe!!! ....Brad Oliver
   Despite my efforts to make this the longest build in history, I do sometimes make progress.
  

Out and About
Tom Valenzia (RV-8) Self Portrait	Mr. and Mrs. David Maib  Self-Portrait...

Safety
● Nice Guys Die Too....  ...Paul 'Ironflight' Dye
   This will sound a bit harsh, but sometimes, we just have to talk straight. Aviation has been a part of my life since I was a kid, and I have lost friends due to mistakes made by them, and the mistakes of others. I have seen a lot of accidents, read about a lot of accidents, and investigated accidents. In general, we know what causes them, and usually, it is not the fault of the machine, but rather, the soft, squishy thing in the pilot’s seat. That’s the hard truth.
   After every accident, we read reports from friends that tell us how great a person the pilot was. They were wonderful friends, caring parents, generous with their time, knowledgeable in their work. They were always willing to help others, built carefully, asked questions – or answered the many questions of others. They were great at fly-ins, or in the evening at the hangar – laughed a lot, were great promoters of aviation. In short – they were great, nice people. They are frequently put out there as "role models", people to be emulated, pilots to be admired…
   And still, they died. And their friends “can’t understand how it happened….”
Well, it’s usually pretty simple. Good guys (nice guys, wonderful guys...) are not immune from doing something dumb! They made a mistake – or more usually, a string of mistakes. They screwed up. Sometimes, it’s a single, tragic lapse of attention or error. More often, “we all knew” it was coming. There is a whole list of character traits that are indicative of a person going down a path that can lead to an accident – the list isn’t secret; you can find it in magazine articles, safety classes, and most pilot training programs. Yet still – we see people all the time who we KNOW are going to go and do something stupid someday with an airplane. And we let them go. And when they die, we talk about what nice guys they were. Yeah, they were nice – but they were also WRONG - and now they are DEAD! We need to stop deifying those who are not good examples, period.
   I try to be a nice guy. In fact, if I am remembered for nothing else when I am gone, I would like people to remember me as a nice guy. But maybe sometimes, we have to be a little less “nice”. Maybe we need to challenge one another, and when we see someone doing something dumb, we need to tell them so. We don’t have to be jerks about it. “Hey Bill, you might already be aware of this, and I don’t want to sound like a know-it-all, but that fuel line looks awful short to me – when the engine moves, it could pull that end right off!”
   Aviation is dangerous, but no more dangerous than any other activity that accelerates a human being to speeds where they will be mush if they come to a sudden stop.  What is more dangerous is bad judgment, and that is shameful. But what is more shameful is when we let bad judgment pass unchecked, and later talk about “what a nice guy he was”….  -->

● Dan Lloyd RV-10 Factual Accident Report Released ...not the final determination. (NTSB)   If you are building, or have a friend that is building, please read this.  Flying is as safe as we choose to make it, and this painfully illustrates that.
     related links:
             - NTSB
             - Safety Section of VAF
             - The RV-10 Forum

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● (SWEET) GAHco has small packages (10 and 25) of CherryMax Rivets Now For Sale

● Another Leaves Grady's GLO Custom ...shots of Mike Russell's RV emailed to me from Grady last night.

Miscellaneous
● Good friend (and RV-8 / RV-3B builder) Randy Lervold is CubCrafters New GM

Thu 06.25.09 1220z
  I've been sitting on some happy news for a couple of weeks and now have permission to let the cat out of the bag (I think the background checks must have come back OK for some odd reason).  The folks at EAA called me the first week of June, and later sent a nice letter, saying I had been selected as the 2009 recipient of the Bax Seat Award.  From the letter, "Presented by Flying Magazine and EAA, this award is presented annually to the EAA member who perpetuates the Gordon Baxter tradition of communicating the excitement of flight, along with valuable information that makes us better pilots and builders."
  I tried to convince them on the phone that I am a professional nobody with marginal grammar skills and a laptop, but they said I still get it.  So, we decided to do the handshake deed at the Van's banquet Tuesday night, just before RV-8 builder/pilot Terry Lutz starts his talk on what it's like to fly the A380 (banquet info).
  Kidding aside, this is the first award I've ever been tapped for, and I am grateful, honored and utterly humbled.  Do yourself a favor and go to www.FlyingMag.com.  Put Bax Seat in the search box, and you'll get to spend the next couple of hours reading wonderful columns.  They will make you smile, and miss, Gordon Baxter.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Flight: Steve Eberhart N14SE  ....from Steve.
   Dana Overall, my chase pilot flying in Black Magic, called in 10 minutes out so it was time. Taxied out to the end of our grass strip (3EV) and couldn't think of anything cute to say so we just did it. Ugly looking takeoff but we were in the air with Black Magic orbiting overhead waiting for me to join up. Long story short, we landed at EVV for a cross country first flight of a whole 5 miles. Thanks to Pierre the landing was a pretty good one.  Thanks to all of the people involved and Pictures to follow."  -->

pic above from Dana Overall in one of the replies.

● Photo Album: Grand Canyon, Zion National Park......Deems Davis (RV-10)
   Here are some pictures Judy snapped on her 1st trip in N519PJ after completion of Phase 1. We flew from Phoenix, AZ to Provo,UT. and these pictures were taken over Grand Canyon and Zions Nat Park:  -->

● Telluride Eats.... ...Tom Velvick (RV-4)
   On a flight to Colorado over memorial day, we ate at the Brown Dog restaurant in Telluride.  I liked the sign they had. It said: Come. Sit. Eat. Good boy.  Good food too.
  

● East Coast RV-12 Seminar by Mitch Locke ...this weekend.

Construction
● RV-12 Plans Revisions (6/24/09).  Pages 2 and 3 of section 31.

Safety
● I Promise Never To... ...good idea for us to put it in writing.

Event News
● Robert "Rock" Milne Memorial Fly-in (Aug 8)

Miscellaneous
● Kindle Approach Plates: Free (aopa)

● OT:  Pics of volcano that blew hole in sky as ISS flies overhead

Wed 06.24.09 1225z
  Happy Hump Day!  Did you see the Moon last night?   Just past new, this waxing crescent was about five degrees above the horizon with a terminator pressed right up against the eastern edge.  Paraphrasing 'Spinal Tap', there could be 'none more sliver'.  Thanks to Monk for the heads up on this.  Tonight it will be a little higher in the western sky just after sunset.
  I'm probably going to add a section to the forums here in a bit:  Composites.  It'll be for all the fiberglass stuff that we do on these kits (prep, techniques, fabrication of special parts, etc).  Case in point, today's top story.  Developing...
  I'll end today's blurb with a tip of the hat to the late Ed McMahon, who passed away yesterday.  Besides making me laugh a few thousand times, as a Marine Corps Aviator in the mid 50's he flew (85) artillery-spotting missions over Korea in an unarmed OE Bird Dog.  His primary flight training was completed just 15 minutes up the road from my keyboard at the former Hartlee Field three miles east of Denton, TX.  Yesterday at lunch, 52F local Bob said he remembers Ed talking to Johnny on air one night about why he liked training at Denton - there was a women's college in town!  That would be TWU, home of an impressive WASP exhibit.
  Rest in peace, Mr. McMahon.
  Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

   related: Hartlee Field today.

● Small Fiberglass Parts ...DanH.
   Sometimes small fiberglass parts have complex shapes. The shape may not allow neat wrapping in gloss packing tape in order to facilitate mold release. You'll need to make a plug with a firm, slick finish of its own. So how do you do it quickly?
   Start with a dense, small cell foam. You can order foam from the aircraft supply of course. I just hit the local big box home supply and buy a sheet of dense pink or blue wall insulation board, usually available 2" thick. Not expensive, and a whole lot more foam for your money. Cut a few sections bigger than your intended part and laminate them together with dry micro. That gives you a solid foam block of any desired size.
   How to shape the plug? I use an ordinary crosscut hand saw for the big cuts, then a hacksaw blade for the finer cuts. From there use 80 grit paper to rough it out, then 180 to detail the shape. If there's a critical outside dimension, make the plug about a 1/16" small.
   When you have the shape nailed, mix some epoxy. Pour a little off in another cup and mix in some micro. Use a little plastic squeegee to wipe some micro mix into any surface flaw. Now, without waiting, paint the foam surface with neat epoxy. The idea is to form a thin epoxy shell and seal the foam.  -->
  

● Cooling and RAM Air ...David Domeier
   This thread is in the FWIT category. Some guys are having cooling issues, some are not.
   I seem to have stumbled on a method of providing excellent cooling for the cylinders and oil and not appreciably increasing drag. Looking at the set up would make one suspicious of that claim but the numbers seem to support the conclusion. The machine cranked up to 202 mph yesterday at 8500'.
   The next subject is RAM air into the fuel injection system. It is without doubt worth considering. It took some cowl adjustment to provide for a connection to a filter by-pass in the left intake area and one would think messing with Vans cowl is asking for trouble with regard to drag, but that does not seem to be the case.
   I am convinced the key to good cooling is air flow across the oil cooler. The type of cooler may be a factor also, but air flow comes first. A RV-4 guy reported poor cooling with a James inlet arrangement with upper cowl pressure at 10:1 with outside air. That's a lot air packed into the upper cowl area. That ratio would seem important but I believe what is more important is the lower cowl ratio to outside air pressure. If the ratio in the lower cowl is the same as outside air, there has to be tremendous flow from the upper high pressure area down and out and cooling ought to be very good. But that is not the result. Cooling is not good and it can only mean air is not flowing down and out because the pressure down there is higher than outside air. And that is caused by a restricted exit area.
   Vans has cut the inlet to exit area ratio very close out of a consideration of cooling necessity and drag imposed by exit area dimension. As near as I can calculate, that ratio is about 108% exit to inlet area when considering the exit area occupied by exhaust pipes and a NG leg with -A models. My exit area is about 226% to inlet with the 5x15 bottom exit and 2 Bonanza side vents at 14 inches of area each. That is overkill on exit area but may explain way I have not seen an oil temp above 180 even with a climb to 12.5 yesterday with heat soaked engine at take off and the OAT at 92F. The gross exit area is left over from the Subby adventure trying to get a couple too small radiators to work. -->
  

● In the spirit of brotherhood..  ...Pierre Smith says thanks.

● RV-3 Construction Status Shots: Mike Skoczen
     
     Sample:
      

Ask A DAR
● (Mel Asberry)
    I use "Lubriplate" to lube my fuel cap "O"-rings. Never had a problem. I re-lube them once a year.

Troubleshooting
● Troubleshooting a LSE Plasma I EI  ...Bob Mills
   I've been going through a troubleshooting process to determine the cause and then try to fix a large RPM drop when running on only my LSE Plasma I EI (ie, when turning off the mag during run-up checks).  -->

Tue 06.23.09 1218z
  OK, so yesterday our 8yr old son Tate tells Susie he wants to be a magician when he grows up.  I should add that his favorite show right now is Magic's Greatest Secrets Revealed!  He asked Susie how they get paid, and where he could buy a cape and red bow tie.  Then he told her about the heart of his idea.  He wants to paint 'his' RV-3B in 'magician colors' and fly to different places to perform.  'All black with stars and stuff on it' was actually how he described the paint scheme.  Then Susie said he looked off in the distance out the window and said, 'I need to ask Dad some questions.'  (not making this up)
  His big question?   Is there enough room in 'his' RV to put magician stuff?  I said probably, and if there isn't I'll build him an RV-10.  Steve Martin started out as a magician at Disneyland and David Copperfield earned over $250M from 2001-2008 according to Wikipedia.  Tate could do worse <g>.
  Susie and I are talking on the couch before we went to bed about all this, and it occurred to me that I now had a top story for today's edition.  Tate Reeves....my muse.  Look for his 'magician stuff' in ten years or so on his web site (T8Reeves.com).  Nothing there yet, but I own the domain name.  And yes, he does occasionally sign his name T8.  ;^)
  Shazam!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

    PS:  If you haven't read Steve Martin's 'Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life', I bet you would enjoy it.  If you buy and read it, and still think it stinks....I owe you a beer.

● First Flight: Jerod/Wendy Soloman RV-7A...submitted by Roger Hirschbein
   "N211WJ defied gravity for the first time Saturday June 20. 2009. She flew for 30 minutes above Hollywood North Perry airport in South Florida with no issues to report. Jerod Solomon and his wife Wendy spent 14 months building the RV7-A before liftoff. N211WJ is equipped with a Lycominjg 0360 carburated engine and fixed pitch prop. the panel is VFR with a Dynon efis, Garmin 496 and a single radio. Jerod stressed how he wanted to keep it simple and as light as possible. In it's present configuration the plane weighed in a less than 1050 lbs. Way to go Jerod and Wendy.
   Submitted by Roger Hirschbein (Woodman)."
  

● RVs Spotted in GoogleMaps...this is actually pretty cool.
   - In formation over water North of Seattle
   - Nigerian Air Force on the ground

● Jim George's Possible Solution To Single-Person RV-12 Wing Removal
   I don't know anything about the 12 for sure but I do know that I have installed and removed the wings on my 7 project by myself using two modified horses, one inboard and one outboard of course. I did require help moving the wings onto the horses however.
  

● RVs in the Houston Chronicle.

Milestones
● Hung the prop ...Greg Marlow (9A)
   Hung the prop today, with the help of a neighbor kid who is heading off to the USAF Academy in a couple of days. He wants to fly F-16's. I tried to set him straight on that... but what can you do?  Anyway, I was nervous about the spinner/cowling fit, because I fit the cowl before receiving the prop, and had to estimate the distance. But no worries, after getting the cowl back in place, and the spinner on, the spinner/cowl gap was perfect.  Great day in the shop!
  

Miscellaneous
● Brian Eisner's R/C RV-4
  

● Tools Explained ....in a 'Home Improvement' sort of way.

DRILL PRESS:
A tall, upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL :
Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light . Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh sh --'

SKILL SAW :
A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.

PLIERS :
Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER :
An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW :
One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more
you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VISE-GRIPS :
Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH :
Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the gre! ase inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing.

TABLE SAW :
A large, stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK :
Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW :
A large, stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can
after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST :
A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER :
Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans ! and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the n ameimplies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER :
A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

PRY BAR :
A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HOSE CUTTER :
A tool used to make hoses too short.

HAMMER :
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

UTILITY KNIFE :
Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

Son of a b*tch TOOL :
Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a b*tch' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

Mon 06.22.09 1238z
  Good morning fellow Vanheads!  Hope you had a nice Sat/Sun (and Father's Day for the dads out there).  No flying this weekend for me I'm sad to report, but I did get some photos Saturday morning out at 52F of various RVs.  If you go to the link, maximize your screen (F11 in I.E.) and click 'Slideshow' to get the most picture for your monitor.  Left/right keyboard arrow keys let you proceed at your own pace.
  Saturday afternoon I updated my iPhone to the new 3.0 firmware (horizontal typing...yeah!!!) and discovered a free app that has 5,800+ drink and cocktail recipes (iTunes link).  Nice thing about it was you can have it show you all the drinks made with a certain ingredient, apple juice for example.  "One Screaming Viking coming up.  You want that cucumber bruised, Mr. Peterson?"   Bet more than a few get that line (answer).
  Sunday was house maintenance, lawn work and golf on TV.
  Hope your week starts off swell and thanks again for stopping by.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● 18th Annual NW RV Fly-in ...photos courtesy Bill Anderson
  

● Boone 2009 ...text and images courtesy Pete Howell.
   A few pics from the RV Day at Boone 2009.  Weather was warm and sunny! Kate and I left early for Ames so I could drop her off with Nana for the day and I could meet up with -9A builder Dave Gribble to give him his first -9A flight.  Maybe Dave will post a Pirep here later, but I think he liked it. He has a nice Beech Skipper that he flew in with his daughter Jessica. Those pics are early in the set. -->
  

● Trip write-up: Dauphin Island Trip ...text/images courtesy Mark Burns.
  Cindy and I took a day trip to the beach Saturday.  We had a great time.  We left Ruston, LA (KRSN) at 9:00AM and arrived Dauphin Island, AL (4R9) at 10:50AM.  -->
   

● Surreality ....by Paul 'Ironflight' Dye
   Dawn Patrol. First light is past, as is the sunrise. The sky above is clear and blue, yet there is no direct sun. A line of cumulous to the east, out beyond the coast, is guarding us from the early morning rays that promise another scorching summer day. The air is calm and seemingly almost cool in the shadow of those clouds, and the lure of flight is too much to resist. I glance at the clock - I have the time! As I strap on the Valkyrie, my hands flow through the familiar pattern that brings her to life, and in a wink of an eye we are climbing through the dead calm of morning. Not so much as a ripple disrupts my flight path – the airplane is connected to my eyes through my fingertips as we head out to the practice area.
   I look to the east and see a magnificent sight – rays of sunlight beaming out from behind a distant line of clouds, towering upward and shading miles and miles of earth. The sunlight leaked around the edges of the vapor white hot, searing to the eye. I look to the west and see more early clouds, off in the distance, their tops glowing bright white as they top the shade from their eastern cousins. I fly along in the cool, shaded air, and realize that I am not really on the flat gulf coast – it is as if I was in the mountains far to the west, the land below me a fifty mile basin, the clouds rimming us like mountain ranges thousands of feet high, beckoning in the distance. The sun was breaking over the eastern range, looking for all the world like it was in eclipse, the coronal fingers sneaking around the edges of the towers, glowing and flashing as I flew through the cracks in the sky – like jumping across glowing tendrils of lava in a volcanic field.
   The sunlight became less scattered as I climbed out of my little basin, but up ahead, a small patch of cumulous offered shade for a little while longer. I ducked behind them as I reached a safe aerobatic altitude, the shade providing a nice little box in which to get my morning exercise. I let the Val have her head as we rolled and looped in the shadows, playing hide and seek with an ever-growing sun. The game could only last for a few minutes as the day grew bold, but that short time was enough to invigorate the soul and prepare myself for the work to come. I looked at my watch – I was due back. The schedule beckoned, so I released the G’s that held us in our hiding spot, rolling as I dove out into the sun, heading for home and a soft touchdown.
   It’s 0700…time for breakfast.  -->

Motivation
● Thunderbirds!  ...Bryan Wood
    Sherri and I flew from CA to South Dakota a couple of weeks back where we met Gene and Janet Larsen and then attended the "Dakota Thunder" airshow at Ellsworth Air Force Base. After arrival each attending plane was routed in front of the Thunderbirds F16's where a photographer took our pictures. The pictures are posted on their website www.dakotathunder.com where it is clearly stated that there is no copyright and to enjoy them freely.
  

● David Leonard's RV-6
  

Construction
● Carl Raichle 9A Paint Status
  

Electrical
● Alternators 101 ...good find by Gary Zilik
   In looking for a voltage regulator I ran across this web page and thought it might be useful for those of us trying to understand just how these little contraptions work.

Miscellaneous
● Student Flies Last T-37 Training Mission ...I guess I'll have the only flying 'Tweet' paint job in the world now <g>. dr

● Comedy: Glass Cockpit Fun ...Vlad

Sat 06.20.09 0300z SPECIAL
   ...from the factory
   "We've recently received information from the field that the adhesives in some tapes may adversely affect the Lexan that is used in the rear window of the RV-12. (P/N F-1277A). At this time we are asking builders to refrain from using any sort of tape on that specific window until the problem is better understood. If you need to paint that area of the fuselage, then it is advised to simply remove the window."

Fri 06.19.09 1251z
  Howdy!  Yesterday was a day in motion - six hours to be exact.  Three hours in the RV-6, and another three in various cars before hitting the sheets.  I flew the RV-6 down to San Antonio to do a photography side job.  Stiff headwinds down and sweet tailwinds back (189kts ground speed).  These RVs are simply amazing traveling machines - perfect for stuff like this.  We came back at 9,500', because the ground temp was near 100*F.  58*F up there, living the good life.  GPS-fed autopilots and iPods are the cat's ass in my book.  We thought it would be nice if we could come into DFW's class B at 9,500' and just spin down on top of 52F, but you know that ain't gonna fly <g>.  Down to 3,500' 30 miles out put us back in the bumps and heat, but it went by fast.
  On to the courtesy car...   I carry my SPOT tracker on these long trips, and one reason is the quality of airport courtesy cars.  If and when it breaks down, I can call someone and have them go to the VAF site and click on the 'Track' link under my signature.  I'm right here (plus or minus twenty feet)!
  We got a classic yesterday.  There were a couple of cars to choose from, but the guy behind the desk told Charlie, 'That one doesn't have A/C, and how far you driving?' (implying it might not make it).  We'll take the other one, thanks <g>.  Old cop car, silicone goop on the roof where they filled in the holes where the lights were mounted.  Big plastic stick-on dome light that would go perfect with a 'Clapper'.  High beam searchlight on the driver window.  Gold.
  Old police cars that are turned into airport courtesy cars always remind me of The Blues Brothers.  "It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"   I get in an airport courtesy car that was once a police vehicle, I almost always say out loud, 'We're on a mission from God.'  Part of the pre-start checklist you understand.
  So, you know how I often tie these stories to music?  The sax player in the Blues Brothers movie was none other than Lou Marini, graduate of the University of North Texas' music program in Denton, TX.  Twenty minutes up the road from where I'm typing this.  If you're over 40 you remember Lou.  He's the guy that stepped out of the sarcophagus playing the sax as Steve Martin sang 'King Tut' on SnL back in '79 (about 2/3rds into this video).  'Gotta condo made a stone-a'.  Steve Martin was born in my hometown (Waco, TX), but that's another story...
  It's going to be a nice, VFR weekend here in North Texas.  Hope you get to spend some quality time with your RV.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

    Mrs. Tarantino: Are you the police?
    Elwood: No, ma'am. We're musicians.
       Link: Blues Brothers memorable quotes (blue language warning)

  Yesterday's track (in the plane and in the Bluesmobile)
 

● Demo Flight in N412RV -- Pictures, Video, Oh My!  ...Bill Anderson.  Part 1 here, with more coming throughout the weekend (videos).
   It was a good morning. I took the morning off work, drove to 7S3, rented a C-150, and flew to UAO to take a demo flight in the RV-12.  First, some background on me. I'm a newer pilot with only 84 hours in the log book. Almost all of my time has been in a Cessna 150. I have a few hours in the Cherokee 180, but not much. Some ex-fighter jock, I'm not (no matter how hard I dream). When you hear my opinion, they come from this background.
   Oregon was being unkind to me. Last night was virtually clear. This morning, broken ceiling right around 2000 feet MSL. Enough to get around, but definitely kept things close to the ground. Winds were fairly light, with UAO reporting about 4 knots out of the South when I listened to the ASOS before arrival.
   Upon landing, I taxied over to the Van's facility and parked next to a couple -6s and a -10. Not a bad way to commute if you can do it! Walked into the office and Joe was quickly found and came and got me. As we walked to the hanger, he asked about my background (see above) and what I was wanting to do (RV-12 project in a partnership with 3 or 4 other people).  Into the hanger and to the plane. -->

 
Joe Blank: RV Rock Star   ;^)
Bill Anderson photo.

related: The RV-12 Forum

● Pink Slip! ...Steve Eberhart
   The Indianapolis FSDO just finished inspecting my kit and now it is an official airplane on the books as an Airworthy RV-7A. Naturally I had to make sure I had my OFFICIAL hat on for the occasion.  Wow, great elation and somewhat of the downer that you feel once a goal has been achieved.  Ok, the downer lasted all of 15 seconds, now I get to go fly this thing that I have been working on since August 31, 2001.  -->

● What's Next?????  Life After DAR & FAA ...Frank Stringham
   So here is the deal. DAR on my right AND FAA on my left. I got double the inspection. WELL....in fact my DAR, Gary Goodman, had his annual inspection as a DAR by one of SLC FISDO Inspectors, Brent Robinson.
   No squalks, but some suggestions. Gary is a multiple experimental aircraft builder and is the Aircraft Quality Specialist at SKYWEST.  I really appreciate him and his knowledge base.
   So again, what's next.....did somebody say put it together and go fly?   Stay tuned.  -->

● ch105's 18th Annual 'Home Wing' NW RV Fly-In THIS WEEKEND!
   Now in it's 18th year for 2008, the Home Wing sponsored "NW RV Fly-in" has developed a loyal following with RV pilots attending from as far away as California and Texas. Traditionally held the Saturday on Father's Day weekend, it's a great chance to get up close and personal with over 100 RV builders and flyers. Walk the flight line, take some pictures, have a hamburger lunch, and buy an event t-shirt... if you're interested in RVs you won't be disappointed.
   - Arrival Procedures
   - Volunteers Needed

● Victory! A Troubleshooting Tale... ...Ironflight
   It's a good thing that troubleshooting systems failures has been a big part of my career - the training for owning airplanes is priceless! take, for instance, the following tale of electronic woe.....
   Several weeks ago, Louise started noting that she was having problems with her Number 1 Comm, an SL-30. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she seemed to be missing calls, and occasionally, others couldn’t hear her. The problem seemed to be intermittent, and she got mixed results when she did voice checks with the Tower folks at the other end of her daily commute. We couldn’t be absolutely sure that it wasn’t an audio system problem, as there were times that the Number 2 Comm (an A-200) seemed to join in the fun…puzzling.
   It finally reached the point where we had to do some systematic troubleshooting, the intermittent nature having settled down to “every flight” and becoming more than just an annoyance. The first and easiest thing to do was swap headsets, so we pulled out a practically-new ANR Lightspeed we keep for passengers, and tried that. The problem persisted. Next, I thought that maybe it was the headset jacks that had gotten “tweaked”, and weren’t making good contact, so I dove under the panel and gave them a nice squeeze. More flying with the two of us – good intercom, problems with Number 1 Comm. We could bring in AWOS’s at the start of a flight, but as the flight progressed, they became less and less reliable, until finally, we couldn’t hear a nearby (5 miles) station. Hmmm….range dependent, and worse with time. Antenna issues? Heat related problems?  -->

Construction
● RV-12 Revision/Change ...dated 6/18/09.  Section 3.  Page 2.

Miscellaneous
● OT: Visual progress for today! (Stein)
   Ok, so it's not exactly RV related - and some of you probably are mad that you couldn't get hold of me on the phone late this afternoon, but I have a good excuse. Today we made some good visual progress on the Mullicoupe.  Only one smashed finger, a little swearing and here we are! Just thought some might enjoy it.
Cheers,
Stein

related: www.SteinAir.com

● This Day in Aviation: In 1930... The all-metal Polish fighter, the PZL P-1, is the star of the International competition for fighter airplanes in Bucharest, Romania, winning 8 of the 15 prizes. This is a triumph for the brilliant designer Zygmund Pulawski, whose aircraft consistently out-performed those of his rivals.  In 1894... Frederick W. Lanchester, British aeronautical and automobile pioneer, announces his theory of circulatory air-flow to the Birmingham Natural History and Philosophical Society in England. This theory is later to become of pivotal importance in aerodynamics.  In 1901... American experimenter Samuel P. Langley tests a quarter-scale model of his Aerodrome, a gasoline-driven flying machine. It makes four disappointingly short flights.

Thu 06.18.09 1032z
  Howdy!  Tate and I had lunch yesterday at 52F's cafe with some of the usual suspects: Charlie (-8), Joe (-8A), Danny (-8) and Jerry (-8).  Surrounded by -8 drivers.  Was I really the only -6 builder at the table?  I can outturn 'em, so no worries.  Not much flying going on, as it was hotter than (insert your 'hotter than' joke of preference here).  100*F heat index....but it was a dry heat as they say.  Like my oven on broil...<g>
  Lunch was followed by ice cream down at Tina's Pilot Shop.  Tina used to be a school teacher, so I told Tate to go give her a big hug.  We all heart Tina and hearts the kiddos!
  Plan 'A' is to do a photography side job today down in San Antonio.  The gig is next to Randolph AFB, but I don't think my Tweet paint job will keep me out of jail if I land there instead of the GA runway up the road.  Having an RV makes stuff like this doable in a day.  The planned route of choice is 52F-FUZ-TPL-KBAZ, and you can follow along via SPOT HERE if you're bored at work.  Fighting stiff headwinds on the way down at most altitudes, but the ride back should be quicker.  Hoping to be wheels up 1200z, which accounts for the O'God Thirty time stamp on today's edition.  414n.m. round trip, all on autopilot and sipping a soda courtesy Van's magic carpet.
  Nine hours roundtrip in the car vs. two hours forty five minutes in the RV.  I pick Flash, but I admit I'm biased <g>.
  Have a great Thursday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

PS:  Oh, about Audrey's birthday present yesterday....  Click HERE to see what a 14yr old girl looks like when she finds out Mom bought two tickets to go see her favorite band (Coldplay).  It's going to be her first concert, and it's with her Mom, and it's of the band she has posters of all over her room.  Sue did good.  If you're wondering who Coldplay are, they sing this song.  You've heard it, trust me.
  still image of the happy 14yr old.

● NASA trip (APRS)
   Just returned from Merritt. It was very good to meet up and have dinner with Brent and son. Too bad about the shuttle, but at least it was a great first time experience flying to Merritt. The Luna Sea Motel, rental car, and breakfast worked out really well also.
   We did get a very nice aerial view of the shuttle assembly building, launch pad, and the little 'ole landing strip.
It seemed to be calling us to do a touch and go...maybe no one would notice....ATC: "9DB turn left 10 degrees to remain clear of restricted airspace..." well, maybe not.
   Here's yesterday's humungous deviation for storms and today's track straight to home base.  -->
  

● CubCrafters gets RV-guy as G.M.  ...Randy Lervold.
   To all my friends and acquaintances in the RV community:
   Just a quick note to let you all know that I started my new job on Monday... I'm the new General Manager at CubCrafters here in Yakima, WA.
   Though my RV-3B is now living comfortably in Colorado Springs without me, and I'm diving into the world of production tube/fabric airplanes, I'll continue to at least lurk in the RV community. It's been such a big part of my life for so long now that I just can't help it. Jim Richmond, our Owner/Founder/CEO, loves RVs too and has already owned one and would like to have another. Heck, I think everyone needs to own both an RV and a Sport Cub (or Super Sport Cub), right?
   Needless to say I'm stoked about my new gig, CubCrafters truly does have best-in-class product and an excellent foundation to build further on. As homebuilders I know all of you would appreciate how these planes are built. If any of you are ever in the area and would like to take a look just let me know. Some of the CNC parts, the fiberglass work, and the paint booth alone will make you drool. Anyway, stop by our booth at a fly-in and say hi, I'll give you a look at what we're up to personally.  -->

● Canoe!  ...Mike Cencula
  

Group Buy Updates
● Partian Group Buy Starts
   "We are having a group buy that will encompass most kit subassemblies or full kits for RV3 RV4 RV6 RV7 RV8 RV9 RV10 RV12 standard kits and Quickbuilds. Beat OSH this year, place your order now.
Included are the following
RV4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 Finish kits Fuse kits Wing kits Quickbuild fuse or wing in any combination. RV10 tail kit
Up to 10 shipments 5% off  Over 10 shipments 10% off  Limit of 20 shipments.
  Offer ends 3 pm PST June 26th 2009.  You must have a current order with Vans to qualify.  10% Deposit required to secure shipping position
Tony Partain
Partain Transport Company 541-330-0828 local tpartain 'at' bendbroadband 'dot' com partaintransport.com

Motivation
● At Cedar Mills Marina Wednesday Morning ...Scorch Burgess photo.
  

Wed 06.17.09 1230z
  Today is our daughter Audrey's birthday - 14 years old.  And how is she spending the day?  Doing charity work with the church, pulling weeds and cleaning up property of older folks who can't do it anymore.  In 100*F weather.  Dozens of teenagers are helping out, and we are really, REALLY proud of her.  I picked a good N-number for the RV-6, didn't I? (N617AR - June 17th Audrey Reeves).  I'll tell you what her present was tomorrow...she's smartphone literate and might scan the site sometime today, spoiling the surprise <g>.
  Today I start in the daily rotation a 'this day in aviation' section that will appear at the bottom of the current day's edition.  Finer things in life and all that...we're a refined bunch, you know!
  Have a nice hump day.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

 
  Audrey 1997 and 2009.

● First Flights Reported On Mothership

● Visit To Van's ...Patrick Kelley
   Just got back from a week-long cruise to Alaska and couldn't get that close without spending a day in Portland and dropping by Van's. Man, are they a compact operation! I'm really impressed at how efficient they are; everything is organized to the nines.
   While there, I got to look over some quickbuild RV-10 wings and later (they were being unloaded while we looked around) the main fuselage sections. We were told the pipeline is beginning to flow again, but expect some more delay while the 'bulge in the snake' moves. Also, if you receive a -10 kit with fingerprints and drool, I apologize!
   My only stop in Canada was at Victoria and customs was very simple there. It was a fun trip overall. Speaking of bureaucracy, a couple of weeks ago when flying back from Ohio I passed through the TSA checkpoint at Columbus. Once through, one of the guys quipped, "Welcome to the other side", to which I replied to the effect that the side without aircraft was the 'other side'. Long story short, Judith ended up showing him the video of 156PK's first flight on her camera and he reciprocated with a photo on his phone of the VariEZ he's building. Some of them are on our side... -->

● Additional set of racing wing tips ...Bob Axsom
   I've been wrestling with the west bound AirVenture cup race endurance requirements and I've decided to make another set of 3" wing tips to mate with the outboard end of my tip tanks. I talked to Mike Thompson at the Tennessee Valley Air Race on Saturday and learned that he gained 3 to 4 kts based on information gained in multiple test flights with his cut off flat plate capped tips. This reduced his span by about 1.5 feet. When I take off my stock tips and 9" wide tip tanks and install my 3" tips the span is reduced by 3 feet. I measured a 3 kt gain in speed with this configuration. My conclusion is the stock Hoerner tip design is the main source of drag and whatever flight regime it provides benefit to is unimportant to me and the tank extension is not a big drag contributor. We shall see - I just ordered the cloth.  -->

● RV-3 Status: Perry Testory

● 'Fire' RV-6 Gets A New Home
   Thanks for all the hard work that Jon put into this incredibly well-built work of art.
  

● Flight Times on Cayman Trip ...Ron Lee
The following are my recorded times for intersection/VOR crossings, etc. Ideally I made no mistakes in recording the times but if something seems amiss then assume an error. All times in UTC.  -->

● Updated the pageview stats chart on my 'business card page' ....info for possible advertisers on this site.  I get asked occasionally what the visit patterns are to the site, and this chart summarizes it nicely.  Fresh data.
  

Safety
● How would you plan around this weather? ...Webb.  An exercise in weather planning.
   The subject of safety came up on my last post about flying in the vicinity of some truly nasty weather and it would be a good post for discussion.  Well here it is.  -->

     - 5 hours later
     - The plan

● One Stroke Penalty: Plane Lands on Fifth Hole of Michigan Golf Course, Drives Back to Airport ...off airport landing ends up OK.
  

Tue 06.16.09 1230z
   Howdy!  I gotta start today by recognizing a milestone that my lovely wife reached yesterday.  You think 40 hours to get a private pilot license is hard?  Susie is now a 500-hour RYT (registered yoga teacher).  Three hundred hours in the Prana Vinyasa style this last round (pic on her blog).  That's three years and four trips to California for 10 day, 8-hrs a day yoga training sessions.  And yes, that's where all our family's frequent flier miles have gone!
   Susie, you da bomb!
   I got a call yesterday evening from Jay Pratt (RV-8/RV-6/RV-4).  He's in Johnson Creek, ID camping.  He's there with some of his SuperCub buddies, and said it was 'cool shorts' weather (98*F heat index here).  I pulled up the JC webcam and got a screenshot of his Northstar next to two SuperCubs (Jay's is the third one from the camera).  You can see what they are doing in near real time by going to the webcam yourself throughout the day.  So, you ask, where is Johnson Creek?  It's here, and is the location of some of most fun aircraft camping I've ever done (a pic overlooking the runway).  Wish I was with those guys right now!
   Have a great Tuesday!
   Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● QB Update From The Factory (June 15)
   - RV-10 QBs arrived at Van's last Thursday (with control surfaces)
   - First assembled at new facility
   - Quality/workmanship top notch
   - Two more containers on water
   - Tentative sched is 6 more containers in next 6 weeks.
   - Backordered flaps out door soon

● Scott and Deb's Excellent Weekend Excursion
   Given that the wife and I have been going stir crazy at home due to a lack of traveling in the RV, and the last two trips we had planned for this year have fallen through, we felt that a weekend excursion was in order. We were looking for a getaway that was within RV range and wouldn’t break the bank. Adding some “landed there” pins to the northwestern section of our Airport Landings map is among our goals for 2009, so we began laying the groundwork for a trip to Montana. When the weather began “heading south,” so did we—to Page, Arizona to visit Glen Canyon and Lake Powell.  -->

● Part 9 of Ron Lee's Caymen Adventure Online
   Try as I may to do everything right, many trips have curveballs thrown at you.
   1) On this trip the first one was the cloud system in Florida as I was heading to the Keys. I checked my 430 for the nearest FSS and tried to reach them. Nada but I may not have been patient enough. What I should have done is call Flight Watch (W for weather) on 122.0
   Corrective action: Put a cheat sheet on this in the airplane. -->

● 2nd annual Reno Air Races RV BBQ.  ...Bob Mills
   Dan has offered up his flight-line front and center hangar as the venue once again, and Saturday evening of the races is the target time for the event. Dan's hangar is forward of the "dead line" which means we can't set up till after the last heat that day. However, it's a great location with an incredible view of the line and the many awesome aircraft parked there (he calls it "beach-front property!).
   This week is Pylon Racing School, where the participants get some training, qualification and practice time. If anyone wants to see things up close and personal, head on out to Reno-Stead this week! Good way to get psyched up for the big race in September! Rare Bear has been getting new paint, and looks awesome, but so far won't let any pics be taken. Maybe we'll get a sneak preview this week, along with seeing some other really cool aircraft!
   Greg, Dan, Mike and I hope many RV and VAF friends can make it to the R3 (R cubed, or Reno RV Rendezvous) in September. Looking forward to seeing you there! As it gets closer, or when you know you can (or might) make it, please post to this thread, and we'll add you to the list and get provisioned accordingly!
   Thanks to Greg for leading the charge on this, and to Dan for offering up his corner lot! More to come as it gets closer. -->
 

● Rick G's Dirt Simple Rivet Gun Dimpler
   If my choice of dimpler was driven solely by cost and space considerations....I'd use the rivet gun. I cobbed this rig together using nothing more than a bucking bar and rivet set. With average skill you will discover this super cheap setup will dimple quality holes the deepest C frame dimpler ever invented cannot begin to reach. I was driven to create it when I needed to dimple screw holes on a fuselage side long after the skin was installed on the structure. After I made the tool and posted the results here, another builder chimed in saying you can buy essentially the same thing from some aircraft tool vendors.

● Latest Engine Build ...Phil Stephens (America's Aircraft Engines, Inc.)
   Here are a couple of pictures from our last engine build.  Pictured: IOX-360-A4H1N, with the Precision Silver Hawk Fuel injection and E.C.i. cold air induction. The owner is Mr. Bruce Pauley of Rowlett, TX.  This engine is for his RV-7A, Bruce came up to our shop last week Thursday 6/11 and  helped out and took it home with him Friday the 12th.
 

● When a Picture is Deceiving ...Webb Willmott
   When I got back, my flying bud was fussing at me for flying so close to a fast moving front with TC's going to 55,000, lighting, and severe turbulence. I told him that when I deviated, the line was 80 miles away, at midpoint, it was 60 miles away, and when I hooked it around, about 40 miles away. I wasn't even close to it and was in clear smooth air. I will have to say a lightening storm from 60 miles away looks pretty spectacular at 14,000 feet.
   His point was always fly to the west side where the weather is diminishing instead of the building side. I told him that that would have put me right through the middle of it since it was still over Memphis and my deviation to the west side of it wouldn't have worked.
   When I made the turn back on the east side of Birmingham, the front line was getting read to enter their airspace from the west.
   After I got back and saw the picture, I then understood what he was talking about. Apparently, the last shot on Flightaware used the last position of the storm superimposed on my flight path when I canceled IFR with approach. Based on that, I now know why he was fussing. I was in VFR conditions the entire time, however this still shot is so deceiving.
   If I had flown direct with no deviation for LEX to M16, I would have flown directly through the red lines.  -->
  
   image courtesy FlightAware.com

● A Passengers Worst Nightmare ...Bryan Wood
   A friend emailed me this link that has the audio and radar track for an inflight emergency where the pilot died a few minutes after take off. This thing is 38 minutes long but well worth listening to. There were many thoughts that went thru my mind while listening, but the main one was that I need to get after my wife to take the controls a bit more. Maybe hearing an event such as this unfold will help others out there to convince their partner to learn how to fly a bit and how to land, or convince the partners of the need. Certainly our next few flights together will be spent teaching the autopilot to her so she can relax while she has a breakdown.  -->

Milestones
● Engine Has Arrived ...Chris

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Aircraft Spruce Now Carries The Dynavibe Prop Balancer
  

Miscellaneous
● VansAirForce.net Hat sighting (Kelly and Jenna Johnson)

 - At the Hercules monument overlooking Kassell and SchloB Wilhelmshohe
   

  - Daughter Jenna at Hermannsdenkmal located in NorthRhine Westphalia
   

● RV-8 R/C Model Video

Mon 06.15.09 1247z
  Good morning fellow Vanheads!!!  It was a good weekend - I got to fly on Friday (.5hr), Saturday(.3hr) and Sunday(.5hr).  Nothing but short hops, but all fun.  Friday and Saturday contained solo acro and some formation.  On Sunday morning's flight I had Tater as my passenger, and of course, any flight with one of the kids is the highlight of the weekend by default.  He asked me if we could go see his school from the air Sunday morning.  Yes.  So, Susie and I made an executive decision and the girls went to teen Mass and Tate and I went to the regular Mass in the late afternoon.  A little known fact is that the real reason there is a late afternoon Mass is so folks can take their kids flying in the morning when it's still cool <g>.  I could be wrong on this...it's probably so that you can watch CBS Golf up until 5pm.  On that note, Paul Goydos (the golfer Susie pulls for) tied for 4th at the St. Jude Classic on Sunday (Go Dirtbags!).  Didn't even make the cut at the Colonial the week before, which highlights the tight tolerances in the game.  One bad swing and you're out.
  Windy all day here in DFW (18G28).  I need to exercise and paperwork is backed up three feet, so no flying today (yeah I know....poor me!). <g>
  I hope you had a great, RV-filled weekend.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Ron Lee Cayman Islands Trip Write-up.
   New Installments: Pt 6, Pt 7, Pt 8

● New Instrument Pilot (Tanya Card) - Passed the check ride - Part II
   If the title sounds familiar, you may be confusing it with this link. Just change the 's' to a 't' in the poster's name, and there is no need to repeat most of it.  The differences...
  1) I rolled out of bed WAY BEFORE the sun came up as I needed to take the dog to boarding, finish my flight planning for the check ride with the morning weather, finish packing for the weekend of formation flying training in Brownwood, and make lunches as timing wouldn't allow us to get it elsewhere. Wheels up about 9:30 to make the 11 am check ride with some wiggle room. Three to 3 1/2 hours for the checkride, put the airplane in the hangar (thankfully since a hail storm rolled through town - THANKS STU), scarf down the sandwiches, check in, and make it to the hotel by 3pm for the start of the formation training. I am known to pack my days pretty full, but this may have been even been too much for me.  -->

● Wife's First Flight  ...Steve Allbee
   Well it happened, my wife of 31 years got to go up in the RV for the first time last night. She was overjoyed. She absolutely loved it. She said it was like taking off in a 737. Lots of power and speed. All she could say was, It is so smooth. The density altitude was way high and so was the temp, around 80. She wasn't in any discomfort. I took here on a nice flight north about 40miles and back. She loved the turns, the stability. Oh and she loved the view out the tipup. Other than a bunch of bugs that hit the front of the windscreen, she loved looking out. Coming in to land, I warned her it would be different. I ran 160mph up to 2 miles out and than pulled power back, this gave here the ol' brake it baby. She actually liked that also, than we shot down to the runway and landed, no sqeak or bounce and than the nose. She was sold, she wants to go again. Big ol' smile on here face as we taxi'd to park, now she can see on that too, she loves it. A model.

● Larry Pardue's Real Time fly-in coverage (using a smartphone)
  Even if you live in the extreme hinterlands, some technology does eventually drift down. I have longed for an iPhone, but we have no AT&T coverage so that doesn't work. Within the last week a very capable smart phone was introduced on the Sprint network, which is available to even we bumpkins.  -->

related: How to do this with smartphone and Picasa

● Pictures from EAA105's Parkside Fly-in and BBQ ...Bill Anderson

● Texas Antique Airplane Fly-In  ...Chris Pratt
   Yes there were RVs there, so it's RV-related.  Actually for those of us who love airplanes, the antiques are always worth a look. If you're in the North Texas area Sunday, June 14 stop in at Gainesville (KGLE). But stop by early because it is hot out there.  Here are some random pictures from Saturday, June 13.  -->

● Breakfast Air to Air ...Pete Howell
   Shot a few of Bernie's -7A on the way to breakfast this morning. The recent rain has greened things up!  -->

● Dynamic Prop Balancing and the iPhone "Vibration" App
   Sorry in advance, as this is a long post, and will probably take a couple posts to get the pics in. But it may be of interest to the engineering minded (and others) among us. But lots of pics, so maybe it'll keep the attention of the Navy and Marine Corps pilots (I can say that, I are one!) I just hope the length doesn't kill ya!
   Shortly after purchasing my RV-6, I was told about Kahuna's website and his detailed prop clocking description. Since I have the same engine/prop combo (IO-540/Hartzell 2-bladed D-twist paddle), his success at reducing vibrations piqued my interest, and I've wanted to follow a similar protocol.  -->

● There Goes My Baby..........
  I occasionally see airplane's fly over my little ranch, but yesterday my friend Rich was flying my 6 and came by and circled a couple of times. I hadn't had an opportunity to see my plane up close really fly from a ground vantage. I was amazed at how fast these little buggers are! I think at that moment, it finally sunk in, what I had accomplished. When I was building the plane, I went about it in a very dedicated method, I worked on it everyday, I didn't spend any time hangar flying or dreaming, I just tried to do every building task as perfectly as I could. The airplane now has about twenty hours on it, after very little tweaking, Rich told me that it flys fast & straight, has really no bad characteristics. That means a lot to me considering he has built three RV6's & one RV10. -->

● Tennessee Valley Air Race Results ...Bob Axsom
   The takeoff order by race # was 44, 28, 14, 109, GF, 71, 26, 83, 3, 2, 112, 704, 448, 807 as far as I can tell. There was some last minute juggling because of late entry and communication difficulty. In spite of the best effort to line every one up in fastest to slowest order there was some passing along the way.
   We took off with self spacing when everyone was released as a serial group by the air boss then he called our turn individually for the run in to the start line associated with a water tower northeast of the airport. I got my call and rolled in passing over the tower at the altitude I have planned for the first leg. I had planned the route carefully on my check list giving the minimum altitude for the legs to remain 500 ft AGL. I also listed the height of the highest obstructions on each leg.  -->

● The First Speed Dash Results ...Bob Axsom
   On 6-13-09 at the Courtland, Alabama the first SARL speed dash event was held. Each pilot made a two way pass down the runway. I was given a set of results and I will compute the 2-way average.  -->

● 09 Texas Formation Clinic a Success ..Stu
  Thanks to all who participated in the 09 Texas Formation Clinic. Out of the 23 originally signed into the Database, 20 made it to Brownwood. Weather was bad for the Ohio contingent.  -->

● On The Bench At SteinAir.com ...Doug Kay's and David Read's RV-8 Panels

Doug Kay

David Read

fmi: www.SteinAir.com

VAF Family
● In-flight Self Portrait: Ryan Dean (RV-4)
   Early morning flight. I was hoping to watch the launch of STS-127 from the air, but it was scrubbed. That's no excuse to not fly.....
 

Construction
● Pro Seal Cure time
  I removed the seeping cork gasket from my recently purchased RV-6A and reinstalled using pro-seal only.  How long should I let the pro-seal cure before leak testing? I have the unused test kit for the -7 I am (mostly not) building. Ambient temps around here have been 60 low to 75 high.  How long should I wait before putting fuel in the tank? It flies really nice so I would rather be flying but will try to be patient.

   (Walt chimes in) Once it starts to firm up it's ok to put fuel on it, B2 at 75d if it's fresh and mixed right should be pretty firm in less than 24 hours. Actually you can put fuel on once it's tack free which is 2 hours if you're in a hurry. We used to use B-1/6 when we were in a hurry, tacks in 10 minutes, close the fuel cover and fuel er up. You can also mix it a little "hot" if you want it to set quicker. Check what you had leftover from the mix and if it's pretty firm you're good to go. -->

Troubleshooting
● A little farther up the learning curve ...John Dalman
  I've now flown 10 hours with the EIS and am getting pretty good at things. I recently developed some procedures to include in the POH for using the EIS including leaning functions, fuel fill etc.
  Today I flew to Burlington, Iowa and back on a business trip and tried to determine if the fuel levels were showing properly. I had not gotten any degree of trust so far, although the fuel flow totalizer so far seems accurate to at least .5 gallons in 10 gallons.
  On the way back from BRL I flew some extra laps around the area to see if the fuel level would decrease. It eventually did but I knew from the totalizer that the fuel remaining did not agree with the fuel level gages.
  When I got back to DeKalb KDKB and pushed back into the hanger I decided to go back through the calibration procedure thinking I had made a mistake. Out came the 1/2" wrench (for the drain valve) and a 5 gallon fuel can. I drained the left tank and filled the right until I had one empty, one full and one 5 gallon fuel can full. I was lucky - I had just enough capacity to make it all work out.  -->

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● New Wheel Bearings could use more grease.
   At 90 hours, I am picking away at my regular maintenance items to reduce the time I am actually down for my up coming Conditional Inspection. I did not grease my wheel bearings before the first flight.
   Although they where "pregreased", they where not greased very well. I would recommend that you pack them before you take that first flight.  I would not have wanted to go too many more hours on them. Perhaps this has been noted before, but it passed me by.

Advertiser's Corner...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Rod Bower Press Release ...solution to costly air induction and forward facing sumps.
  

Miscellaneous
● Comedy: Biplane RV-7
  

Sat 06.13.09 1415z SPECIAL UPDATE.
  Larry Pardue (RV-6 Carlsbad, NM) used his smartphone for near-real-time photo coverage of a fly-in in Denver City, TX. (more)

Fri 06.12.09 1213z
  Friday!!!  I drove out to 52F around lunch on the chance I could get around the patch Thursday.  No joy.  It started raining.  Hard.  I got some pictures on the way and back of some of the storm damage we had here in N.TX the night before.  Lots of trees split within a 9-iron shot of our house.  We got lucky.  Speaking of luck, I couldn't find any damage at the airport.  Looks like all the planes were OK, even those parked outside.  Saw a C172 upside down on the ramp at another local airport on TV - strong winds this time of year.  Around 8pm it was calm and 80*F, and I must admit I thought about going out to the airport for a few minutes.  But, Susie was teaching a late class and Tate was next door playing with friends, and an adult needed to be here when he came back home.  Since one wasn't around, I had to do. (rimshot)
  I've logged exactly .3hrs in the past five days.  Again, quoting Larry the Cable Guy, 'That just ain't right.'  I plan on getting some distance between me and the ground over the next 48hrs.  Loaded Yes's '9012 Live - The Solos' CD on the iPhone - I'd like to fly around listening to that for an hour or so.
  I'm also planning on spending some time this weekend configuring a new lightweight laptop that I'll be taking to Airventure, LOE and Homecoming, so I can do my RV reporting more efficiently.  Already got a VansAirForce.net sticker on it <g>.
  Have a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● In-The-Air Pic of Alf Alav Frog's Newly Flying RV-7 (Norway) ...and yes, that is snow!
   "As requested, here's a couple of pics of my pride'n joy... The scheme are copied from a US-builder: Steve Nyman. After the pics where taken, the pants and fairings where installed permanently with nutplates etc.  On the top pic, the pants and fairings are installed with "speed tape" for use during the test flyings phase."
 

● Steve Sampson's Short Field RV-4 Landing Experiences ...a reply in a thread about how much space you need.  Some snippets:
   (snip) My -4 is based at my home where I have 1020'. However I do not come in over 50' trees. I use 750 to 800'.   (snip)  I do use a c/s prop and suspect its a big help though have never flown the -4 without.
A couple of issues:
- Don't bother trying until you can repeatable land the -4 in an acceptable distance elsewhere....
  (more / video of landing and taking off on his strip)

● Having Insurance Can Help ...Greg Illes
   Here's my insurance anecdote:  I've always carried full hull insurance on my aircraft. About two years ago, I was landing my Cherokee at my home airport, and hit ~20 knots of wind shear just around 30' above the ground. There was no warning, no gust report on the ATIS, just a steady 20-knot headwind on final that twisted around 100 degrees or so just before the numbers.
   Airplane came down onto the runway like a sack of bricks, broke off one gear leg, bent both spars downward, rippled the fuselage and crumpled the motor mount. Total loss.
   I regard this as a pretty-much unavoidable accident, in-motion of course.  I had a check from my insurance company in two weeks. Bought my present steed, a nice RV6, within a month afterwards.
   Even though the insurance cost went up for my new-to-me RV6, I pay it happily. Hope I never have to use it again, but I pay it.

● June 13th EAA's 16th Annual International Young Eagles Day

● Mike Starkey's Alaska Vacation Photos ...Mike is building a RV-10, and even though the pics don't have RVs in them, the scenery is just so incredible I thought I'd share up here.

Milestones
● Tony Tessitore's RV-12 Wing Kit (mostly) Finished
   Flaperons done now which completes my wing kit at 212 hours. Except, I have not completely closed out the wing tips until I see the lighting option.
  

Safety
● Is That a Thunderstorm?  Weather radar is a great tool, but we need all of our senses for severe weather avoidance. ...Flying magazine article.
  

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● A Better Grease Gun?  ...interesting data point from Neal George
   Every grease gun I've ever owned has left a puddle. I had this discussion with my hangar-mate a few weeks ago. He owns a heavy-diesel repair shop, and has lots of practical experience with grease storage & dispensing.
He suggested that my problem was more closely related to the quality of the grease than the gun.
   Visit your favorite auto parts purveyor and pick a mid-priced gun. Fill it with mid-to premium-priced grease or the indicated aviation product and store it horizontally - the closer to room temperature (75-ish) the better.
   I've taken my assortment off the peg-board and started storing them in stainless tubs common to the steam table at your favorite Chinese buffet.

   (Iron's take) I actually think that the reason they leak (at least down here in Houston) is that the oil just melts it's way out of the grease, and then you get the puddle. I've bought a couple of medium-priced guns over the years - just bought a pneumatic to see if it is any more reliable. I am convinced though that if it sits more than a couple months in this environment, the grease has little oil left in it, and it just doesn't feed. When I put in a fresh cartridge, I try to grease everything I can find, because the tube will probably be bad the next time I want it...

Thrift
● Canopy film sun-shade ...Greg Illes (RV-6)
   Just an FYI for everyone:  I've had Gila static-cling film on the inside of my canopy for about 2 months now, with very good results. I did have to cut 6" V-slices in it for the compound-curved section, it's not quite flexible enough to fit smoothly in that area. But it installed well, stays in place, and looks and works very well. I used the "black privacy" style, which you can see through but is a very good sun block.
Advantages:
- no adhesive, no apparent effect on the canopy
- specified to work with plexiglas
- as effective as my Kroger shade, but takes zero space/weight
- don't have to try to move it back and forth like the Kroger
- see-through even at night
- windy taxiing does not loosen it
- costs about $40 for a full-canopy-length installation
- easily removable (although I'm not sure how easy to re-install)
(more)

Miscellaneous
● OT: STS-127 Launch Set For Saturday Morning (www.nasa.gov)
● Donations Page Updated: Current as of 6/10/09 1747z.  Thanks again for making this site fly (rimshot).  dr

Thu 06.11.09 0800z
   Boy, did we get some storms in N. Texas yesterday evening (story).  Rotation in the clouds, sirens going off, 70mph gusts, lawn furniture knocked over and weatherfolks on TV earning their pay.  The channel 8 helicopter got video of a semi-defined twister that formed right on the edge of Lake Lewisville about a mile from our house (moving away).  The kids knew the drill (downstairs bathroom).
   Summer in Texas.
   What really piqued my interest was just how close the helicopter pilot was to the action.  Susie, who usually doesn't give a rat's patooty about most things flying, even asked why the station was making him fly so close to the storm.  "It ain't the station, Babe, it's squarely on the shoulders of that pilot."  It did occur to me that this could be one spectacularly well documented accident, with their gyro-stabilized camera running and all.  I know I wouldn't have been that close had I been the PIC, but I had a data point they didn't have (trees almost coming out of the ground in the backyard while I'm watching zoomed-in doppler radar on TV).
   After the excitement Tate and I watched the new 'Mythbusters'.  They tried to break glass out in the desert, with two Blue Angels making supersonic passes at 500' in a restricted practice area.  Long story short....broken glass.  If you Tivo'd it, it's the last two minutes <g>.
   Oh, why am I typing this at 0200 local?  Another lightning show out the window woke me up.  I thought somebody was taking close up pictures of my head while I was sleeping.  Man, would those have been some ugly pictures...
   Going out to 52F sometime this morning to make sure the airport is still there (all signs point to yes).  Danny and Terry, who own the hangar I rent a corner in, recently put up hardware that should keep the doors from falling off their tracks in high winds.  Sounds like good thinking to me, especially since it's my plane parked next to the sliding doors <g>.  Smart guys those two.
   Wishing you a twister-free, VFR Thursday.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Great People! ...by Ron Duren
   Before I started building my airplane, I heard many stories of the legendary flying characteristics of the RV series. Because these stories were so widespread, you just kinda had to believe it to be true. In fact, based on this I decided on Van's aircraft before I had ever flown one. But, when I finally was able to get my hands on the stick of an RV8A, words and descriptions couldn't do it justice...it was pure heaven, a delight to fly! I certainly had the RV grin and was hooked.
   Well, the same thing goes for the stories I heard of the great people associated with experimental aircraft and more specifically the RV builder community. I am still pretty new to this wonderful world of RV's, but I have already experienced great warmth and friendship from everyone I have encountered along the way. The stories, once again, really don't do it justice.
   Last night was another example. My girlfriend Samira and I, along with another brand new RV8 builder (Bryan Raley), were invited over to visit Mr. Bob Markert's RV8 project. Bob and his wonderful building partner and wife Mary treated us like old friends, even serving us strawberry shortcake! Bob was even kind enough to give my girlfriend a quick riveting lesson. As Bob was quick to point out, we already 'know' each other because we are 'RV' people. That pretty much sums it up, and is the general feel I get from everyone involved in this great passion for aviation and homebuilding. From local RV8 pilot John Loretz, whom I had never met, offering me a free ride (and refusing to take payment for avgas!) a couple months ago and now continuing with Bob and his wife graciously opening their home to us as old friends. I was really taken aback by all of Bob's offers to use his tools and jigs once he was finished with them. It is so refreshing to see this small group of people that still show the qualities that make America great. I feel very fortunate to live in a country where I have the freedom to be part of this great 'hobby'. I also thank Bob, who is an ex F-15 driver, for giving us that right and protecting this great country with his service.
   Now for the details of Bob's project. Bob is working on his wings right now, and is just about to start sealing his fuel tanks. He is doing a few modifications at this stage, including a flop tube for inverted fuel (combined with the Christian inverted oil system) and extended range fuel tanks that will add 9 gallons to his fuel carrying capacity. These ER tanks are manufactured by a company called 'Hotel Whiskey'. These are all options I am considering for my project so I had a keen interest in talking with him about the details of each mod. Since this was the first time I had seen a project in progress other than pictures, it was very fascinating. For starters, Bob has a real nice shop setup in a three car garage. I was also a little taken aback by how big the wings look in the garage, and in comparison to the empennage. When you fly in an RV, the 'hershy bar' wings looks short and stubby...but seem much bigger when they are in a garage and not attached to the fuselage. I was also stuck by the magnitude of the work I have ahead of me, I now know the empennage is peanuts compared to the wings. There looks to be a lot more things to contend with on the wing construction, even a little intimidating. I did envy Bob's position though, although I am enjoying the building process, I can't say I wouldn't mind being at his stage in the project. Soon enough, for now, its the Vertical Stabilizer...followed by the rudder...elevators...trim tab....and on and on. Before I know it, like a child growing up too fast, it'll be over as quick as it began. I shall savor the moments....
Ron Duren
Denver, CO
RV-7...Empennage

● Playing Tanker ...Paul 'Ironflight' Dye
   We don’t have fuel at the airpark where we live, so one of the realities of our flying lives is to pick up fuel at neighboring airports in a smart fashion. For instance, local flying hops are sometimes planned to hit a cheap fuel stop on the way home. Other times, we know a trip is coming up, and if it is going to be a long day (and we don’t want a fuel stop in the first few miles) we want to make sure we end up at home with nearly full tanks. At the same time, I am the son of a depression-era parents, and hate paying a penny more than I have to when buying anything – including Avgas, which we tend to use at a prodigious rate (lots of flying hours…)! As a result, I am frequently asking the question, “where is the most sensible place to buy fuel today?”
   This seems like a simple matter – fly to the nearest airport for gas, or look at Airnav for the cheapest price – right? Well…maybe. The nearest airport with fuel is 4 miles away, but is generally a dollar a gallon higher than the place 30 miles away. If I am going to go flying ANYWAY, doesn’t it mosey on over to the cheap place and mosey on back? While much of the time, it doesn’t make a real difference (we all know it doesn’t pay to drive across town to save a few cents per gallon, but we hate paying the higher prices!), sometimes, it sure can. The real problem I have is in completely and accurately describing the “problem” I am trying to solve. Cheapest overall? Most fuel? Best price per gallon based on the amount you have when you get home? The engineer in me wants to quantify everything, but if you can’t accurately describe the question, the answer will be ambiguous.
   In an attempt to try and at least clarify the problem, I built a little spreadsheet that considers a flight to go and get 20 gallons of gas. It considers the price at each airport, the distance to the airport, and a set of variables such as fuel burn and ground speed that are held constant for each case. I added up the fuel for the round trip plus the 20 gallons, and produced a “total gallon” column. Another column is “Fuel remaining when you Get Home” (of course that is always going to sort with the closest airport at the top). I found that if there was enough difference in fuel prices in the local area, the total fill up cost can vary significantly from the “nearest to closest” sort. This of course, was just a quick and dirty look at the problem – I’d be interested to see if anyone else has thoughts on this “rainy day” problem…. (continue)
  

● Here's a great example of why Stein is so well liked in the RV community ...the guy does know his stuff.  Think I'm kidding? (pics)

● RV-4 Panel Upgrade ...Christopher
   I had to trim out the top part of that bar in order to do a panel upgrade a couple months ago on my -4. I ended up adding strength back to it by riveting on a piece of 90 degree angle on the other side.  I couldn't find a pic of the cutting of the the support bar, but I have a pic of he finished product.
  

● May/June Issue of FAAAviation News Now Online  ...40 pages (PDF).  Several interesting articles that should keep you from having a productive workday at the office <g>.
    - How New Technology Takes Flight
    - Airworthy or Not?
    - The ABCs of ADs
    - Why Does My Airplane Smell Like It Has Been Drinking?
   

Wed 06.10.09 1223z
  Tuesday was all paperwork, accounting and typing - looked up from the monitor and it was 5pm.  'That's just not right', as Larry the Cable Guy would say.  This morning it's kinda scuddy around N.TX, but I'm looking to maybe take Flash out for a walk sometime if the stars align.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● RV-12 Finish Kit Service Note T-1210 ...fuel tank sight window.
  

● Part Five of Ron Lee's Cayman Trip Now Online ...Ron Lee
   After a relaxing two days on Little Cayman, it was time to head over to Grand Cayman. The draw there was Stingray City and Seven Mile beach. You may recall that a flight plan is needed to go between island...probably even pleasure flights around an island. Since I planned on leaving Paradise Villas before the office opened, and I needed to call my flight plan in, I had done that a day or so before.
   I loaded up the plane, wiped down the moisture on the plane and removed the tiedowns and placed them safely back at the edge of the grassy area for the next pilot. (continue)
  

● Van's Airventure Banquet Info ...location, ordering tickets, etc.

● Mag Safety ...from Vic (DAR)
    snip...I run a wire from the ACS switch to ground. Mel is right in that the switches can fail. However, I don't think we actually see enough use in our airplanes for them to fail. I've been in electronics my whole life, and I have seen the toggle switches fail, too. You are actually checking the "off" function in both the keyed switch and the toggle switches every time you do a mag check, so unless there is a different practice that I am not aware of, the toggles don't get used any more than the keyed switch to verify they are in fact working. That's presuming you shut down the engine with the mixture (not like on Rotax 912's which use the toggles or a keyed switch to shut down, as there is no mixture control).
   I still use the keyed switch, as there are too many poking hands into our cockpits at fly ins for me to get comfortable with the toggles. I like having the key in my pocket <g>.
   On a good safety note, everyone should make it a practice to check the grounding of the mags at the fly-ins prior to shutdown. Ever watch how many people are adjusting their props to hold the EAA folder on the prop? I had one light off on me one day, and I will never forget it as long as I live. I am very fortunate to still be here.

● Video: Saturday Afternoon in Mid-Georgia ...Bruce Sacks
   Here is a short video with music I threw together using my new RCA Small Wonder and MS Movie Maker.

● Greg Arehart's Camera-In-Wing Mod ...an offshoot of KevinH's insane geotagging thread.
   Below are a few photos of my setup, which is mounted inside the R wing behind a plexi panel. All controlled from a laptop inside the cabin.  Tilts 30 degrees pitch and/or roll, driven by small servo motors from the cockpit (servos are not shown in this photo but you can see the camera mount and how it tilts). (continue / more pics)

● New RV-7 Engine ...sent in by advertiser www.Overhaul.com
   Attached are pictures of new engine shipping to MR. Chris Sands, of Chandler, AZ. for his RV-7.  This is a ECI Titan IOX-360-A4G9N, constant speed, with the ECI's cold air induction and fuel injection system, taper fin nickel+carbide bore cylinders with 9.0:1 compression and standard magneto style ignition.
Thanks
Phil Stephens
America's Aircraft Engines, Inc.
1-888-371-1371
  

Construction (Electrical)
● Joe's Brain Hurts (Help) ...wiring stuff (and a good stab at help from Paul already in the hopper).

Milestone
● Rob Holmes RV-3 Ready For Engine
 

Safety
● Bullet Holes (a.k.a. Another reason to make sure your fuel gauges work, and not to just 'time' your fuel.) ...posted by Rick Gray
   A 172 (may as well have been an RV) left my home base the other day for a short flight. When he returned he discovered that he had been a target. The bullet missed the left fuel tank by about 6".....and it missed the pilot by only about 4'. (continue)

Motivation
● George Brink's Finished RV-6

Tue 06.09.09 1227z
   I fully intended to go out to 52F yesterday and do some gentle laps around the local area with our daughter Audrey in the right seat.  We looked in the logbook Sunday night and discovered that Tate had the last four 'family member flights'.  The daughter won't stand for this, of course, and she demanded to go flying.  Those ARE her initials on the side of the plane, she reminded me.  The families with two children will get what Audrey's going after.  "He gets one.  I get one.  It's very simple, Dad."
   Flash is all buttoned back up and fueled, just sitting there with sad eyes in a dark hangar, watching for the door to open.  And it didn't.  By the time the bills were paid, and promised calls made, and the normal routine of gathering online news from the virtual forest for Tuesday's edition was done, it was late afternoon.  Dinner needed making and some afternoon firecrackers were rolling in from the west with possible wet.  Add to this the fact that Dirty Harry* was on the idiot box, I had a cold mug in the freezer and a longneck in the fridge.  Stayin' home this particular evening, friend.
   The thought did occur to me, however, that our children were fighting over who got to go flying with Dad.  Some might call that a fight.  I choose to call it by its other name......Winning. The. Lottery.  ;^)
   Hoping your Tuesday is VFR.
   Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog
   *(best line from movie) "I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

● First Flight: Robert Scott RV-9A N472RV!
   "Well, June 6th 2009 was the day that N472RV took to the sky. Finally, after 7 years of building it was the day. First, thanks to John Rausch who flew chase in his beautiful RV 8. It was good having John’s voice in my headset offering suggestions, reminding me of certain tasks and just to know I had some help if something went wrong. John also did my transition training in Earl Thompson’s RV9A. Big thanks to Earl!
Taking off in a plane you built that has never flown before is almost indescribable; great pride tempered with uncertainty and fear mixed with enough adrenaline to power the West Coast." (continue)
  

   related: Factory site first flights.

● Milestone: Wife Grin ...Don Hall
   A little background...
   My wife is no thrill seeker. It took years of persistence to get her into her first small airplane ride with a close friend. With even more patience and persistence, she agreed to let *me* give her a plane ride in my old, faithful Archer. That ride is one we still joke about today. I was so caught up in making sure she was ok, that I forgot to latch the Archer's door. [yes it's on the checklist] We take off, and the cabin is dominated by the loud howling from the winds of the improperly secured door. No problem. Just put in a little slip to help with the wind pressure and lock that door. All she saw was that she was suddenly looking more directly at the ground. That is definitely not right. And there I am reaching for the door latch. Yep, I must be trying to throw her out. About 1/10000th of a second later I realize that plan is not going to work. It's much better, apparently, to help crash an airplane than be thrown from it. A few calm words and no more reaching for the latch restores order to the cockpit. There was no way I was going to land back at the same airport, because that would have been it for the flight. I stopped at a nearby airport, secured the door, and did a little 'splaining about my faux pas with the checklist. Amazingly enough, we actually managed to complete a nice trip to a little romantic getaway.
   We made a few more trips over the years. She learned to accept planes, but it was something she could do without. Then, with horror, she witnessed me writing that check for the empennage about four years ago. When I misplace my watch or a set of keys, that amuses her, but now I'm building an airplane that her babies will fly in? If I had set my hair on fire and taken up witchcraft, she'd have been less horrified. From the shock of that moment, we move into the simmering acceptance of the actual build period. Simmering and acceptance don't seem to go together, but the next four years in my house were filled with equal amounts of both. Frankly, I get that. The time and money it takes to build a plane are considerable, and the family most assuredly missed out on a few trips to Europe or the Rockies because of a hunk of metal.
   Fast forward to today. He who loses keys wants to take her flying. A "Gennett" day landed on a Sunday. I call it a "Gennett" day when that magical trifecta of low winds, high visibility, and cool temps mix to produce the perfect flying day. I expected Gennett would wait until I had 1000 hours on the RV before she gave it a go, but this past Sunday I got the thumbs up. With assurances that there would be no inverted flight she agreed to go. She was even kind enough to remind me to latch the door before getting my takeoff clearance. "Thank you, honey." On the takeoff roll, you could feel the nervousness, but slowly as we gained altitude her confidence started building, and she had a great time. She even got rather snap-happy with the camera, and we had a nice hour-long flight to nowhere.

● June Issue Of The ch105 Newsletter Now Online ...always chock full of vitamins 'R' and 'V'.  This will keep you from getting work done at the office for an easy hour.

Cover image.  "Four RV-10s gather for an afternoon BBQ at Lenhardt's."

● The 'Dangers' of Giving Rides in an RV  ....not what you're thinking <g>.   Tanya Card (9A).
   I haven't given many rides yet in the RV. While I am conscious of some of the 'dangers' - the never ending requests for another ride, potential messes, a grin that can't be washed away - there was one that I hadn't considered.
   I gave my boss a ride, and I came back to find my office newly decorated a short time later.

● Amazingly Small RV World ....from pt 4. of the Cayman Island travel story by Ron Lee RV-6A.
   "Later I moved the plane further away from the runway and started the tie down process. I had acquired some rebar to hammer into the ground on the advice of the real RV Cayman experts so I get out the baby sledge hammer and scrounge around the baggage area for the rebar. Unfortunately they were misssing. I forgot to bring them. So I start to walk around hoping that someone left some to make up for my mistake. Sure enough at the edge of the grass are three yellow tie downs made from rebar and some other metal to make a loop"
   (Bill Souza RV-10 chimes in....) ...from his previous trip to the Caymans, "Glad you had a chance to use the rebar tiedowns I left for someone to use.  I through someone might have a good use for them. I painted them yellow for high visibility so no one would trip over them."

Ask A DAR
● Q: Slick Mag Ground Question
   "...just replaced Bendix with a Slick mag, and see there's a threaded hole in the top of the mag case labelled 'GND'.  What is this for????? Do I need to connect it to.......?  Haven't managed to connect with my mechanic, who timed the mag, )
   A: (Mel) This is the "ground" that "kills" the magneto by connecting it to the "P" lead by way of the mag switch. Connect the shield of your mag harness to this point and the other end of the shield to the ground terminal of your mag switch at the panel. This way when your switch connects the "P" lead to the shield, the mag will be off.
Without this connection, the mag may or may not be grounded through the engine, but you shouldn't depend on it.
   A: (Vic) snip.....For the mags, I've always grounded them at both ends with no problems. The GND on the mag is not exactly the "kill" terminal. That terminal usually has a 10-32 nut on it, and a fiber washer to insulate it from the case ground. It is that wire that goes back to your switch, and when connected to ground through the switch it effectively shorts the mag. Hence, no spark. A break in this wire will leave the mag "hot." A break in the shield wire (gnd) may or may not cause radio noise, but it will not affect the operation of the mag.

Construction
● Mike Andresen Adds His RV-10 Construction Site ...Mike likes in Apache Junction, AZ.

related: The RV-10 Forum

Troubleshooting
● The Flip Side to Grove Gear ...Scott Chastain
   Yeah, I knocked 17 lbs. off of the airplane with these puppies, but ladies and gentlemen, there is a flipside to the RV-8 Grove landing gear that you should be aware of—at least if you're a dummy like I am.
   It was time for my annual condition inspection, and since June 1st of last year, I had 186 hours on the Hobbs for N898W. The Aerosport Power IO-360-A1A hasn't missed a beat, and all oil analyses have come back from Blackstone Labs with great readings. Minor squawks all involved fluid leaks: oil seepage around the oil filler neck, another one on the inverted oil pickup fitting, and, oh yeah . . . a brake line fitting that was seeping on the Grove gear right around the pipe threads by the gear box attach bolts.
   No biggy, right? Yeah. Well, you're not an overzealous dummy with a long wrench in your hand, either. A simple 360-degree turn ought to fix the problem! At about 180-degrees, things got pretty tight. At 270-degrees, things got about as ugly as they can get.  The photos tell it all...

● Fixing canopy
   So I drilled a few extra holes (long story) in the back half of the tip up canopy. What should I use to fill the holes.

Building Tips / Techniques/ Mods
● Bob Tries To Raise The CHT in his #1 Cylinder ....Bob Axsom
   It was very gusty with speeds at 20 second intervals on the three tracks varying as much as 5 kts. The SL-60 couldn't get a fix at first and I had to recycle the power and reinitialize it in flight. The sun was getting low but I figured I could get the three tracks in and get back to Drake Field before dark in my unlit racing configuration RV-6A. And so I did but the results were disappointing with a NTPS computed TAS of 178.6 kts at 6,000 ft density altitude. The CHTs were 1=312, 2=332, 3=347, 4=329 F. EGTs were 1=1286, 2=1330, 3=1348, 4=1332. I played with the mixture but in the normal operating range down to the 1100s F EGT on CYl #4 but there was no obvious direct speed response. It was only after I was setting here typing that I realized I never advanced to prop from 2450 rpm during the flight so it was a wasted effort. Will try again when time and weather permits. If there is no gain in speed I'll pull the deflector for the race in Courtland Alabama on June 13 and work with it again later.
  

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Q: How Long Should A Condition Inspection Take? ....Web Willmott
   I know I know, it's a loaded question. It takes as long as it takes.  My first condition inspection will be due in November. Assuming the "routine" things aren't issues, APPROXIMATELY how long should it take?

Miscellaneous
● Oregon bill would provide funds to rural airports (aopa)

Mon 06.08.09 1252z
  Morning fellow Vanheads!  There's plenty of RV news today, so I'll just give you the short recap of my RV activities over the weekend.  No need for 'filler' today <g>.
  Saturday: Breakfast at 52F with Tate and the usual suspects.  Met a visiting R.E. 'Ernie' Butcher - nice guy.  Worked on FWF (normal maintenance stuff), trip over to Steve Horstman's to see his RV-10 empcone progress (he drilled a hole in his workbench to hold his air hose in a way I hadn't thought of before (pic below).  In the evening Tate and I watch a documentary on the British metal band 'Iron Maiden' while the girls watched some chick flick.  What's pretty fascinating about this documentary is that the band's singer (Bruce Dickinson (bio)) is an ATP rated pilot, and was one of three pilots that flew the band's customized Boeing 757 around the hemisphere on their '08 tour (article).  Band, crew and equipment in one plane.  Surprisingly, and refreshingly!, a very G-rated documentary with none of the usual 'rock documentary stuff' that you don't want your 8 year old to see.  Of course I used the evening to go over the whole 'Alice Cooper, KISS, David Bowie, etc. theatrical aspect for the show' thing with Tate.  My points were strengthened by video clips of the band playing golf and soccer and eating broccoli the morning after playing a set of 'Devil music' and being chased by a 25' tall zombie robot.  Tate was amazed that what Alice Cooper is mostly known for these days is golf (proof / article).  That Maiden's live show ended with them playing a taped 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Python's 'Life of Brian' was classic.  If you have a minute, watch this video to see an ATP rated pilot in uniform signing autographs and then getting onstage for his 'night job'.
  related: Documentary Trailer.  It was on VH1 Classic if you have a DVR.
  Sunday: Cowled Flash back up and took Tate for a short hop around the field (as well as a visiting Robert Meggs...RV-7 Emp from Georgia).  Nice guy!  Danny brought his newly restored and painted Vespa (his 2nd) out to the field for a visit.  One sweet paint job.  Man that guy can shoot.
  Goal this week:  RV-3B emp progress!!!
  Hope your weekend was VFR.  Have a great week.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog
   
    a) Danny's rides   b) Steve "air hose trick"   c) Steve Horstman working on -10 HS.

● Summer Hours Start
   Now that the kiddos can sleep in, I'm going to start pushing out this page here in the neighborhood of 1300z (0800 my local time) instead of 1200z.  You'll get a higher quality product, with there being no stopping to make lunches and trips up to school and all <g>.   dr

● G-GIGZ Flies !!!!  ...Chris Mitchell (near Oxford, England)
   RV8 G-GIGZ flew for the first time this morning from the ex-RAF airfield of Little Rissington, in the heart of England's Cotswold country side, 2 1/2 years after squeezing the first rivet. (more)

● Norway has now "officially" it's first RV-7! ...Alf Alav Frog
   "I like to share some VERY GOOD NEWS with you folks:
Last Friday, my RV-7 named "Wilco" passed the final inspection and was approved as a "real airplane"! That means I can now fly with passengers and fly out of the country.
   The test flying phase went well and both my plane and me are now ready to fly with my wife (she had never flown an RV before) and my 6 man (!) building crew. (they are all retired a/c technicans from the Norwegain Airforce)
All of them have REALLY deserves some RV-rides now!
   The inspector gave us alot of credit and nice words for the project and that goes to all of us, but first of all to my building team!"

● Trip Write-Up: Cayman Islands trip (June 2009) ...Ron Lee (multi-part and lots of pictures)

● Trip Write-Up: Bloomsburg, PA ...Vlad (multi-part and lots of pictures)

● Automated Aerial Photos ...KevinH
   This morning I did an experiment with a little cheap-o ($80 used - Canon SD600) camera. I duct taped the camera to the underside of the wing and then flew a quick flight with a GPS auto geotagging each photo (continue)

● New Virtual Hangar Entry ...David Maib RV-10

● Pictures From The 2009 Texas RotorFest ...Tracy Hallock
   For those of you who may be interested in the Mazda Rotary engines, we had a little gathering of Rotorheads here in Austin last week. I have posted my pictures of the 2009 Texas RotorFest, hosted by Dennis Haverlah, at his home on Breakaway airpark. The event was a great success, and we even had a new world's record: eight rotary powered aircraft in one place. I heard that the previous record was seven. (continue)

● RV-8 Builder Paul 'Ironflight' Dye In The NASA Tent at OSH.

● Hat Sighting:  Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab (Chris Klugewicz)
  

   Related: More Hat Sightings.

Video
● Ground vibration testing demo video ...not RV, but pretty interesting.

Troubleshooting
● Grease on Windscreen
   "I've searched previous posts on a 2 blade MT prop slinging grease. On the lsat 2 flights, I've noticed some fine grease mist on my windscreen. Not a lot but enough to tick me off.  It is only on 1 blde after examination (prop has 130 hours on it). Prop has also been dynamically balanced so I don't think that is the problem." (more)

● Electrical: ARINC 430 & 330 ....Kahuna
   A search of the archive turned up zero.
   This past weekend I was setting up some new wiring for my Trio A/P. Goal was to get a new set of wires from the 430 and GRT AIRINC outs to a select switch, then to the trio head. Looking at the 430 wiring diagram, it has only one AIRINC channel out. I was surprised to find out that it was already pre-wired by Stark Avionics to the 330. I failed to notice this during installation and did not record this in my schematics.
   The 330 does take a serial input from the 430 for GPS position, to activate/deactivate the transpoder at a certain speed. Easy enough to understand. What I cant figure out is why the 330 needs, wants, or desires the AIRINC data stream off the 430. Any ideas?
   AIRINC being a serial data stream, I spliced into it and teed off a set of wires for the a/p function I need.
   I turned off the AIRINC data output from the 430 and could not see and difference in behavior of the systems. Perhaps when no AIRINC data is received from the 430, it uses the 232 serial for gps speed data?
   The 330 manual says the AIRINC input starts and stops the flight timers, as well as puts it in ground mode when landing. Hmmm. I thought the serial input from the 430 did that. It does not say that the AIRINC data put the 330 in atl reporting mode. Just says it puts it in gnd mode. hmmm.
   Thoughts on why the 330 would enjoy the firehose of data off the 430 AIRINC data stream? I feel like there is something important I'm missing.
   (chime in)

Thrift
● Easy Wind Tunnel ...Pierre Smith
   ...for you guys wanting to reduce drag.
   Years ago, I put drops of black, used oil on the leading edges of my homemade brake fairings on my Cassutt and I wondered if I'd shaped them correctly. I flew around the pattern and went wide open and then landed. Low and behold.....beautiful streaks all the way to the rear....good, laminar airflow.
   So today while I was refueling my dirty Air Tractor for another load, I looked at the leading edges and saw the turbulence behind the round-head rivets and remembered reading in an EAA publication years ago that the first rivet causes as much drag as the next seven..well here it is...the leading edge is on the right side and the chemical streaks show airflow. (continue)

   Related: The Secret Is Out (Glider community using oil)

   Related: Using Colored Oil

Miscellaneous
● What Every Hangar Needs ...by Paul 'Rosie' Rosales
   "Here's the new addition to the hangar..... Many thanks to RVers Greg Scates for helping me getting the car-lift installed; Another goal come true!  Definition of a goal: Take a dream and give it a date ;-)
  

● OT: But a nice small-company-does-good Story ....and anyone who saw 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' will smile reading this.

● June 10th Episode of Mythbusters features 'Can a Sonic Boom Break Glass....featuring the Blue Angles'.  Discovery channel.

● Rest in Peace: Mr. Jim Swick
   (a tribute written by his friend, Rob 'Smokey' Ray)
All,
   Another aviation legend has Gone West. Jim Swick succumbed to complications from pneumonia last night, he was 81. I met Jim fifteen years ago when my friend Rick C. moved next door to him at F69, North Dallas Air-park. It didn't take long to figure out that Jim wasn't your average Joe. In fact above average still didn't properly describe him, reluctant genius seems to be more descriptive. During his 2004 Sun and Fun visit to my house near Lakeland, Jim parked his camper in my driveway. He and I shared many stories sitting there in the camper, his truly amazing life was very evident.
   From the time he was very young Jim built things, many things. Anything mechanical, Jim could build it, tear it apart or fix it. His love for airplanes came on the farm fields of Nebraska, his home state where he became a crop duster. Jim flew crop sprayers for many years and many amazing adventures until becoming an Airline pilot and later a Captain for Braniff on the 727. During this time Jim became involved in aerobatics competing and designing his first airplane, the Swickster, a single seat bi-plane. Jim recalled the harrowing 1966 last flight of the Swickster.
   "It was a great flying ship, fast roll rate, sweet handling. I was practicing inverted flat spins when during one spin I couldn't get it to recover. After repeated attempts and the Earth looking uncomfortably close, I decided to part company with that little bird. I released my straps and somehow extricated myself, kicked clear and pulled the rip cord. I felt a tug, barely got one swing in the chute and crunch! I landed in a cottonwood tree just as the Swickster hit the ground right next to me! I was able to walk to a nearby road and catch a ride home."
   Jim continued to build airplanes including several build-from-scratch Bucker Jungmeisters and derivatives. He built Bucker wings for his close friend aerobatic legend (and my Dad's flight instructor) Frank Price the same wings used on his Bucker during the filming of The Great Waldo Pepper. He was also part of the design genius of Gene Soucy's "Show Cat" Grumman Ag-Cat turned aerobatic show-plane. He was a close friend of Curtis Pitts and they talked often, several times while I was visiting his shop. Jim also let me fly his amazing M-14P powered Bucker Jungmeister, the finest aerobatic airplane I have ever flown. (including the F16!)
   He is famous though for his masterpiece, the Swick Taylorcraft. Jim and his son Mike designed, drew plans and certified the design, still a cult favorite aerobatic mount and wonderful flying airplane. I flew the prototype elliptical wingtip Swick-T and can attest to it's outstanding flying qualities. It remains one of the best "most bang for the buck" aerobatic airplanes of all time.
   Jim's last project was typical for Jim, an out of the box thinking, scratch built Swick-T-Coupe. It has an Australian Rotec Radial engine, digital engine monitor and like all Jim's airplanes, completely scratch-built. Jim had test run it and was ready for test flight just before he died. Hopefully, it will fly soon, the line of volunteers for the test will indeed be long. I am officially placing my name on the list.
   I will always remember Jim Swick as an innovator, engineer, builder and flyer extraordinaire. Rest in peace sir.
Rob "Smokey" Ray
PS: Pray for his family.
 

Fri 6.5.9 1158z
  Spent a few hours yesterday turning wrenches under the cowl.  You know how you think it'll take an hour and it takes three?  Like that <g>.  Normal ongoing maintenance stuff you do on an RV that's been flying for seven years.  Eyeballs, flashlights, screwdrivers and oil rags.  Fairways and greens.
  As our two kiddos would have us believe, at 1:30pm today Tate starts the 3rd grade and Audrey 9th.  The kids think that one second into summer vacation they are the next grade higher.  She turns 14 in less than two weeks (my N-number is N617AR...June 17th, Audrey Reeves).
  High School.  High School?  HIGH SCHOOL!!!  Ok, take a deep breath, Doug.  Slow, deep breaths.   I'm too young to have a kid in high school, right?!?  Then it's a scooter license, then flying lessons, and boyfriends and then COLLEGE!!!  Oh God, I gotta sit down here for a minute...   If she solos at 16 she's going to start asking for the keys to my RV-6 here in the very near future.  Oh geez....I don't wanna share it!   And you just know she'll be a better pilot than me.
  I am so screwed (and blessed).
  Have yourself a happy, safe and VFR RV-filled weekend!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Update Phase I:N234JJ RV-4 ... James Johnson
   "Love this plane!  Flew my Fastback -4 last night and did some 'speed runs'. At half tanks and 3,000 MSL (aprox 4,200 feet desity alt) was getting 205 statute (sounds faster than knots!) indicated airspeed and 220 true air speed at 2600 RPM and 27 MP. I am more than satisfied with this! Appears my homemade intake system, to fit the Sam James stiock cowl, is working great and even giving me some 'ram' effect MP. Obvioulsy still in the engine break-in phase but really impressed with the Hartzel Blended Airfoil prop/180 HP combo. On takoff roll it literally pushes me into the seat and I'm flying!
   Tonight I'm taking the carb off and sending it in for the next bigger jet size since the CHTs are higher than they need to be.  I landed last night and just let my plane sit outside the hanger and stared at it while sampling a tasty beverage.....can't beleive I built it!!  Lastly. Becker radios are the best!
   Keep pounding those rivets, it's worth it!

● First Flights ...reported on the factory site.

● The VAF 'Virtual Hangar' Project ...an attempt to get online, and in one spot, descriptions and images of the finished RVs on the planet.
(how it submit your plane / sort the list).

● Update on the Tennessee Valley Air Race ...as of June 2.  Posted by Bob Axsom.
   The following racers have registered for the Tennessee Valley Air Race as of 2 June, 2009:
 Race # Name Aircraft Class
 Race 44 Lynn Farnsworth Lancair Legacy "Miss Karen II" Unlimited
 Race 14 Wayne Hadath F1 Rocket "Little Bit" Sport FX
 Race 58 Mark Frederick EVO Rocket "Pesky!" Sport FX
 Race 109 Tom Martin EVO Rocket "Evo One" Sport FX
 Race TBD George Fisher EVO Rocket "Midnight Mistress" Sport FX
 Race 26 Mike Thompson RV-6 "El Lento" RV Blue
 Race 71 Bob Axsom RV-6A "Blue Bird" RV Blue
 Race 34 Chris Murphy RV-4 "Mister Twister" RV Red
 Race 41 Cam Benton RV-4 RV Red
 Race 83 David Adams LongEZ Sprint
 Race 90 Dennis Collins Lancair 235 Sprint
 Race 98 John Keich Midget Mustang Sprint
 Race 141 Pete Larsen KR-2 "Plane Lucky" Sportsman
 Race 30 Marvin Guthrie Bonanza FAC1RG
 Race 121 John Dawson Beech Sierra FAC3RG
 Race 448 Jim Porter Cirrus SR20 "Plane Jane" FAC3FX
 Race 112 Stu Morse Grumman AA5B "Tiger Lily" FAC4FX

● Links To Various Aviation Handbooks & Manuals ....for light reading at work if you need to take a break.  Never hurts to review safety stuff.

Motivation
● Some pretty amazing aerial photography ...posted on the AOPA site.  Wow!

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Seen at Grady's GLO Custom Paint Shop Yesterday ...Grady at lunch after shooting some red in the booth.  iPhone camera strikes again...

Miscellaneous
● Not RV, But Highly Entertaining ...and pretty much guaranteed to hold your attention for the next 9min 55sec.  Sent to me by Rob 'Smokey' Ray.  Click on the link and go HD and full screen if you have the bandwidth and a hole through your corporate firewall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_ZB7jqxz8

● AOPA and EAA work to protect, grow GA
Two of the nation’s largest aviation associations, AOPA and EAA will be collaborating on issues and programs that protect, support, and grow general aviation as the result of a June 3 working session at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis.  continue

Thu 6.4.9 1217z
  Howdy!  One more day until the kiddos get out for summer.  Then begins the three month stretch of what I call 'dynamic house':  office door closed, earplugs IN, toys everywhere, neighborhood children running up and down the stairs, sunburns and skinned knees.  Wouldn't change a thing.  It also begins the three month period of having four extra hands to wipe the bottom of the plane down, and children (even neighbor's kids) who think rolling around on a creeper under a wing wiping oil off in exchange for some ice cream is a great deal.  They'll grow out of it, but I'm in no hurry ;^).
  Have a VFR Thursday.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Spam Shmam ....another reason I migrated this site up to forums from the email-based lists I used a few years back.
   I had a couple three friends saying emails they sent me over the past two days got bounced back, so I went checking and couldn't find anything amiss on my end.  Called my ISP.  They said that Spamhaus, a popular spam tracking service that many large ISPs use (including them), somehow got their blocked list appended with the IP addresses of many of the larger ISPs.  If your ISP gets on the Spamhaus list, as you might expect, it gets treated as a spammer.  Anywho, looks like it was affecting Verizon and Yahoo customers and more over the past 48 hours.  My ISP removed the Spamhaus listings for a bit and immediately one of my buddies that couldn't get through day ago did just fine.  The Spamhaus folks will work out their end and I'm sure it'll be back to normal here soon.
  Just letting you know that if some of your emails to friends are bouncing back that don't usually don't, this could be related.  Spamhaus claims they protect over 1.4 billion online mailboxes as of this month, so your ISP could be one of the ones that uses it.

Spam protection links of interest:
 - SPAM Glossery (I did not know what a 'Cartooney' was until I visited this page.)
 - Online Scams FAQ
 - Should You Send "Removes" back to Spammers?  (NO!!!)
 - Spam Unsubscribe Services

● First Flight!: Larry Griffin RV-7A
  ...from Larry, "RV-7A N74LG 70847 Lubbock, TX.  First flight June 1st, 2009, after 7 years in construction. Flight was fantastic! No surprises; just straight, true and smooth! 180HP IO-360, Prince P-Tip fixed prop, Dynon D-100 EFIS / D-120 EMS, Garmin GNS-430W, SL-40, GTX-327, GPS-396, XM music, VFR/IFR/Day/Night capable. Thanks to my EAA technical counselor, Rick Liles, and the great RV group in West Texas and elsewhere. I never could have done it without them. RV-ers are the best! Keep pounding those rivets - it IS worth it!

Video: Full (slow) version
http://www.sandpileinvesting.com/GriffinFlight.wmv

It's also on YouTube... click on the HD version if you can...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTDwtyKPpts

● Zack Spivey RV8-A N912PS  ...newest entry in the VAF 'Virtual Hangar'. (about / how to add yours)

● Tina's Pilot Shop June Specials
    LED Cap Light   (White Only)     Retail 20.00  VANS   price  8.99
    Finger Light       (Blue Only)      Retail 12.99  VANS   price  5.00
    Headset mounted Tri Light ( Red, Green, White)   Retail 20.00  VANS   price  9.00
    www.TinasPilotShop.com and/or (817)490-0046

● Welcome FatBoyz Aviation (new advertiser)
   Greetings from FatBoyz Aviation!  We are very happy for the opportunity to support and advertise on VansAirforce.Net and even more excited about the many new friendships to be made.
   FatBoyz Aviation offers an expanding array of pilot, airplane and FBO supplies, and much more.  FatBoyz Aviation personnel are active pilots, as well as engineers and technicians with technical proficiency to assist pilots with problems they may encounter when integrating today's hi-tech devices into the cockpit.
   Our passion is Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) and assisting pilots' transitioning to a paperless cockpit.  We offer:

* complete line of EFB hardware, software and accessories,
* assistance to select the EFB system best suited for pilot's flying needs,
* technical expertise to ensure trouble-free transition,
* and continuing education to teach pilots how to get the most from the system.

   To introduce FatBoyz Aviation and our capabilities to the VAF community, we would like to offer ChartKey EFB and ChartCase Professional for $289.95 and $339.95 respectively, a 24% discount off the mfgr list price.  Many of you already have a laptop or tablet computer suitable for the cockpit, adding ChartKey or ChartCase Professional would be a cost-effective way to "roll your own" EFB.
   ChartKey EFB, an innovative new product from FlightPrep, is the optimum solution for pilots desiring to go paperless.  ChartKey EFB comes preloaded with ChartCase Professional*, Sectionals, LIFR charts, Approach plates and Flight Guide Books.  No software to install, everything is resident on ChartKey EFB.
   The EFB program runs completely from ChartKey EFB eliminating the need to worry about free disk space on your computer or even making sure updates are applied. Just insert ChartKey EFB into any open USB port on your Windows laptop, desktop or tablet and take advantage of the self-contained EFB product.
   For detail information, please visit www.FatBoyzAviation.com and click on ChartKey or ChartCase Pro in the Featured Products section.  Enter Discount Coupon Code: VAF010609 during checkout and receive $90 off ChartKey list price or enter Discount Coupon Code: VAF020609 and receive $110 off ChartCase Pro list price. Valid through June 21, 2009.
  Thanks everyone.  Blue clear skies, tail winds and be safe out there!
Thad Phillips

● VansAirForce.net Cap Sighting
   Bob Wishnie photograph taken in the CBS Sports TV tower on the 17th hole at the 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.  Commentator David Feherty between two RV drivers (Scorch left and me right).  Coupla goofballs...
  
    click to enlarge.    related: CBS Sports Golf

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Michelin Tube Valve
   When I did my annual in January I replaced the tubes with Michelin Airstop units. Everything was fine flew to Key West, flew to Taylor Texas and a lot of local testing. In preparation for a trip to California I converted from the racing configuration to the cruise configuration and pumped the mains up to 45 psi. A couple of days before we were to leave (a couple of days after pumping up the tires) I went to the hangar to continue work on the plane and the left main was flat to the point that the wheel fairing was resting on the floor. I reinstalled the old tube but I also inflated the Michelin. The tube has remained inflated. The only thing I can think is the valve was leaking due to contamination, a freak close condition that resulted in a one time only imperfect seal or a valve defect that could recur at any time.
This is a request for reports of similar experience.
Bob Axsom

Troubleshooting
● Faulty Manifold Pressure Readings?
   Q:7A, 0-360, CS Harzell, Dynon D180. MAP reading does not go below 18" with throttle closed.. On the high side fully open, appears normal.
Anyone encountered this problem? Leakage in the system? Sensor issues?
  Contacted Dynon. Here is their response "On your MAP sensor make sure the part number on the sticker is 12247571. We had our supplier send us some wrong sensors and some were delivered to Customers."

Wed 06.03.09 1158z
  So, you know how you lose your cleco pliers, then order a replacement, and when they come you go to put 'em away in the tool drawer...and as you're letting go of them (all beat up and dinged after using them for an hour) you notice you're placing them right on top of the cleco pliers you lost in the first place?  I did that yesterday, only instead of cleco pliers ordered, it was a trip to Lowes and a copper tube cutter used to fix a toilet.  Dang ol brain...
  Have a nice VFR Wednesday.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Flight: Nick Matejcek N908SA (North Dakota)
   "After 3 years N908SA finally took to the sky."
  

● N84H Out of Phase 1
   Well we have have had great to fair weather in Middle Tennessee over the past month. This has allowed me to get some consistent flying, getting through Phase 1.
   I was free of my test area on Friday allowing me to take Malinda, my supportive wife, to Kentucky Dam (M34) on Saturday. Our EAA chapter 863 schedules an annual fly-out to have lunch at Miss Patti's.
   Over the past three weeks I have put 48 hours on my new RV with very few items to address.
Last week Sam posted my aprs track which created some emails requesting a photo.
- RV-8 Slow Build
- O-360
- Sensenich Fixed Pitch
- Lotsafun
   My aprs is on vacation until I can pull the floor to see why it no longer is getting packets out. It is a 300mw unit that has been doing very good. This may be an opportunity to replace it (more power) to increase the low level coverage.
   Well I am having fun and hope to run into many of the good RV folks around the country.
__________________
Randy Hooper
RV-8
N84H
  

● MAC Trim Servo failure - and repair (and Lessons learned the easy way) ...Steve N144SH RV-4
   A couple of weekends ago I flew my RV-4 back from Sunriver to Hillsboro with my 17 year old son (175 lbs) in the back. Naturally the elevator trim setting was quite different than where it is for 90% of my flights that are solo. Last weekend I went out to do some flying and check out the homebrew AOA probe for the Dynon D10 I had just installed - solo of course.
   Mistake #1: Inadequate preflight - such a high percentage of my flights are solo and I didn't use a checklist that I failed to check/set the elevator trim. On climbout the nose is noticeably heavy from the trim being set for the 175lb in the back on the previous flight. No biggie of course, just hit the trim button on the stick..... No response. Hmmm.... must have blown a fuse, that hasn't happened before. OK, lets deal with this in a minute, its not an emergency just an inconvenience.
   Level off at 3K AGL, at slow cruise speeds it takes a surprising amount of force pulling back to maintain level flight. Check the fuses, none blown. I forget that the trim is connected to a separate circuit breaker I had placed in a position where I could shut it off in case of runaway trim. Not in sight, but just under the main panel on the RV-4 is a cross member where I had it mounted easily accessible in flight. Mistake #2: Inadequate systems familiarity (even though I built the thing!).
   Land normally and taxi back. Tach time 0.3Hrs (continue / pictures)
 

● Thoughts from a recent flight with 5 other RVs ...Peter Pengilly (U.K.)

A week (ago) I had the opportunity to fly 1000nm (Southern Portugal to the UK) with 5 other RVs. I think everyone enjoyed themselves, for me flying along with others is always more interesting and enjoyable than on my own. It can also help and hinder decision making. One of the interesting things that came out was a (fairly unscientific) comparison of the different types of RV.

The aeroplanes involved were an RV-9, 7, 3 x RV-6s (2 nosewheels and one tailwheel) and an RV-4. All were powered by fuel injected 160hp O-320s with fixed pitch props, except for the RV-7 (injected 180hp & Hartzell constant speed) and me (RV-6A with a carb). The fixed pitch props were 3 Sensenichs and 2 wooden (RV-4 and one 6A).

We were able to fly at reasonably high altitudes most of the time – ranging from FL75 to 125 (we have an O2 tank and canulas), all VFR, most VFR on top. Most of us would rather take a 20kt headwind and fly in smooth air on top rather than in the bumpy air beneath the clouds.

Aeroplane Comparison
9 - The longer wings worked very well at high altitude (over 8K) – when climbing this aeroplane left me way behind - but was slightly slower than me
(perhaps because of 1" less pitch on the prop - 79" against 80"). Fuel injected engine meant fuel burn could be managed well.

6A - wooded prop worked better at low altitude but not so well at height. This meant the climb rate dropped off more than mine did against the 9.

7 - big engine and wobbly prop - able to pull away from everyone else straight and level and in the climb.

Props - at one point I found myself in the downside of a lee wave in Western Spain, as I pulled the nose up to maintain height I lost at least 100 rpm and several knots. Another area where a constant speed prop would have helped out. Those with lightweight props were limited on baggage by their CGs moving too far aft. Especially with the older aeroplanes (4 & 6) it is important to keep the tail light and not to try to save too much weight FWF.

Conclusion - if you aim to fly long distances, especially at higher altitudes, a 160hp RV-9 is a great choice. If you want aerobatic capability an RV-7 with 180hp is probably you're best bet (or an RV-8). Constant speed propellers don't only pay off in take off & initial climb performance.

Fuel Injection. The aeroplanes with FI were able to learn off much better than I could and hence achieve a much lower fuel burn. I believe that we were all fitted with an electronic ignition that also helped minimize fuel burn and increase performance at altitude.

GPS - I think everyone had some form of handheld GPS, be it a Garmin x96, Bendix-King AV80R or AvMap. Almost essential

Radios. The range of comm radio fit was varied. Some had Garmin SL-40s, I have a King KLX-135, and others had Terra and Microair radios. The more expensive radios (eg SL-40s) performed much better than the others. When over the Pyrenees this was a great benefit. My conclusion is that buying a less expensive radio is no saving if you intend to go long distance touring. When we returned we heard of another RV that had intended to make the trip but suffered radio failure in Northern France and was intercepted by a French Air Force Mirage fighter. He used a Microair radio. The other benefit if the SL series is that it can listen to the standby frequency as well as the primary - a very useful feature if a chat frequency is available. I have two radios to carry out the same function - particularly useful to listen to ATIS broadcasts and to chat to your mates when things get tense.

Transponders. All the aeroplanes were fitted with a Mode C transponder. That was essential for trouble free passage through European airspace. Some aeroplanes had Mode S - none of the controllers seemed interested. As an aside, it is essential that you pay attention to your height keeping all the time. Any significant deviation (say more than 300 ft) from the cleared altitude can result in a stern rebuke from ATC.

Routings. If flying during the working week the military airspace (danger areas / MOAs) will most likely not be available. It is therefore important to know where the VFR transit lanes are, and the reporting points that identify them.

Flying as a formation. We variously flew as a formation of 5 and two formations of 3 aircraft. We were rarely close to each other, but even when there was a couple of miles between us ATC still treated us as one formation. That reduced the workload on the controller, for the less experienced pilots and those with less good radios. Each aircraft submitted its own flight plan and had an individual squawk.

Flight Planning. A couple of people on the trip had got to grips with the CAAs new on line flight planning system, and had baby computers that could interface with the system from anywhere that had a Wi-Fi connection. That was a great boon, we could file one flight plan and then copy it quickly for the other aircraft. The departure airfields received their copy quickly as the CAA system allows you direct access to the ATC flight planning system. Definitely worth using.

Tue 06.02.09 1146z
  0745 local yesterday I heard an airplane over the neighborhood.  Peeked out the window and saw a yellow RV-8 orbiting our house at around 2000'.  It was Monkey saying hey.  Ain't that cool?
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Happy Anniversary
   While not RV-related, I thought I would start here this morning with the fact that Susie and I were married 19 years ago today.  Flying lessons weren't even on the horizon yet.  You never know where life will take you (and I'd do it all again).  Paraphrasing a line from the movie Singles, "Susie, you rock my world."
   Her present?  I'm replacing the corroded fill tube and shut off valve on the downstairs toilet.  Copper tubing, flux and solder is for the 19th year, right?  I think the 20th is drywall.  I'm such a romantic...   dr

● 800 Pound Gorilla sitting on the couch.... ...by Doug Rozendaal.
   There seems to be a Gorilla sitting on the couch that no one seems to want to discuss.....
   Stein alluded to my safety presentation in the Stall Spin thread and given that the recent past has been a little deadly, I thought I would accommodate his request and share one of the premises of the presentation that I give to Warbird audiences... We have a horrible safety record in the Warbird community and several years ago I was the Stand-Eval Chair at the CAF when we had a rash of accidents that threatened our insurability.. We had to do something and it fell in my lap. We had a safety standdown. Started annual safety training for all CAF pilots and I ended up taking it on the road. It applies equally to the RV world....
   Before anybody gets wrapped up in the details of some recent fatal accidents, lets think about how we, as pilots, react to accidents. Let me be clear, this is not a thread about the details of the recent accidents.
   Wilbur Wright wrote a letter to his father in 1900 that said a deliberately accepted risk was safer than ignoring or denying the risk. So lets talk about the Gorilla.... RV flying is dangerous. The bull**** we tell our spouses that the most dangerous part of flying is the drive to the airport is, just that, bull****.... John and Martha King call this "The Big Lie." If we can't be honest about this basic fact, then we are doomed to continue killing our friends or ourselves.
   Flying, the way most RV pilots do it is dangerous. Formation is dangerous, Acro is dangerous, spontaneous low level flying is dangerous. You can tell yourself that you have it all figured out, and the way you do it, is not dangerous..... Hogwash... It is dangerous... in 2008 there were 10 fatal accidents in RV's... Does anybody think that is an acceptable number? For that number to change, we can't wish it down. Behavior must change... Some will want to look at the accident reports, but the problem is how we do that.
   We read accident reports and look for the one thing that we don't do that the subject pilot did, then we feel vindicated and say, "There, see, that guy did XXX, I don't do that, therefore, I don't have a problem." Instead we should read accident reports and say, "That guy was smart, sane, and as good or better pilot than I am and he got caught, why couldn't that happen to me?"
   Nobody ever got out of bed and said, "Today is a good day to kill myself in an airplane." Read accident reports looking for the links in the chain that you have done, or the mistakes you have made, instead of looking for the link that you perceive to let you off the hook.....
   What this is about is behavior modification. Only if we are honest with ourselves about the risks inherent in our flying will we change behavior. That is hard to do.... My wife has been working on me to put the seat down for over 20 years and my compliance is still fairly low by her standards....
   Once we honestly acknowledge the risks, then we can develop strategies to mitigate them.

(G)oes like this:
- Identify the risk.
- Rate the risk.
- Rate the reward.
- If the risk out weighs the reward stop.
- If it doesn't, brainstorm ways to reduce the risk.

   If we are entirely honest with ourselves about the risk versus reward, then like Wilbur Wright, we can accept the risk for what it is, or change the behavior.... Only then will the statistics change.
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
(discuss)

● My recent flying adventures ...Jerry Esquenazi
   I had a little break last week from my MD88 training and took advantage of my time off to do some…. You guessed it… flying! On Wed. my trusting copilot Max (my 5 yr old boy who probably has well over a hundred hours logged in the back seat) and I flew the RV to Fort Valley, GA. I have a lot at Plane Living Skypark which is across the highway from the Lane peach packing plant. I parked the plane, walked a hundred yards through the peach orchard and across the highway to the plant. It is set up for tourists and locals. They have a great restaurant, a nice gift shop, a park, tours, and of course you can watch the peaches go through the packing process. Max and I had a delightful afternoon and brought back a bunch of peaches, most of which I have already consumed. The field is a N-S 3000’ grass strip, level and in good shape. It is 4.5nm NW of the Perry airport (KPXE) adjacent to Hwy 96. During the peach season I go about every other week to load up on peaches. Did I say… I love peaches! You’re welcome to fly out there with me or go on your own or we can plan a flyout sometime. I don’t believe the field has an identifier yet, but I can get the lat/long next time I get to my airplane. The pattern is to the west of runways 01 &19. Elevation is about 500’. Parking is adjacent to the approach end of Rwy 19 on the west side. (continue)

● Thank You Pythagoras ...Ray Swanson
   At least a year ago, in my first shop space that was not large enough to accommodate both wings mounted to the fuselage at the same time, and in an urban environment that was not conducive to an airplane out on a parking lot for a day (at least), I mounted my wings and drilled the rear spars one wing at a time. Sweep was set by ensuring the leading edges were perpendicular to the center longitudinal line of the fuselage by dropping plumb bobs from the leading edge to a string line that was one leg of a 3-4-5 right triangle. Actually it was a 9 ft - 12ft - 15ft triangle. Even though I trusted my math and measurement of string length at the time, I only pilot drilled the rear spar and fuselage rear spar carry-throughs after also setting incidence per the drawings. My thought was further down the line I would have a shop space large enough, or at the hanger, where I could attach both wings at the same time, double check and enlarge holes as required. (continue)
  

● Chasing the sun... ...George Brink
   I had to go to a site meeting 200 miles away and contractor let me down so ended up racing (or chasing) the sun back home... Made for some interesting pics... (more)

● Avery Tools will be closed all day Wednesday June 3nd
     ... due to TXU Energy and Oncor shutting the electrical service off to portions of Hicks Airfield for upgrades to the power poles and electrical service on the airfield. Our phones and website will both be down for the day. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers. We should have things back up and operating on Wednesday morning the 4rd of June.  There is a possibility that TXU will not be on schedule, if their date changes we will put notification here.
Regards;
Bob & Judy Avery
   www.AveryTools.com

● Vetterman Also...
   We are going on a long and way overdue vacation in Europe shortly.  We are going to float the Rhine river from Amsterdam to Belize Switzerland.  So would you post the following on the web sites.  Vetterman Exhaust Inc, will be closed from June 8 thru June 19 for a summer vacation.  Larry Vetterman
   www.VettermanExhaust.com

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Loose engine mount bolt!!!!!
   Just finished condition inspection 570 hours 0-360 RV-6A, found just right of center bottom bolt loose. Any one ever have one???

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Customer TCW Technologies PIREP ...Jim Shannon.

Miscellaneous
● This Economy Calls For Diversification ......I saw this at the grocery store yesterday and had to laugh.  Gluten free, baby!  iPhone camera gets used.
  

Mon 06.01.09 1213z
  Good morning, fellow Vanheads!  Hope you had a nice, VFR weekend.  'Fridays are my Saturdays' is how I describe one aspect of doing this site as my full time job.  After I push out the Friday edition around 0700 local, I've got a little cushion of time for a few hours before I feel the tug to check in on things.  As you would expect, since I'm piling through the forums and emails all afternoon and evening, 'Sunday is my Monday' <g>.  Anywho, this is a long way around the patch to tell you I spent Friday in Funkytown attending the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (leaderboard).
  Once again, because he's Scorch's brother-n-law, I got to go up in the tower on 17 and hang out with CBS cameraman extraordinaire Bob 'Wish' Wishnie.  Got to hang out up there between Wish and David Faherty for about an hour, and was in the tower when Chad Campbell injured his leg thirty feet in front of us (story).  No flying Friday.  Feet aching.
   Saturday morning Tate and I drove out to 52F for pancakes and RV socializin'.  Got a nice outdoor table and after just a few minutes, Tate was nailing the pattern legs.  Hearing your 8yr old son say 'That guy is on left crosswind' is pretty cool, I must say <g>.
   While we were finishing up our food, two RVs landed - Kim Fawvor and Blake Broussard from Abbeville, Louisiana.  They flew in for breakfast, and to show me an air conditioning unit they have been developing for the past few years.  They both have them in their RVs, Kim's in the baggage area of his RV-6 and Blake in the forward baggage area of his RV-8.  Kim has been flying with a version of this unit in his RV-6 for the past three years.
  They taxied in, in late May in Texas I might add, with the canopies CLOSED.  They brought a demo unit with them that they are letting me show folks around our airport, and we spent a few minutes with it hooked up to my car battery (pics of the unit and a short video clip of it working).
  Some notes I took down (you might need to visit their site to make sure I didn't get some of this wrong):
 - Taxi with canopy closed and air conditioning on, even during take off and landing.
 - Minimal H.P. loss (compressor is electrically powered).  Less than 2 HP due to increased alternator drag when unit is on.  My wife will not mind this if it means a cool cockpit in the summer <g>.
 - Entire unit comes out in seconds (for Winter or for a long trip where you want the extra baggage space)
 - You install a larger, racing alternator to power the unit.  Only real mod to the plane you need to do to make this work.
 - Fits in baggage area as one unit in 6/7/9/10 or in either baggage area of RV-8
 - 27mph air out of vent at 59*F (85*F in hangar shade with 30% humidity when I took the readings). (proof in the pics)
 - Weighs 32 pounds.  Exit vent can be swapped 90* depending how you want to hook up the hot air exit.
 - You can use side vents that run under arm rests (modified plastic rain gutter covered with vinyl) or the flexible tubing by itself (LOTS of wind)
 - Exhaust vent goes into the tail through the rear baggage wall in the 6/7/9/10 and (at least in Bruce's RV-8) through a specially made exhaust scoop that he puts on an existing panel access hole in the summer.
  Almost all of my Summer flying is done below 5,000' and is less than an hour in length.  I can see how this thing might be very, very useful in our neck of the woods.  I'm pricing the racing alternator right now (they said around $500) that I can drop in my RV shortly and REALLY try this thing out!  If I take the O2 bottle and big travel tool bag that I leave in the plane out, I'd free up enough weight for this unit.  If the plane is air conditioned, I don't need to fly high (O2) to cool down.  This is sounding more and more appealing <g>.  It's going to be 90*F today in Dallas, with 30% humidity.
  Sunday was Mass, yard work and watching the final round of the Colonial on TV.  All suburbia...no flying.
  Hope you had a great weekend and hope you got to spend some time with your RV plane and/or project.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

Links:
 - Pictures of the unit I took
 - Video clip of it running (and blowing air at Tate!)
 - www.PlaneAirUSA.com (web site for portable RV a/c unit)
      

● RV White Pages Updated ....courtesy my better half (the yogi/jeweler).  Now 2,716 listings.

● Denver Under Overcast  ...Tanya Card
   We arrived safely at Front Range, about 7 miles SE of DIA and in the center of the Class B veil. The flight was uneventful until we were about an hour southeast of Denver. We had to make our way through a stalled front and some rain showers. The temperature fell about 8 degrees C in about 10 seconds - gee I guess that was when we passed the front. At 12000 feet and 4 degrees C in the clouds, we asked for a lower altitude. That was a little too close to freezing for our comfort. Scott shot the ILS at Front Range, and we popped out of the clouds about 600 feet AGL. There is no way we would have made it in without the IFR ticket.
   Gary met us at the airport and tucked away 4822C in a hangar he procured for us. Thanks for the space, Dennis! The hangars our there are amazing - thirty foot tall ceilings, fully insulated, and heated. They are big enough to fit 3 or 4 RVs in. And there are rows of them! (continue)
  

● 2nd Northeast RV Fly-in
   Only got to go to the Fly-in on Saturday this year. Had a great time even if I had to drive to the fly-in.

● Tanya Card's Recent IFR Training Hop ...getting VERY close.
   The training is a lot of fun, but man is it a lot of work. My brain is fried.  The first approach into Brownwood was a GPS 35 WAAS approach fully coupled with the autopilot. Scott's right, the VOR 17 approach in Brownwood is a tough one for me. The proximity of the VOR to the runway and the 'stability' of signal when maneuvering right on top of a VOR is an extra challenge. The first one wasn't so great due to a miscommunication. My instruction was that we would do one circle in the holding pattern. To me, one circle in the holding pattern was the entry, which is what is shown, and then one full circuit around the pattern. My instructor's interpretation was that one circuit was simply the entry into the holding pattern and straight into the approach. Considering this was our first flight together lost my wonderful instructor due to a cast, it wasn't the end of the world and no safety of flight issues, so we just went back to try it again with both of us on the same page. Much better round 2. (continue)

● Pics: PDK Good Neighbor Day
   Each year one of my favorite airports, PDK, hosts a "Good Neighbor Day" - kind of like an open house. And each year Team RV does it's thing. Here are some pics of the happening this past Saturday. What a gorgeous day for it. And I was lucky enough to bring my wife and co-pilot Heather (4 yr old) with me. Her first ever aerial event she saw in her life was Team RV. (continue)

● KLMS Louisville Mississippi Flyin 5/30/09 (LOTS of pictures)

● Kansas City-Lexington-Memphis-Kansas City in one day ...Keith Schult
   Whew! What a day Friday was...
   The short story is: A friend asked me to fly him to two work sites that day, one in Lexington, KY, and another in Memphis, TN. We left Kansas City at 5:45AM, traveled more than 1200 n.m., flew over 6 states, and were back in Kansas City at 7:45PM the same day: 8.7 hours in the air during a 14 hour workday. This included landing at Class C in Lexington, KY, and Class B in Memphis, TN. What a ride, what a day!
   We flew VFR, low, high, level & straight; followed the fog covered Missouri River, hopped over clouds, deviated to avoid IFR, had circular descents through thick scattered clouds; flew MVFR, VFR-on-top; had both tailwinds & headwinds, flight following, and ATC services in Class B & C. We saw CB anvils in clear blue sky rising above the haze at 8,500' from almost two hundred miles away in Missouri, but couldn't see more than 5 miles in haze in Kentucky under the clouds. We experienced cold & hot temperatures at the same altitude. We even experienced an immediate 15 degree rise in temperature on descent into KC at 4000'. (continue)

● "So He Wants To Build A Plane." ....by Mary Burch (Matt Burch's better half).
   "Mary here, talking to all of you who ladies whose husbands have said, "Honey, I want to build a plane in our garage." You're understandably freaked out right now - I was when I found out that building airplanes is one of Matt's favorite hobbies. Don't fret! This is a doable project! However, you shouldn't go into it blindly. Here are some things to expect from an airplane-building husband." (continue)
   related: Link to this article added to 'Articles' section.

Group Buy Updates
● Partian Group Buy Starts
   "We are having a group buy that will encompass most kit subassemblies or full kits for RV3 RV4 RV6 RV7 RV8 RV9 RV10 RV12 standard kits and Quickbuilds. Beat OSH this year, place your order now.
Included are the following
RV4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 Finish kits Fuse kits Wing kits Quickbuild fuse or wing in any combination. RV10 tail kit
Up to 10 shipments 5% off  Over 10 shipments 10% off  Limit of 20 shipments.
  Offer ends 3 pm PST June 26th 2009.  You must have a current order with Vans to qualify.  10% Deposit required to secure shipping position
Tony Partain
Partain Transport Company 541-330-0828 local tpartain 'at' bendbroadband 'dot' com partaintransport.com

Motivation
● Travel Spotlight:  N468AC Goes to AZ ...follow along.

   Screenshot from yesterday showing overnight in Santa Fe.
  

Milestones
● Engine Run ...Steve Eberhart
   First engine start was almost uneventful. Had the mag switches wired backwards so off was on and on was off. Starting on the left impulse coupled mag actually resulted in starting on the right mag.  Luckily the gear grinding sound didn't result in any missing teethl. When starting on the correct mag, everything went great. Good numbers and the engine sounded nice and strong. Thanks to Tim Mahoney for building a great engine. Also, special thanks to my hangar mate and building partner Larry Helming (Indiana Larry) who's backside is featured in the second picture. Last but certainly not least, thanks to my wife who I think is actually more excited right now than I am, if that is possible. (continue)
  

Safety
● May NASA ASRS 'Callback' ...if you haven't seen it.

Building Tips / Techniques/ Mods
● Rod Bower's RAM air system  ...Tom Martin
   Over the last month I have been working with Rod Bower, doing some testing using his system on my EVO Rocket. We first used his standard air box and air valve and for my installation it was not quite right for the 540 engine. The filtered air was too restricted at high power settings and the ram air valve was also a bit undersized. (continue)
  

Miscellaneous
● June 2009 ch983 'Barfbag' Is Now Online ...always good!

Fri 05.29.09 1155z
  Friday!!!  Yesterday I had lunch out at 52F with some of the usuals.  Got a pic of a nice -6 on the field launching on 17.  I got a CRKT 'E.R.' knife in the mail the other day to review from Columbia River Knife & Tool up in Tualatin, OR.  Serrated edge on one side and straight edge on the other - tip is blunt and not sharp (can be slid between a seat beat and me without digging in).  My buddy Rick Freeman uses one of these in the Careflight helo he flies for work and in his RV-8, and I'm liking that you can clip it to the shoulder harness, that it has a hard plastic sheath, and the full steel nature of it gives me another option for breaking the canopy if the need ever arises.
  Last night we all spent our evening up at the high school watching the honor choir performance.  Audrey won an award she didn't know was coming (Directors Award of Excellence - last pic below).  Yes, she is awesome <g>.  I've thought more than once about laying down some tracks of the Dead's 'Brokedown Palace' and asking her to do the vocals.  Slow mo video from the plane of the landscape going by with her beautiful voice in the background would make for a combo I would like to have on my hard drive and iPhone.  Listen to this live version...it'll make you smile.  I'm drawn to the meandering bass that skips around the vocals in the upper register and the loose, right there on the edge of sloppy, delivery.  I never saw Jerry Garcia perform live, but understand that for years the band would end a multi-date single venue gig with this song on the last night.  "Fare you well, fare you well, I love you more than words can tell.  Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul."  Flying gives me the same good feelings that this song does - it is probably my favorite song of all time.  And wonderful to fly to also, if you've never tried it...
  Speaking of flying....Charlie Kearns (with the help of friends) is stabbing his RV-8 wings Saturday morning out at 52F.  If I'm out there I'll try to get some pics of the grunting and smiles.
  Wishing you a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

   fmi: www.crkt.com/erknives.html

● Wallpaper Calendar for June Now Online ...Mr. Scott Schmidt and his RV-10!
   Taken by the Mrs. on their recent trip to Colorado (write-up)
  

● Luck versus Skill....Playing the Weather Game  ...Paul 'Ironflight' Dye
   When you confront an “interesting” weather situation and decide that you are going to “Go for it” (rather than retreat), two things can happen. One is that you find out that you make it through, in which case you decide that you made a good choice. The other is that you DON’T make it through (hopefully, you get turned back, hopefully you get to live to learn and try again another day…worst case, you become a statistic, and WE all learn from you to live another day!) and – assuming that you are alive to consider the issue – you chalk it up to a bad decision and hopefully learn to choose more wisely in the future. That pretty much sums up weather decisions – right? Get through – good choice; don’t make it – bad choice.
   Well, that’s how a lot of pilots seem to behave, and obviously I wouldn’t be writing about it if I didn’t think that there was more to it. The truth of the matter is that the Outcome of a weather decision does not necessarily reflect on the Correctness of that decision. Sometime you use your knowledge and skill to influence the outcome – and sometimes, you just get lucky. (continue)

● Advanced Flight Systems Synthetic Vision Update  ...posted by Rob Hickman.
   These pictures are actual screen captures of our new ADVANCED SV running on our new production hardware. All of our systems (AF-3400, AF-3500, and AF-4500) that ship after July will have the new hardware to support the new ADVANCED SV synthetic vision software. We should have the new hardware flying in the next couple of weeks and I will post more actual flight pictures. Our RV-10 is currently in the paint shop so we are using the RV-4 for flight testing. The RV-10 will be at Oshkosh with an awesome new paint job and three new EFIS screens all running the new hardware and software.
   (continue / several more images - larger!)

● New RV-4 Owner/Pilot: Ryan Dean ....sent in by his buddy Rob Ray
  The newest member of the RV4 owner/pilot group is Ryan Dean. I helped him find a nice 180 C/S "Dream Machine". His first landing was a greaser!
   PS: This year marks my 20th year involved in the RV(4) world. While cleaning out the hangar I found all my old "RV8R" issues, here is a cover from March 89', the two top sellers (and coolest RV's) on the cover. What was Van's like pre-internet? Very friendly, lots of busy signals trying to get on their help line!
  

● In The News: Gary Ludeke (RV-6A)

● How To Loose Maps In An RV-8/8A <g>.....Kahuna has a data point...and M.Draper might have a solution.

Motivation
● Video Clip: RV-9 Landing at Redcreek, AZ (3/15/09) ...what a backdrop!

Roger & Carey at Redcreek Az. 3/15/09 from Hafast on Vimeo.

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Wheel Bearing Grease Intervals
   Does anyone know how often the wheel bearings should be greased? Is there a regulation that addresses this? Annually, every 100 hours, every 250 landings? I downloaded the maintenance manual from Cleveland but I can't find a reference to the timing.

● Changing tires and tubes
   I know it's not rocket science, but there ARE tricks to just about any trade...and I'm all ears! Many folks use baby powder to lube the new tubes when changing them out. I read (somewhere) that the stuff in baby powder that makes it SMELL good is granular, and actually acts as an abrasive...albeit a mild one. Non-scented talc of some sort was recommended. If so, what kind and where do you get the stuff? Secondly, I've heard that some put a thin coating of lubricant (like Aeroshell 5) on the wheels to help the beads set correctly. Comments?
   (Answer): Talc.

Miscellaneous
● Nice Tags (pic) ...Tony Kirk

● News From The Factory
   1. New RV-12 Finish Kit Service Note
   2. QB Update (Good News)
   3. Recent Web Orders
       "If you recently placed a parts order using Van's website and the last four digits of your web order are between ...2001 and ...2137, please call or e-mail the order department at Van's regarding your order.  503-678-6545 - orders 'at' vansaircraft 'dot' com.  Due to a recent web site change, not all the necessary information to process these orders was transmitted."
   4. New First Flights Posted

● 2009 Donations List Updated
   I would like to end today with a note of thanks to the (569) people who have sent in their 2009 'honor system' donation this year.  Thank you for supporting our family's small business, especially during these lean economic times.  Our mission statement (link) continues to guide us in steering the ship USS VansAirForce.net, and we count ourselves blessed to be able to call so many people friend.
   Susie, Audrey, Tate and I do very much appreciate your support.
   Doug

Thu 05.28.09 1213z
  Howdy!  Spent yesterday, which was a perfect VFR day here in North Texas, with a sick kiddo (sinus infection).  She's doing better and is going to school today, so I'm planning on having lunch out at 52F with some of the usuals.  Tomorrow I'll get the June wallpaper calendar online and Monday we plan to have the RV White Pages' monthly update pushed out.
  Hope Thursday goes swell for you.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● 2009 Donations List Updated
   I would like to start today with a note of thanks to the (569) people who have sent in their 2009 'honor system' donation this year.  Thank you for supporting our family's small business, especially during these lean economic times.  Our mission statement (link) continues to guide us in steering the ship USS VansAirForce.net, and we count ourselves blessed to be able to call so many people friend.
   Susie, Audrey, Tate and I do very much appreciate your support.
   Doug

● New Trip Write-Up: Rudi Goes to Africa (Namibia) ...posted by Rudi Greyling
  Well this was my 2nd long RV trip. Cross the South African Borders to Namibia, a land of many contrast, big watery swamps, to salt lakes, to huge fresh water lakes and then barren desserts.
Day 1 (17 May): Home -> FAPN (Pilansberg) -> FYKM (Katima Mulilo): Stay 2 nights and refuel
Day 3 (19 May): FYKM (Katima Mulilo) -> FYTM (Tsumeb) Refuel -> FYMO (Mokuti): Stay 2 nights
Day 5 (21 May): FYMO (Mokuti) -> Scenic route -> FYSM (Swakop): Stay 2 nights and refuel
Day 7 (23 May): FYSM (Swakop) -> FYWE (Aeros) Refuel -> GBV -> FAPN (Pilansburg) -> Home
   (continue / more pictures)

● -3B Update / Well, really just shop improvements...
   Work continues on the RV-3B project, but for the past last few weeks it has been focused on organizing the shop better, not pounding rivets.  The goal continues to be building the -3B in there and still being able to fit the cars in.  Big improvement now in place...replacing (3) differently shaped toolboxes with one tall one.  And, there is an RV tie in....(more) dr

● Dan Horton's Jig For Drilling Tail Spring
  If we're talking about the spring-to-socket attachment, why use only one bolt? The spring already had two holes. A single bolt in the more forward position has several drawbacks, not the least of which is drilling a new hole in the spring in a highly stressed position.
  Fit is important. This drill jig was clamped to the spring undrilled, then drilled using the spring itself as the drill guide. Then the tailwheel was added and drilled the opposite direction using the drill jig as a guide.

● A mod for mounting your GPS ...Bob Axsom
   When I got my new GPS 695 (my first portable GPS receiver since my GPS 90 which is still working fine) I thought I would just strap it on my leg and go. I found that I still needed my charts and flight log so I ended up strapping it on my wife's leg. I mentioned here that I was thinking about a mod to the ram mount that comes with the unit. I completed it yesterday and it works perfectly. I just sawed off part of the yoke mount, ground off a ridge on the back side, drilled a couple of 3/16" holed in the right side forward seat pan panel installed two #10 floating platenuts and mounted it with AN3 bolts. The panel is very stiff in this area and no doubler was required (was careful not to have anything extending into the full down arc of the control column). It is held at the level (maybe slightly above) the leg level and is perfectly positioned for use in flight. It obscures nothing and occupies no panel space. (continue / multiple pictures)

Construction
● RV-8/8A Chart Holder Ideas ...Charlie Kuss

   ...and more chart holder ideas from Mike 'Kahuna' Stewart.

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Fuel tank removal.... ...Kenty Byerley
   Well, I am going to bite the bullet and remove my right fuel tank to find the slow seep and repair it. Even though it is the most perfect weather for flying here in Oregon now.  So the plan is the use a razor blade to cut the paint along the skin line. Not sure how best to cut the paint at the screws. Looks like it is required to remove the push tube before trying to get to the bolts.
   Any advise out there for the removal process?  Should I remove the bolts first and then the screws?  What type of wrench is needed to remove the tank bolts with the wing on the plane?

Wed 05.27.09 1212z
  Have a great Wednesday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Flight: Gary Shelley (and a good data point for why circling the field on first flights is a good idea - has an oil leak issue to troubleshoot).

● Trip Write-up: Gateway, Colorado Getaway ....Scott Schmidt (RV-10)
   Gateway, Colorado, a destination that has something for both him and her.
   I know everyone is planning their spring and summer trips for this flying season and I hope Gateway can fit into your schedule, you’ll have fun there.
   My wife bought me the new "Fly Utah" books by Galen Hanselman for my birthday this year.  I have been looking up areas I would like to fly to this year when I came across an airport called Hubbard. Hubbard wasn't located in Utah but it just across the border just south of Grand Junction, CO. The airport is at 4632' and is 2400' long and 40' wide. I read the resort also had a car museum so I thought we would give it a try.
   The flight from Salt Lake City to Gateway was one hour in the RV. I read that the runway was in good condition even though it was a dirt runway. AirNav says it is a private runway but it is owned by the BLM and no permission is needed to land.
   The flight there was beautiful as you fly over the Green River and into the canyon where the Dolores River flows towards the Colorado River.
   (continue story / see pics)

● Sensenich Prop Special (Ed sends me this type email every couple of years)
   "Cleaning House...a few good deals for your readers.  We have a few of those special props available that are perfectly airworthy but don’t meet drawing spec in an area. Great deals on O-320 and O-360 props. I have (4) O-320 props and 5 O-360 props. First come First served!! Call me at 717-569-0435 or email me ez 'at' sensenich 'dot' com"

● The Bird Has Wings ...Nate Benson
  Exciting weekend for me. Everything turned out perfect, sweep and incidence angle were almost dead on after just plugging the wings in. Only slight adjustment was necessary. Checked and rechecked about a thousand times... then the big drill. Done deal.

● Randy and Tony make RV-3B News in Sport Aviation

● In Print: RV-4 builder/owner (and oh yeah....Marine Corsair pilot) Philip Wilmot

Construction
● Tip: getting a tight joint at the conical bend area ...Mike Cencula
   A friend and I did a bunch of riveting over the weekend. One area which was the source of much consternation to me came out well enough that I thought I would share. It's the corner where the side skin meets the bottom skin and the conical bend starts.
   Here's how it turned out:
   This is what I did to get a tight fit (continue)

Troubleshooting
● Shavings ...Steve Allbee
   I went out to the airplane this morning and removed my radio to send back. I flip it up and had a bunch of metal shavings fall out on my lap. I didn't think to try the radio, I drove off from the hangar and said to myself, what if? so I went back to the airplane and took some real low compressed air and blew into the radio and tapped on it and got a little more out, than I plugged it into the airplane and Wala, the radio worked. I pulled the airplane out and did a radio check, loud and clear, yepi. That was a close one. All those panel cuts afterwards for the ap74 and the hole for the garmin 696 must have done it. Anyway, second problem solved. Funny how it had the problem at the same time the alternator quit.

Safety
● Formation Safety - Back to Basics ...Kevin Horton
   This post is triggered by Steve Raddatz's accident, but it is not meant to be a comment on the abilities or professionalism of either of the pilots, not is it intended to be speculation on the exact cause of the accident.
   There are a large number of RV'ers who really enjoy flying in formation. I fully understand that, as it is a very enjoyable way to challenge your skills to get ever better. Done properly, it can be quite safe. Done improperly, it can be extremely dangerous.
   Every formation flight should start with a detailed formation briefing, following a checklist of items that need to be agreed and understood by all in the formation. Lost sight procedures should be discussed during every formation brief. The greater the number of aircraft, and the greater the complexity of the planned maneuvers, the more complicated the lost sight procedures become. But the basic procedure remains the same. Each pilot has specified responsibilities. In a two ship, the wingman is responsible to keep lead in sight. If number two loses sight of lead, he must pull hard away from lead's last known position, and immediately broadcast that he has lost sight. Lead must immediately establish straight and level flight, and broadcast his altitude. Number two establishes adequate altitude separation (how much that is should be agreed in the briefing), and then the two pilots can start to discuss exactly where each of them are, which way they are headed, and how they will get back in the same area. They must maintain altitude separation until they have each other in sight, then they can do a rejoin. Altitude separation guarantees no risk of collision with each other. Of course there are other aircraft in the sky, so keep that head on a swivel.
   We should honor Steve's memory by reflecting on how we fly formation. Have we gotten lazy, and cut a few corners? Have we skipped a few formation briefs, because we always fly with the same guys? Let's get back to basics, and focus on how to do things properly, and safely. Do it for your wife and children. Do it for Steve.
   Anyone who flies formation should undergo period training with a recognized formation training organization. Always do a good formation brief. Use a formation brief checklist, so you don't forget a point. Fly the formation as briefed. After landing, have a debrief, so you can identify and learn from things that went well, and things that went less well.
   Fly safe. Have fun.

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Dynon 5.1 software released
● Dynon announces freedom from your Pitot

Tue 05.26.09 1145z
  I hope you had a nice holiday weekend and got to spend time with family, friends and your RV project/plane.
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● (Poll) Military Background of Forum Readers ...idea was Vic Syracuse's.

● (Video) More Memorial Day Fun ...Marshall Jacobson
   I was just trrying to get some pictures and music organized, and one thing led to another, and here you go.

● (Video) Frank Stringham First Engine Start
   Well, today was just another one of those days we all look forward to as Vanheads <g> as we approach that RV GRIN!!!!!!

● Data Plots ...from Web Willmott in the 'Power From Fuel Flow' thread started by Kevin Horton.
   (Kevin Horton)  Webb Willmott sent me data from 2400 rpm, full throttle, at 8,500 and 10,500 ft.  The first two plots are IAS * calculated power vs IAS^4. In a perfect world, with perfect data, zero error in the airspeed system, constant prop efficiency, and a perfect way to calculate power, all points would fall on a straight line. The real world is not perfect, so we see some noise in the data. But the ROP and LOP points line up nicely, which suggests that this method of calculating power may be able to account for different mixture settings. (continue/more charts)
  

● Freedom Flight in the news!
   Here's a link to our news story that the local paper covered this past Saturday.
  

● Pics From The 2nd International European Fly-In ...posted by Philippe Cordier (France)

● How to maximize your Phase 1 area (comedy by Sam Buchanan)
   We've often talked about flying circles during Phase One. Looks like Randy Hooper and his beautiful new RV-8 is getting the most out of his test area!

VAF Family
● Funeral Arrangements for Steve Raddatz ...May 27th in Tuscumbia, AL.  (from Eric Faires)  "I would personally like to thank the homebuilding community for reaching out and caring the way that you have with the tragic loss of Steve.  Steve will truly be missed by all of us. Thank you all for your calls, emails and prayers and please continue to keep Steve's family in your prayers."

Safety
● Another ARPS Tracker Online ...Chuck Elsey
  Got my APRS system mounted and working in my 6. Looked at the tracks over the last several days. Does this baby work or what? Set it up like Sam's Configuration and it really seems to track well. All I can say is that it was worth the time & effort to get this set up. I set up a bookmark where my wife can click on it on her computer to bring my stat's up. Simple enough.
I want to thank everyone for steering me in the right direction on APRS. Pete Howell's j-pole antenna seems like just the ticket for a wingtip mount. I think APRS & a 406ELT are probably the most economical solution to tracking & emergency use. (continue)
  

Thrift
● Rick Galati's Nutplate Jig Collections
   I've tried every imaginable way to install nutplates and the bottom line is no other technique is quicker, simpler, more accurate or foolproof than using the proper nutplate jig. You don't have to pay a Kings Ransom to buy them either. eBay can be your friend. Just don't get caught up in a bidding war. Lots of fish in that sea.

Miscellaneous
● (AOPA) House passes FAA authorization, no user fees
   The House of Representatives on May 21 passed the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R.915). The bill is a four-year authorization that would fund the FAA through 2012 with aviation fuel taxes, ticket taxes, and a general fund contribution. “H.R.915 relies on the time-tested system of funding that has served our nation well during good and difficult times: aviation fuel taxes, ticket taxes, and a healthy contribution from the general tax fund,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller.
(continue)

Mon 05.25.09 1223z
  Happy Memorial Day!  Even though I only flew six minutes Saturday morning, it was quality time in the air.  My son Tate was with me <g>.  We went out to 52F for pancakes, and before we left for home decided to do a short hop around the field, complete with touch and go (he'd never done one and asked specifically for it).  Gotta honor that request!  Danny King (RV-8) was out, as was Rick Freeman (RV-8), and a visiting Mike Cingari (RV-8 building) and Jeff Atkinson (RV-8 building).  Jeff has never ridden in an RV-8, so Danny gave him a short ride in The Doll.
  Saturday afternoon was spent watching the HP Byron Nelson Championship, and the evening was spent at RV-10 builder Steve Horstman's house at a little get together he was having.  Best boss I ever had...
  Sunday started with watching NASA TV as the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at Edwards, complete with the kids sitting in my lap watching with me.  Then we all went to Mass, and once back home watched DFW resident Rory Sabbatini finish 19 under to win Byron (leaderboard).  No flying, but quality time with the familia.
  Make sure you check out the hat sighting sent in by Doug Drewry below.  I showed the kids the picture Mr. Drewry sent me right as the wheels on Atlantis stopped on runway 22 at Edwards.  I had 'em pretty impressed there for a couple of minutes, but then some Sponge Bob episode came on TV and they dropped me like third period French.  Oh well <g>.
  Hope you had a great weekend and got to spend some quality time with your RV project and/or plane!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

 
  Jeff gets his ride in The Doll.

● In Memory of our Honored Dead ...please observe Memorial Day (about).
  

● Steve Allbee: First Flight
I passed the DAR on the 23rd. Got everything together, went to taxi, no radio. Arrg. Found that when I put the panel for the headsets back on I grounded a terminal, easy fix. Now I taxi to get some fuel, then to the runway. (continue)

● I Get To Keep Them Both! ...Steve Eberhart
  I have been working on my RV-7A for seven and a half years and it is literally within a few weeks of flying. My wife has been terrific in supporting me and the plane during the build. The big unanswered question that remained - was my wife going to like flying in an RV? Since she has never flown in anything smaller than a twin Otter this was a real question. (continue/pics)
  

● Operation Boomer ...a new travel story by Pete Howell.  Make SURE you look at the photo link in the post!
   I got the call from the Boxer Ladies last week that they needed to get a boy boxer from the Madison, WI area to a new family in Minne this weekend. The weather looked good and Bernie even offered to fly wing in his -7A! (continue/pics)

● Vetterman Sub Cowl Mod: v2.0 ...an update on Larry's quest to get more speed.

related: www.VettermanExhaust.com

● Power from fuel flow - looking for data ...Kevin Horton
   The classical engine power charts provide power as a function of rpm, MP and altitude, but they are only valid if the mixture is set for best power. Many people like to cruise with some other mixture setting, so there is interest in a means to determine power either richer or leaner than best power mixture.
   I've got an old Lycoming document that describes a method to determine power during cruise performance testing, using fuel flow as the main input. It isn't usable real-time in flight, but it could be used in conjunction with flight testing to produce power setting tables for a handful of combinations of rpm, MP, altitude and fuel flow. I've played around with this power calculation method a bit, trying to figure out if it produced consistent, credible results. If it does, I'll document it in a Kitplanes article and produce a spreadsheet to use it. If it doesn't provide consistent results, then I'll drop it. I'll give an overview of this old Lycoming method in the next message in this thread.
   The big question I need to answer is does this method produce a consistent power no matter what mixture is used. I will answer that question by plotting speed vs calculated power, with points at the same rpm, MP and altitude, but at several different fuel flows. I've got a bit of data from my RV-8, but it will be some time before I can get any more, and I am not completely satisfied with the stability of my fuel flow indication, which makes is difficult to draw solid conclusions from my data. Also, I really need data from more than one aircraft, with more than one pilot, to see whether this method is useable in the real world.
   I'm looking for a few intrepid RVators to help me test this fuel flow from power method. I need data from several aircraft with a Lycoming or Lycoming clone engine. The compression ratio must 6.75, 7.0, 7.2, 7.3, 8.0, 8.5, 8.7, 9.0 or 10.0 (one of the steps in the method is to look up iSFC, and the chart only has data for compression ratios that Lycoming sold). The engine displacement must be 235, 320, 360, 480, 540 or 720 (sorry, this document predates the 390s by several decades, and I assume the 290 was out of production when the document was produced). The aircraft must have a constant speed prop and a fuel flow system that gives current fuel flow and fuel remaining. I'm interested in data from engines with two mags, one mag + one EI, and two EI.
   The test procedure is as follows: (continue)

● VansAirForce.net Hat Sighting ...courtesy Doug Drewry
   These were taken during the L-1 (Launch minus one day) walkdown for STS-125, approx 24hrs before liftoff to repair Hubble as part of the Final Inspection Team (FIT), this is basically the last inspection before rolling back the RSS and tanking begins.
Best Regards.
Doug Drewry
N770TX
  
   click to see the backdrop

Milestones
● Back From Paint Shop ...Steve Smith
   Oh, I'm almost done. Here are some pic's of the fuselage and V-tail fresh out of the paint shop. My variant on the very common scheme that Randy L. and others have made popular. (continue)
  

Troubleshooting
● Takeoff with Failed Airspeed Indications ...Bruce Edwards (RV-8)
I went out with my son for a few hours of RV fun over the long weekend. I did a complete preflight to include looking in the pitot tube (my plane is stored inside a hangar, but without a pitot cover). Start, taxi and run-up were normal, weather was clear, slightly gusty, 10 kts at 200. As I advanced the throttle on rwy 18, the airspeed indicator began to move and I checked the engine indications. The airplane was already airborne when I realized the airspeed indications were way low at 50 kts during the initial climb and full throttle. (continue)

Safety
● Two crashes recently with fatalities.
   RV-6A N39JT (NTSB) a few days back and an RV-8 with Steve Raddatz (NTSB).  My sincere condolences to all the family and friends of those involved.
   related: AOPA's Air Safety Foundation website (I just made a link to this 'sticky' at the top of the Safety section of the forums).
   related: Stall/Spin Awareness and Emergency Maneuver Training event June 6th (Santa Paula, CA)

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Debris in Vacuum Pump Exhaust?
  After the big 25 state trip, it was time to wash all the bugs off and - coincidentally - it was time for an oil change. So, while everyone at Bremerton was flying yesterday, I was in the hangar with a cold one, getting the maintenance done.
  When I went to remove the oil filter, I noticed a lightly stained/dirty spot, about the size of a nickel, on top of the filter case. It was right where the discharge from the vacuum pump points to; the discharge fitting is a couple inches above the filter case. I was able to easily wipe off this light coating of debris/dirt, or whatever it was.
  Question: is it logical to assume this came from the vacuum pump? And, if so, does it signify pump vanes that are getting ready to fail, or are failing? The pump has 271 hours on it. Vacuum readings on the cockpit gauge remain steady at all times. And, although my DG seems to precess more than it should (or at least I have noticed this over the last several months), I would think that is a DG issue, rather than anything to do with the pump itself.

● Soft Brake
  Earlier I had to re-bleed the RH brake on my RV6 and now it has gone soft again.
  Has any one else experienced this? There are no obvious signs of fitting leaks. The plane hasn't flown yet but the calipers and master cylinders are a few years old by now.
  I was about to do some more taxi tests but can't until I track this down.

Advertiser's Corner
...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Wow!, readable approach plates ...Tom Martin
   I just had my Advanced Flight System 3500 updated with the latest software including mapping and approach plates. The map is a lot better then I had expected; very user friendly with an update speed that is faster then my Garmin 496. The airport information is easy to find and the approach charts are simply awesome on this large screen. I would say the chart is almost twice the size it would be in the paper version. Only half of it shows on the screen but the knob very easily scrolls down with no delay. With my 50 year old eyes it is nice to finally get something on an EFFIS that is easy to read.
   When you push the NRST (nearest airport), button it gives a list of those airports as you click down the list a line is placed between your current position and a distance is displayed. For me this is a big step forward in situational awareness versus just having a bearing and distance.
   The update in software adds a nice feature to the knob on the right. Now when you click the knob a list of "bugs" appears. You simply keep clicking until you get the one you want. This will speed up the process and make the bug feature much more useful. The altitude bug, for example, gives you an audio alert about 200 feet before you reach your target and another alert when you get to altitude, ether rising or descending. Then if you vary more then 200 feet you get another audio alert. I could not get this function to work with the previous software version and with the new knob function I know I will use this feature on most flights.
   Service at the home of Advanced Flight Systems was again a very pleasant experience. The turn around time was less then 24 hours and there are a number of people that can walk you through the learning curve.
   A big thank you to the Rob and Jennifer Hickman, their staff, and to Stein Air for gently nudging me in the AFS direction.
Tom Martin

Fri 05.22.09 1120z
  I played hooky for a few hours yesterday, accompanying the 2nd grade class field trip down at the Dallas World Aquarium.  A wonderful time well spent, and those 8yr old kids can really scream!  Later in the evening Audrey was inducted into the 8th grade National Junior Honor Society up at the middle school.  It's hard to put into words how proud Susie and I am of her, and how grateful I am that she got her mother's brain genes.  What awesome kids!
  I hope to get in some flying this weekend, but Audrey has a dance recital, the Byron Nelson golf tournament is on TV and lots of house stuff has been neglected, so if I get out at all it won't be for long.  But, you never know.... ;^)
  Have a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● One year later, and it's still not always about the flying (sometimes it's about golf)
    The Byron Nelson is in town and it's time to go see the Wishman again (thanks to RVation).

● RV Flying Fatigue - 4,800NM and 25 States ...John Wiegenstein (RV-6
   "Yesterday at about 2PM local time 727JW squeaked back onto the runway at Bremerton National Airport, and my big trip of 2009 came to an end. This combination of business and personal travel began May 10th (Mother's Day), when my long-suffering wife Laurie urged me to leave that afternoon (rather than wait until Monday's scheduled departure) because of the usual sloppy weather heading for the Seattle area from the Pacific. So, here is how the itinerary worked out:

May 10: flew from Bremerton to Mountain Home, ID.
May 11: Mountain Home to Rawlins, WY for fuel, then to Wichita, KS.
May 12: business meetings in Wichita
May 13: Wichita to Dauphin Island, AL, with fuel stop at Raymond, MS
May 14-15: Relax at Dauphin with my cousins Jean and Sue at Sue's waterfront condo, and - by happenstance - my sister Jane is there visiting as well. Client meeting in Atlanta was set for May 15, but client canceled due to schedule conflicts. Oh well - it was not a critical meeting, and it still served as a good excuse for having the office pay for most of the trip.
May 16: Dauphin Island to Warrenton/Fauquier County, VA, with fuel stops at Eufala, AL and Roxboro/Person County, NC.
May 17: visit with my sister Margo at her place in Fairfax, VA, and tour some of the capitol.
May 18: Warrenton, VA to Farmington, MO with fuel stop at Georgetown, KY. Tour the Farmington area and Pilot Knob, MO, where my grandfather Henry was born.
May 19: Farmington, MO to Laurel, MT with fuel stops at Columbus, MO and Spearfish, SD.
May 20: Laurel, MT to Dillon, MT (change in plans due to weather in the Butte-Hamilton area being worse than advertised); after topping the tanks and planning a new route, on to Salmon VOR and Lewiston, ID and thence direct to Bremerton at 10,500 MSL, coasting over the Seattle Class B with flight following (the only time ATC has called out a B-757 crossing below me - I bet a few of the pilots on frequency had a good laugh over that one) and then pulling the plug for a very steep and fast descent into Bremerton.

So, here are the numbers:

Total trip length: 4,801 NM
Fuel used: 295.4 gallons 100LL
States flown over: WA, OR, ID, UT, WY, CO, NE, KS, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, KY, IN, IL, MO, IA, SD, MT

Observations and lessons learned (in brief):
The FAA has LOTS of people there to help - weather briefers, FlightWatch, ATC, etc., and I made use of a whole bunch of them. All were courteous, helpful, and tried to do what they could to make the flights easier and safer.

Our great little planes are only useful if there are airports and FBOs to provide the infrastructure to make RV travel practical. The density of airports in the midwwest and southern and eastern states is pretty amazing, whereas out home in the west things can be fewer and further between.

Weather is always a factor. I did not have to make any major changes in plans due to weather, but it WAS an issue. The flight from Alabama to Virginia was mostly low level MVFR stuff through murky skies, with lots of help from ATC - especially warning about towers ahead!

Supplemental O2 is something I need to really consider. Getting on top of the mountains and clouds here in the west often requires flying at 9,500MSL or better, for hours at a time, and that is really tiring without O2.

Flying long trips, day after day, is tiring and does NOT leave the pilot in the mood to open the laptop and get business/work done in the evening. Future trips will not mix work and pleasure like this.

We live in a big, big country with an enormous amount of natural beauty in many variations. Looking down on it from 5-10,000MSL for days on end makes you want to take better care of it.

The RV is an amazing machine, considering what it can do. I added 1 qt oil in Alabama, and that was it for maintenance issues on the trip.

Long XC travel like this would be really taxing without GPS. My Garmin 296 was worth its weight in gold. Even though I kept charts and AFDs in hand, the situational awareness the 296 provided, terrain warnings (those towers again!), frequencies and nearby weather, etc., really enhanced the overall safety of the flight and made it workable for a typical GA pilot like me.

I purchased a SPOT messenger before the trip, and the frequent OK messages (I sent them every ~30 minutes and at arrival) to family were appreciated. Coverage and transmit times were fine everywhere I went. While not a substitute for a 406ELT or PLB, it was a handy and useful addition to the trip.

That's all for now - time to rest, and think about the major washing the plane needs this weekend to get all the bugs, etc, off."

Fuel Burns . . . later in the thread

Kent, you are right to notice that number, as it seems low. Here is what I can say for sure:

1. I typically ran at ~23 inches (give or take) at 2400-2440 RPM for cruise, although at higher altitudes I was not getting that much MP, of course. Fuel burns were usually anywhere from 8.2 to 9.2 GPH depending on how much power I was making and how aggressively I leaned.

2. Fuel flows at high power settings, used for those long climbs to 8,500 or 11,500 MSL, are anywhere from 12 to 13.5 GPH, and that tended to add up.

3. I had OK tailwinds eastbound, and winds up the eastern seaboard were not too much of a factor. But I had pretty strong headwinds most of the way from Farmington back to Bremerton, 20+ knots quartering for much of yesterday's flight, and 25+ knots just off the nose most of the day before. For example, on the outbound leg from Rawlins to Wichita I flew 3.1 hours and 529NM on 27.3 gallons. Yesterday, the run from Dillon to Bremerton was also 3.1 hours and 27 gallons, but only 467 NM covered over the ground.

4. True and indicated airspeeds were where I would have expected them to be, generally speaking, at various power/pressure/OAT conditions. A typical average for my -6 at cruise is about 8.5 GPH and 170-175 KTAS, which gives the 20NMPG average that I usually assume for my plane. But that is only the cruise value, not the climb or descent

So, I think that winds and leaning technique, coupled with high fuel flows on those long climbs, added up to make the difference. Somehow you don't seem to save the fuel on the descent from up high that you spent getting up there..

I have to say that having an accurate fuel totalizer and fuel flow data is really great for planning, in-flight evaluation of progress and options, and helping to lean properly and keep an eye on general engine health and performance. I would hate to have to go back to flying a plane without that instrumentation
__________________
John Wiegenstein
Hansville, WA
RV-6 #23961 (O-360-A1A w/Hartzell BA)
N727JW ~ 275 hr - PAINTED!
KPWT - Bremerton National Airport

● Landing Gear - What a Drag! ...Paul 'Ironflight' Dye
   It’s great having a wife who owns her own RV - I am never at a loss for gift ideas, as long as I have a Van’s catalog! (Guys, be very, very, very careful with this “advice”….)
   One of Louise’s goals since she bought her RV-6 was to update the landing gear fairings and wheel pants - the original, two-piece aluminum gear leg fairings were badly cracked, and the (also) original wheel pants were known to be draggy and also showing their age. I figured a complete make-over would not only relieve us of some maintenance headaches and improve performance, but provide a good fabrication and assembly learning experience as well. So for Christmas, she opened a big box full of raw fiberglass parts and a card promising my undivided assistance and instruction. We went with stock Van’s pressure recovery pants, gear leg fairings, and lower intersection fairings. Having had good luck with the Upper fairings from Fairings Etc, I bought a pair of these to make the process quicker. (continue)

● Updating the 696 Charts ...Paul 'Ironflight' Dye
   I have now been flying with the Garmin 696 for the better part of a year, but had not yet had the need to do a database update. My unit had fresh charts installed when the product was publicly released, and while the chart database is technically only good for 28 days, it will display until it is 180 days old - at which time it comes up as “disabled”, and won’t show you any charts. I realized a month ago that I must be getting close to the “disable” time, and thought about updating, but waited because I wanted to see what it would do when it expired. Sure enough, a few days before it disabled, I started getting “this database will be disabled in XX days” messages at boot-up. Nice - you can hardly say you didn’t get a warning! (continue)

● EAA SportAir workshop.... Waco, TX ...gotta give a shout out to my hometown!
   "There is still space available in two upcoming EAA SportAir Workshops being presented in Waco, Texas, and hosted by EAA Chapter 59 at McGregor Executive Airport. This is the first time in many years we've held workshop events in this area and are pleased to offer two of our most popular courses with the assistance of EAA Chapter 59 at their chapter hangar and museum.
Van's Aircraft Assembly - June 13-14 (Saturday-Sunday)
Our popular Van's RV Aircraft Assembly course consists of extreme "hands-on" practice, giving you experience in the techniques necessary to assemble the airplane. Other topics include FARs pertaining to amateur-built aircraft; tools and workshop requirements; engine and propeller selection; flight-testing; and more. This pioneering, intensive weekend seminar will provide you with practical experience and knowledge that will well equip you to begin building your Van's RV aircraft kit. The discounted price for EAA members is $319 and includes all instructional materials and equipment." (continue)

Thu 05.21.09 1208z
  Got to use Flash yesterday to efficiently transport me and a passenger to a photography side job down in Bryan, TX (route).  One of my flying buds works for the architectural firm that designed the new Brazos County Sheriff's Office, and they needed photos of it for marketing purposes.  Since I have a 24mm tilt-shift lens and an airplane, and their marketing guy is a pilot, and most importantly because I work for peanuts.....I got the gig <g>.
  Nice, easy flight down on heading 155, a heading that turned into a 100n.m. final for runway 15 at KCFD.  The airport's courtesy truck, yes truck (this IS Texas after all!), was waiting for us and in no time we were outside the building.  Not too long after that we launched for 52F and were on the ground again 1.0 later.  I used the free winds aloft page on NavMonster while at the FBO to find the sweet, tailwind-rich altitude for the return (7,500' on the flight yesterday).  VNAV profiles and autopilots really shine on trips like these.  These planes absolutely rock.
   Why does the grass look so nice in the photo below?  Because they had the inmates mow it the day before.  I just had to tell you that, because how often do you get the chance to work 'they had the inmates mow it' into a paragraph!  For me, rarely.
   Yoga class with the wifey in the evening, as I continue my quest to remain a pilot with full range of motion and good flexibility.  VFR Wx forecast again today in Texas, so I hope a few get to take advantage of it.
   Have a great Thursday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

  (click to enlarge)
 
  In this day and age, it's wise to have multiple revenue streams.  So, on the chance some other company wants me to do the occasional photo shoot side job for 'em, here is a sample from yesterday's take. I have a plane, professional gear and am shockingly affordable <g>.  Contact

● N467RV: The big push, the final payoff! ...Jason Rouault
   After 4.5 years of building at a steady and controlled pace things changed drastically into a whirl wind of activity and big milestones as I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and made the 'big push' to complete my dream. (continue / lots of pics)

● Preparing to transition to the -8 with Bruce Bohannan ...Louise Hose
   I'm a timid and very cautious pilot when it comes to trying new things. For that reason, and many others, I have been reluctant to transition into Paul's RV-8, the Valkyrie. But, I'm also not the full-time GIB-personality and I've grown tired of counting the hairs on the back of Paul's head. So, once some time-consuming obligations pass this summer, I will probably transition into the -8. How to do it.....
   I have over 650 hours in my -6 and the -8 has the same engine and general handling characteristics. Should be easy, I suppose, but I've only soloed four models of aircraft in my career....and remember that timid streak? I don't have the comfort and even joy of jumping from plane-to-plane that some many of you feel. Add to it Paul's passion for the plane, and I want to be fully prepared.
   This morning, I flew over to Bruce Bohannan's private airstrips (Flyin' Tiger - 81D) near Angleton, TX. I planned to get checked-out in his Legend in order to become familiar with right-hand stick/left-hand throttle and the centerline view. Knowing my long term intent, Bruce did an interesting thing. He fully briefed me on the Cub, climbed in the back, and told me to go fly as if he weren't in the plane.
   I took-off, flew around trying various turns, climb attitudes, slow flight, and stalling before returning to the field and landing. We then briefed the flight and went up for some "training".
   What a great way to "transition" a modestly experience pilot into a new airplane! While Paul will probably be in the Valkyrie for my first several (or many) flights, the Val's lack of rear seat brakes and the general poor positioning of the -8 for backseat flying argue for my independence from his assistance on even the first flight. This experience was a great confidence booster. Eventually, I expect to take on the RV-3 and this is exactly the right practice for that day.
   Flying with Bruce was a great experience and I plan to go back and do some more in the Cub. Part of what made this approach to the transition so successful is that I had no fear that a mistake I made would end in disaster. Bruce is such a fine stick-and-rudder pilot that I was confident that he would ensure the plane would fly again no matter how badly I might have messed up. With that confidence, I was able to actually do just fine on my first Cub flight.
   Very cool experience! For folks looking for tailwheel transition, I expect that Bruce would be great. For anyone needing a biennial (which I also picked up today), spending a few hours with him in the Legend is a great way to do it! A bonus is that the rural, private, grass strip allows Bruce to have students doing far more concentrated pattern work than most airports. You get a lot more landings per hour than at an even moderately busy airport.
   So, Paul, you had better get those rear rudder pedals installed before August. You know what happened when my Dad procrastinated on putting training wheels on my hand-me-down bicycle when I was about four.....I just started riding without the training wheels!

● Today was a good day!
   Hi gang:
   Today was a good day in my very slow build RV-6A. I move fuselage and wings into a friends large garage and got everything leveled up. Then for the first time we slid the wings into position. They fit perfectly, the rear spar slide directly into the fuselage tabs.
   Needless to say, I'm a happy camper.
   Cheers, Terry (Mortimore)

● Jeff and Mitch Say Thanks To The Group For Helping Them Out When They Had A Mechanical While Away From Home

● Rubber Ducty Update ...DanH
   Per a previous mention, I have some Smooth-On urethane samples soaking in hydrocarbons. The samples are at 36 hours now.
   One set is in Shell auto gas mixed with 2-stroke oil, a combination probably worse than avgas. The urethane/fiberglass laminate has swelled; it was about 0.070" and is now about 0.130". The white sample is a block of urethane sponge rubber foam also sold by Smooth-On. It has swelled to something like twice its original size.
   I don't expect cooling air ducts to see much gasoline, but this may not be a good material for carburetor intakes. Carbs have been known to flood or leak a little gas.
   Regarding cooling ducts, the real question is reaction to oil exposure. The urethane/fiberglass sample in 30wt motor oil has swelled a little, around 0.010". Not too bad. I should probably soak a sample in plain water for comparison; a small degree of swelling could be little more than liquid wicking up the glass strands. We'll see what it looks like in a week or two.

Safety
● GRT EFIS/T-T A-P/Garmin 396 & thunder storm ...Cleve Thompson
  This last weekend, I flew down from Waycross, GA to the Veterans' Day fly-in in Tallahassee, Fl. There were a few thunder storms predicted but just after I completed my flight down, T/S's covered the entire area and stayed in the area for the next 3 hours. I saw that I was not going to be able to out wait them, so I filed an IFR flight plan and took off hoping my panel and all the hours I had spent trying to learn how to use my gadgets would pay off. I have a GRT WS EFIS, Tru-Trak A/P with GPSS, a GNS 430W, and a Garmin 396 with weather. I used my 396 on the ground to determine that I would have to fly S/E for 30-40 miles before turning N/N/E towards home and filed that way after some discussion with departure control. Having way points in the 430W made it easier than trying to plot a course. (continue / pics

Miscellaneous
● AOPA: TSA security proposals need balance

● Dan Checkoway's Site Now Off The Grid.
   Dan Checkoway’s RV-7 construction site rvproject.com is now offline for good, per Dan's wishes. Dan is trying to, as he worded it, regain some privacy in his life, and I completely respect his wishes and wish him nothing but the best down the road.  A couple of threads popped up talking about the future of his site, and Dan indicated that he would prefer they be removed (so they have been).
   Clear skies, Dan. Call anytime you need anything and thank you for everything you've done for the hobby! You'll be missed.

Wed 05.20.09 1119z
  Hump day!  Perfect VFR Wx forecast today here in Texas.  I just might have to get some distance between me and the ground for a bit <g>.  Have a great Wednesday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● N712BR Flies!!! (Bill Rambo RV-7A)
   "At 0630 this morning with Mike Smith and his RV-7A as safety chase she flew for the first time. Everything went smoothly and she seemed well trimmed (only slightly right wing heavy). The only issue was high CHTs (400-430) which I'm told is normal for a new engine during break-in.
   Special thanks to Mike for his help and safety chase. Also, a big thank you to all the forum members that have helped me throughout the build. It's not over yet, but it sure feels good to get to this point."

● Painting Update ...David Domeier
   Well its been 14 days since I began this 10 day job and I finally shot the first cup of paint today. The process started with micro, West glue and 50 grit sand paper, it was a dream to think the airplane would be flying again 4 days ago. It wasn't even close.
   And it is not because I've been slacking off. I have filled and sanded every day finally reaching the 220-320 level of smoothness 2 days ago. That precipitated the first attempt to spray primer with an admittedly less than adequate gun and my little compressor. A friend loaned the gun to me, this being a low budget project, and it laid on the primer but not well because the 1.4 nozzle was not right for such thick stuff. That always results in more work getting the stuff smoothed down for the next level as there was considerable orange pealing. The gun is a small gravity feed ATD 6860. I think they quit making it in 2000 as that is the date on the parts sheet.
   I've been anxious to know if the actual painting should be turned over to someone who knows what they are doing or move forward on my own so a plan was implemented today. I have both pieces of the cowl about ready to go and also the gear leg struts which had been beat up and were fuel stained from a leaking sump drain, the nose wheel cover which had been all beat up from grass and the prop spinner which had never been painted. It was decided to try real paint on the smaller parts to see how things would go with regard to bugs, dust, and general spraying with my little 2 HP pan cake compressor and the gun of relatively unknown origin, it is not listed with ATD anymore.
   The first thing I had to do was measure and mix the 3 part Nason epoxy paint. I have measuring cups so that is not too big a deal once you scope out the ratios - 8 parts of this, 2 parts of that and finally 1 part of something else. That's when the bad of the day ensued, I had the quart of paint in one hand and was holding the cup in the other trying to very carefully pour 8 ounces and after the 8 were poured was setting the quart can down when it slipped out of my hand and dropped about 4 inches to the table top. It did not tip over and spill but did hit rather hard and a goodly amount of the very expensive stuff flew up and all over my left arm and on the floor. Not a good start at all, I thought, but called a halt to the mixing process the clean up the mess.
   About 15 minutes later the other 2 parts were mixed in the concoction and it was strained into the gravity feed cup of the little gun of unknown origin. I learned somewhat how to adjust the air and fluid flow spraying primer so as not to have too much stuff coming out and not have it too dry. This was accomplished spraying onto a large card board box. Then it was on to the little parts I had stuck on sticks and clamped up right.
   Much to my delight and surprise the little gun of unknown origin did a great job with real paint that was loose and not thick like primer. The first parts had a couple runs but I quickly learned to back off a bit with the fluid flow and move the gun a bit quicker. The paint flowed out beautifully and ended up very shiny. And no bugs or dust on the finish! What a deal.
   I say all this so those of you contemplating painting your own airplane can be assured you can do it. If I can do it, anyone can. Begin with the little stuff and make the mistakes there. The rest of the airplane will be ok although it will take some planning to not get over loaded trying to do the whole thing in one day. And use good paint. The stuff is expensive but will provide a much better end job than going cheap with tractor paint.

● Rod Bower Aviation Now Offering Bearing Greaser and Tire Balancer ...for 500-5 / 600-6 tires.  Rod sent me this yesterday - says it will be on his site in the near future, but he wanted to get the word out now.
  

● VansAirForce.net Hat Sighting:  STONEHENGE!!!  ...courtesy Mr. Terry Lutz.
  
[ed. Of course, this makes me think of the Spinal Tap movie Stonehenge scene (search 'Stonehenge Spinal Tap' at YouTube and you'll find it).  Terry, you made my day! dr]
   related: Order VansAirForce.net gear - 100% of profits go to charity

● Solo ....Tom Schad
  There comes a time when you have to let your kid solo, go it on their own without you there to bail them out. We've all been through things like the first solo on the bicycle, car, date, ride on the school bus or God forbid, soloing your RV-8....!
  Paul did it today. The weather was perfect, so why not. It has to happen..... He did a great job. In fact, I thought I was going to have to shoot him down to get him to do a full stop....
 

● Mothership Closed Next Monday
   "We will be closed on Monday May 25th, Memorial Day.  Phone, Fax, e-mail and Web Orders placed after 12PM noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, May 22nd will be processed on Tuesday May 26th."
    fmi: www.VansAircraft.com

VAF Family
● Blood Drive Request For RV-8 Builder/Pilot Near Houston

Safety
● RV-8 gear nuts and bolts--a thread-sheared nut.
   I was most interested in Steve Smith's tests on landing gear nuts and bolts! 220 hours since completion 2004 on my RV-8 QB. I'm not a hamfisted pilot and I annually inspected my RV-8 gear tower and torqued the bolts faithfully. (I'm very careful about not over-torquing.) Sure, I've had some bounces, but nothing spectacular. At my last annual inspection, before torquing the gear tower bolts, I jacked up the left gear to rotate the tire. To my surprise, the gear leg was not rigid, but would rotate backward 5 degrees easily. I have the Grove gear (non-aerodynamic). I looked in the left gear tower and saw the front MS21042-6 nut totally off the bolt and sitting by itself in a corner. The nut thread was totally stripped out. I called Grove and they sent a new set of bolts and the NAS679A6 nuts. I replaced both sides (nuts and bolts) and inspect the gear tower regularly--every few flights. I will definitely replace the nuts soon with the NAS1804-6, as suggested by Steve. Cheap insurance! I'm posting this to possibly prevent someone from wrecking their airplane. I almost did not post this account due to the unkind comments which may follow--take this post for what it's worth to you and keep the cheap shots to yourself....

Tue 05.19.09 1200z
   Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Flight: James Johnson RV-4 Fastback
  "N234JJ went from being an RV-4 project to an RV-4 airplane today, 18 May 2009 after 2 years and 8 months building!" (continue/more pictures)

● 2nd '09 Issue of RVator Now Online  ...spend an hour or two reading this today.  The 'Cool Machines at Van's' article was really fascinating.
  In This Issue:  - Rian Johnson as you've never seen him   - Cool Machines at Van's   - SnF '09 Write Up   - One Wing Low (READ THIS!)   - In the Shop (Plastic Brake Lines / Sideways)   - The 'F' Word (fiberglass)...article by Van.   - RV-12 Progress   - Chalkie Does It!

● Added David Maib's RV-10 to the RV-10 Registry (going for pictures of first 100 flying)

● PIREP North Texas Group: Cedar Mills Marina Got It Some High Water! (pics)

● Spotlight on Brad Oliver's RV-7 Progress (Fuselage Riveting Day 2) ...Brad is 'RV7Factory' in the forums and uses an avatar that makes me laugh every time I see it.

● Patrick Tuckey's Freshly Painted RV-8 In The Air ...photos by Susan Williams.  Painted at GLO.
  

● New Picasa Feature ...for those folks that use Picasa to spotlight their RV travels.  Sent to me by Pete Howell.
   "Picasa has a new feature that makes posting to the forums a breeze.  Here is a screenshot - just click the Image Only (no link) check box and you get the right string to to paste with no trimming!"  [ed. You have to be signed in to your own Picasa account looking at one of your albums to see these choices.]
  

Ask A DAR
● (Mel Asberry)  The prototype RV-12 WILL meet the standards once it is certificated as S-LSA. If he has to change anything to secure that certification, builders will have to make the same changes. There is no reason for you to prove anything until you turn in you application for airworthiness (8130-6).  When you have received all you kits, Van's will issue a form 8130-15 (certificate of compliance) that shows that all parts in your kit comply with the prototype aircraft. Until that point, you can't show any proof, nor do you need to. (thread)

Miscellaneous
● AOPA Members: Download new AOPA Airport app on iPhone, iPod touch
  

● OT (comedy): Because I don't allow talk regarding politics and religion in the forums, I thought I'd include this culturally, ethnically, religiously and politically correct cartoon up front today this one time for your enjoyment (view)

Mon 05.18.09 1233z

● Flash Goes to P-Cola.....finally!

 Date: May 15-17, 2009.
 Route: 52F-0R4-82J-0R3-52F
              (those are zeros, not capital O's)
 Time: 3.5hrs there,  4.0hrs back.

  Just because is all.  For many years I've wanted to visit the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL.  For the six and a half years my RV-6 has been flying, it's never landed in Florida.  Now it has.
  The opportunity came up to go to the museum with two of my ex-military friends, who now drive RVs.  So on Friday morning, after pushing out the Fri/Sat/Sun edition of the website, we climbed in the planes and launched.  My travel companions on this trip were Rick Freeman (RV-8), who flew helicopters for the Army and later Phantoms for the Navy and Ross Burgess (RV-6), who flew Phantoms and Tomcats for the Navy.  They both spent time in P-Cola.
  The trip down was no sweat.  One stop in Louisiana at Concordia Parish (0R4) for $3.00 fuel.  There was some Wx that we had to skirt around as we got near Mobile, AL, but the XM weather made finding a solution painless.  We landed 3.5hrs later at Ferguson airport (82J), just north of the Pensacola NAS base.  The rental car showed up about ten minutes later, as we were tying down the planes and getting our gear out.
  After dropping the rental car guy back off at his place, we continued on to the base, where Ross and Rick pointed out all the places they did stuff.  Dunk tank building, marching on this field, O club, etc.  I enjoyed having the tour guides.
  The Blues are based here, as you know.  Ross pulled into the parking lot where they park - all empty spaces (on a trip this weekend at an airshow).  I thought I'd get a picture of me in the Skipper's parking spot, so I got out of the car with Rick.  There was a young man there at the locked fence who motioned us over and asked if we would like to tour the hangar.  Yes.  We had been on the base for about nine minutes and were getting a personal tour of the Blue Angels hangar.  I like this place <g>.  What a great guy.
  After that we went to the museum for about an hour before they closed for the day.  We were planning on spending all of Saturday at the museum.  I'll just say it's as amazing as you might think.
  I sat in the A-4, F-4 and F-14 'tourist cockpits' and got a quick summary of some of the operational aspects from two guys who flew 'em.  "Move the throttles up until they stop, then outboard and up for AB.  Swing that bar down and wrap your fingers around it to keep your hand from sliding back when you're shot off the boat.  Feel that button on the outboard side of the throttle?  That's to turn on the strobe with your pinky before you take the cat shot to let 'em know you're ready.  You can't salute at night - they can't see you.  That's how you know this is a Navy Phantom cockpit and not an Air Force one."  That kind of stuff...
  The F-4N that is on display in the museum is bureau #153915.  When we got back, Ross looked through his logbook and found that he flew it twice.  The F-4 in VF-111 livery in the painting in the thumbnail below had a bureau # on it from a plane that it turns out he flew a few dozen times also (in the reserves).  We believe the 'A' model Harrier in the museum was flown by fellow 52F RV-8 pilot Jerry Lawlor.  He's looking in his logbook.  Small world.
  After the museum closed for the day we went to Flounders for a seafood dinner and a quick trip to the beach (gotta get some seashells and sand for the kids), then off to the hotel where we each had our own rooms.  Snore all you want, man!
  The next morning we drove over to iHop.  Ross recognized a gentleman he knew in another booth and went over to say hi.  Jerry 'Devil' Houston.....MIG killer.  Google him, you'll be impressed.  So, Saturday was off to a good start <g>.
  We pulled into the museum at 0900 and spent the next several hours there.  Details in the pictures below.  It's an amazing place.  They have the NC-4 in the center of the room.  First aircraft to fly across the Atlantic.
  We ate lunch at the base's golf course restaurant and then went back to the museum.  After that we went to the base exchange, then had dinner with Mr. Ed Miller and his wife.  As Rick's skipper, Mr. Miller taught him how to stay alive flying helicopters in Vietnam.  This is the 77th Aerial Rocket Artillery Unit we're talking about (link).  Very humbling stuff, and you'll see both their names on the webpage if you go to the link in the previous sentence.  What a privilege to get to eat dinner with Mr. Miller and his wife!
  Sunday started with another trip to iHop, then out to the field for the trip back.  There was Wx in the area and guaranteed wet later in the day, so we launched and stayed VFR with the help of XM weather.  Had to deviate a little south for a bit, which added 30 minutes to the flight, but can't complain.  XM WX helps us make smart (and safe) decisions.  One fuel stop and lunch at Chili's in Abbeville, LA (0R3).  Back home safe on the ramp 52F around 2:30pm local.
  I flew my RV-6 seven and a half hours this weekend.  Saw some amazing hardware, shook hands with bona fide war heroes, ate some swell fish and checked another state off the list.
  It's 0705 local as I finish typing this up, and an RV-8 just flew over my neighborhood.  Saw it out the dang window.  Ain't that cool?
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

Pictures From The Trip
Tip: Click on link, maximize screen, click on 'Slidesow',
use right/left keyboard arrow keys to view at your own
pace (first time you tap the arrow key it will pause the slideshow).

Trip Down (#26-#50)...minor Wx deviation.  3hrs 35mins total flight time.

Trip Back (#15-#49).  Some Wx to go around.  4hr 2min total flight time.

● Tennessee Wedding: Pete Howell trip write-up.

● Who's going to OSH 09 this year?

● Chino Airshow 2009 Photos

VAF Family
● Don Hull: It's good to be back...

Milestones
● Carol Beaird is a Pilot!  ...good friend of mine.  Way to go, Carol !!!!
 

● 1000 hr construction mark: Brent Owens RV-8 (pic)

Building Tips / Techniques/ Mods
● Tip: Making a Fuel Selector Cover/Manual Trim Bracket for RV-6 ...Gary Baker

Miscellaneous
● AOPA: Fuel taxes, general fund contributions should fund FAA
            Budget details confirm user fees on agenda for the future

Fri 05.15.09 1130z
   TGIF!!!  Have a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● N457RV Flies! ...Terry Frazier
  "Well, she finally flew. Monday 5/11 at 7AM, N457RV flew for the first time 2000' over the Henderson airport for just short of an hour. The flight was uneventful (the best kind) and the landing was even a squeaker (if I do say so myself). I have to say that taking off in an RV is a little different than my previous experience. When you push the throttle in, you'd better be ready to fly right now. No lumbering down the runway for N457RV (a.k.a. E-TICKET). No major squawks - only a couple small oil leaks and a slightly heavy right wing.
   Too many to thank all at once, but wife Linda deserves the "Supreme Indulgence" award for 3 1/2 years of airplane centric living (and riveting too), and Roger Hansen for untold advice, help and bits and pieces. Also, a big thanks to Mike Smith, my flight advisor, transition trainer, and first flight safety chase pilot."
  (pictures and congrats)

● May 14th QB Kit Delivery Status ...the first container with RV-10 QBs is loaded.

● New Lycoming Engine Prices take effect Friday, May 15th, 4:30pm Pacific time. ...from mothership.
   "New pricing is reflected on the order form HERE.  Old prices will be honored through 4:30 pm Pacific time, Friday, May 15th."

● Welcome TruTrak Flight Systems (new advertiser)
  ...from Lucas at TruTrak, "Trutrak offers a full line of autopilots for the RV pilot. We are also proud to offer a new line of Electronic Flight Instrument Systems available with integrated autopilot, as well as a full Engine Monitoring System. All products are now available."
 
[ed. Their ad will live in the forums and on the front page here. dr]

● In The Paint Shop
   Yesterday I ran out to 52F at lunch, and while out there stopped in to say hi to Grady (web).  He had an -8 about done, wearing a University of Michigan scheme.  I didn't have a 'good' camera, but I walked around it with the iPhone so you could get a feel.  Mostly polished with some interesting mods.  Note the aileron and rudder trims and the tilted engine monitor.  One item not shown is a relief tube that runs from the cockpit down to a small hole under the rear trailing edge of the right wheel pant.  I did not test it <g>.

● Jim Piavis Does It Again (piavis 'at' comcast 'dot' net)
   "Pat Stewart was interested if I'd passed these along. Pat commissioned me to do both his RV-8s (an 8A and a straight 8) and I just wrapped them up for shipping. He has a Cub he's doing now which is on the graphic list."

Safety
● Bob Axsom's Race Kneeboard Checklist
   I have gone through the current rules for the Tennessee Valley Cross Country Air Race and Speed Dash at www.sportairrace.org under calendar of events and the Memphis and Atlanta sectionals and made up kneedboard check lists for the races. These include:

- A sectional overview sheet with the entire course traced on it
- A separate sheet for the start, each turn and the finish containing:

- Google Earth image of each overlaid with the required flight path

   - Inbound:
        - frequency
        - altitude at the point of interest
        - radio call requirement in correct location, format and content
        - execution comment
   - Outbound:
        - magnetic track to next point
        - minimum MSL altitude to stay 500 ft AGL to next point (rounded up)
        - enroute frequency
        - caution for towers with maximum tower height

They are in power point format so they have to be printed and the excess cut off (in half actually) or folded to fit the kneeboard. If you would like a copy just give me your e-mail address and I will try to send it to you.

Miscellaneous
● Einstein says.....   (sent in by Dan Horton)
  

Thu 05.14.09 1208z
  Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● 10,000
   Went to bed last night with the number of registered users in the forums at 9,998.  When I woke up it was 9,999.   Some of those accounts (a few dozen) are spammers that I locked out years ago and some are folks who have duplicate accounts, but not very many.  Close enough to recognize the milestone.
   I thought I'd take a moment here today to thank all the kind folks who have helped make this site work.  As I look at who is online here this Thursday morning at 0645 local, I can't help but smile thinking of all the friends I've met online these past several years, in all walks of life and in all professions.  And geographic locations.  To me at least, this is a comforting thought.  It reminds me that it isn't really about flying...it's about people, and the journey, and living a varied and interesting life, and having a support network of friends at the ready when you need it.  The flying just makes it that much more enjoyable.
   Thanks again for keeping it civil and friendly, and making it easier for the next builder coming down the pipeline.  I'll keep on keepin' on, and am honored to have you aboard.
  Hello five digits...and one more tip of the hat to Van.  

● Rubber Ducty, You're The One! ....DanH
   "Regular readers know I like to work with a variety of materials. Playing with new materials and methods can be fun.
   Subject here is a set of intake ducts for a cooling plenum. They're typically fiberglass/epoxy, fixed solidly to the engine, and coupled to an aluminum ring in the cowl with a silicone hose, neoprene wet suit material, or other soft tubular material to allow relative movement.
   My cooling and plenum scheme doesn't follow current RV convention; I've gone the low velocity inlet route (which means large inlets) and relocated them so they no longer center on the cowl split line. The whole cooling scheme is a subject for another thread; this one deals with an experimental method for constructing one of the components. Somewhere in the design process I got thinking "Why can't the whole duct have some flexibility?" and this was the result."

● New First Flight Listings Reported On Mothership

● A Look At What's On The Bench At SteinAir
  "...here are some early shots of a couple VERY clean G900X panels going together. One of the first Vertical Power/Garmin 900X combinations that I know of. Not the greatest pics in the world, and the panels are very early in the build, but nice looking panels none the less!  One is for an RV7 and the other for an RV-10. Surprisingly both are going to Australia to our RV brethren down under. Neither panel is finished yet, but both are well along.
Cheers,
Stein"

fmi: www.SteinAir.com

VAF Family
● In-flight Self Portrait...Ed DArcy

Safety
● Truth in Advertising:  Airport Banner from Cooperstown, NY ...Michael Sarafin photo emailed to me by Paul Dye.

Miscellaneous
● AOPA is 70 Years Old
● OT: The World's Best Illusion: The Secret of the Curve Ball

Wed 05.13.09 1144z
  Hump Day!  Went out to 52F yesterday to hopefully get in a quick lunch flight, but when I pulled in saw this out front.  Oh well...whatayagonnado?  Three of us drove over to Vinny's and got some Italian food, then I came home to start typing again, having logged 0.0 hrs and gained about 2 pounds.
  Today FM131500 18022G32KT, so I'll probably save my gas money at lunch.
  Have a great Wednesday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Question for Rosie and other RV travelers...
  "How does one pack a RV for two people for a three-week trip? In addition to clothes, etc. are you carrying a tool kit and small parts?"

(Gary Zilik chimes in first...he was one of the participants on the 'Cayman Trip')
1) Think light.  Samples size bottles of shampoo and pit-stop go a long way.

2) Get the wife to think light. How many pairs of shoes does she really need!

3) Don't bring anything you don't need. This takes some time to figure out but after a couple of trips you finally figure out what you used and did not use. If you didn't use something leave it home the next time.

4) Jeans and shorts can be worn for more than one day. Undies for 5. Just kidding. Bring at least 5 days of underwear as washers are far and few between. Pack a small amount of laundry soap so you can wash undies and shirts in hotel room sinks.

6) My tool bag weighs in at 11lbs and is stowed forward of the wing spar in front of the fuel valve. I have a 6A so your mileage may vary. Stow heavy items right behind the seats or on the floor under your legs. I'm always amazed at how much stuff we can squirrel away in the nooks and crannys.

7) If were going to OSH the tent and bedding weigh quite a bit so we leave the MacBook home and take the I-touch instead. It carries tunes too!

8) If your traveling with a RV-10 bum a ride for some of your stuff if you're overloaded.

9) RV's fly like pigs when heavily loaded.

(Rosie chimes in...)
"What Gary said plus;
10) If going to fly-ins, you can count on buying shirts at the show. I brought 2 polos and 2 Ts to the Cayman Islands knowing I'd buy one of each at SnF and also on the island.

11) I'm a big fan of these 2.5lb lightweight chairs found here.

12) For the foreign country trips: An 18-pack of your favorite soda fits well behind each seat. For side by side RVs that do not have the battery in the cockpit area, I could imagine putting LOTs of things (food items or a 24-pack of soda) in the 'tunnel' between the front spar and firewall for the side by side planes I carried a big can of Planters mixed nuts there. Gary is absolutely correct about the nooks and crannys!

13) I always bring an empty 24" poster tube for anything I don't want getting mashed or crinkled.

14) I have carpet in the baggage area, and I put lots of flat stuff under it also so it doesn't get mashed. I just brought home a Cayman Islands license plate and 'Astronaut Crossing' sign home on this trip. You will always find my insurance papers, weight & balance and prop cards under the carpet.

15) Peanut butter-filled pretzels and Jerky last for weeks if kept in a zip lock bag (or Tupperware ;-) Hard candies also last & last.

16) Oxygen when used with an oximeter is always good to have onboard.

17) A pair of those cheap, paper painter's overalls for those times when you gotta wrench on the plane and you got your good clothes on

18) Handheld GPS and radio (with headset adapter), AA/AAA batteries, (2) ball caps, (2) brimmed hats, suntan lotion and chapstick are in the plane 100% of the time. For round gauge planes, a failed instrument cover.

19) I now carry a spare headset on the long cross country trips since it's no fun flying with a broken ear piece.

20) Hide a blank check (or two) somewhere in the plane, no kidding."
  (continue - complete with pictures of bags out on the ramp labeled.  Link starts at the top of the original thread.)

● Ch 105 (Oregon group) May Meeting at Van's Aircraft May 14th

● iPhone Fun (Vibration Analyzer App) ...D. Pansier
   A low cost vibration analyzer iPhone application was recently released on the iTunes store that opens the door to some interesting uses.
Two versions have been released, Vibration Lite which is free and Vibration which sells for $4.99.
   The free version is limited in features but will give you a good indication of the potential of the device.
First off, I am not connected in any way with the Vibration application, just a customer that sees some interesting uses for the low cost vibration analyzer.
   Vibration analyzing has been widely used in industry for years in preventive maintenance programs and it has a solid record in the reduction of machine downtime. The devices used in industry are very expensive and companies that own them are not interested in letting them out to play on the weekends. It would be difficult to compare the expensive industrial model to the low cost iPhone application but it does offer some features that allow vibration data collection with minimal investment.
  (continue)

● RV-7 Pilot Don McLendon Enjoying The View Outside His Day Job Office
   "I work in Technical Training for United Space Alliance at KSC and took a few pics from just outside my office yesterday.  I hope maybe you can post one or two if they come out."
Don
RV-7 N742DM

photos by Don McLendon

Electrical
● Q: (breister) I understand the resistor - don't want to feed 14.5v into a 10v max circuit - but what is the purpose of the diode in the circuit?
   A: (Kahuna) Anytime that a relay coil is driven by a circuit that is not specifically designed to drive a relay, you should use a quenching/suppression diode connected in parallel with the relay coil. You may think the diode serves no purpose because the voltage applied to the relay cannot pass through the diode. This is true when the relay is energized. The diode comes into play when the power source is removed from the relay coil. When power is applied to the relay coil, a magnetic field is created and energy is stored in the coil. When power is removed, the magnetic field collapses causing a reverse voltage to be generated (it's called inductive kickback or back EMF). The back EMF can easily reach high voltages. The diode will absorb the reverse voltage spike. This voltage, if not absorbed by the diode, will cause premature failure of switch contacts in the relay. Its convenient to purchase these modern relays with the diodes built in. Its also important to remember that when using a diode suppression in the circuit, then the +- voltage polarity now becomes important. Without this diode, usually it is not important.
   related: Electrical Systems

Video
● (3) Videos Demonstrating Painting Techniques

Troubleshooting
● Lead Balls !!!!! (rimshot)
  Q: (Dayton M) Last night I removed the lower plugs to find lead nodules in my plugs!  What is the cause of this and how do I change this condition?  Running P-Mags with NGK plugs  EGT’s around 1280F  CHT’s 300F ish
  (thread)

Safety
● In-flight Ignition Misfire Procedure...question proposed by Jamie Painter
  "Let's assume that you're airborne and notice (via your engine monitor) that one of your cylinders is not firing on one of your mags/EI. I had this scenario happen once when I had a fouled plug. The mag run-up was fine before take-off, but I guess the plug fouled after the run-up (I had an extended hold after doing my runup). In my case I detected the issue by noticing several anomalies on my engine monitor (higher FF, #2 peaking before #3, etc). I did an in-flight mag check and sure enough it was running rough on one mag.
   Anyway...what is the correct procedure in this situation? Should you continue to fly off of both mags or just the non-offending mag?"
   (chime in)

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Heat Muff Issue (20 hrs into Phase I)
  "I'm about 20 hours into my Phase I flying now and on my most recent firewall forward inspection I found my heat muff looking like the end caps were "blown out""
 

● Original Kit Tire Wear?
  "I am about to install my first set of replacement tires on my RV6.
  I got about 130 hours on the original rubber that came in the finish kit. I have no idea on the exact number of landings but I do like to practice landings so I would estimate at least 5 landings per hour average = 600 or so landings. Almost all of this on concrete. (I think I had a brake dragging for the first 5 hours, the bolts on the pedal were binding up and not letting the pedal release.)"

Tue 05.12.09 1209z
  We're starting the day in DFW 1/2SM BR OVC003, but it's forecast to turn VFR around 1100 local.  Maybe a lunch flight?  We'll see...
  Congrats to those RV builders/pilots that work for NASA on the launch of Atlantis yesterday!  Beautiful liftoff!!!
  Have a great Tuesday!
    Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● N712BR is an Airplane! ...Bill Rambo (7A)
   "By Federal decree I now own my first airplane - instead of a loose collection of parts. My FAA inspector was very nice (Rob Williams) and found no discrepancies. All-in-all very anti-climactic. Now begins the ground and flight tests."

● Last of the pics from our Cayman Islands Trip ...Rosie
   Having arrived home Sunday night at 2230 (PDT), I was unable to get the last of our trip pictures posted. These pictures start with our personal tour of the Johnson Space Center by "Ironflight" Paul Dye (thank you VERY much!) (continue/pictures)
  - The final, wrap-up post (with pictures)

● Welcome www.PlaneLights.com ...new advertiser.
   (a note from Steve Adams - owner)  "Planelights has been manufacturing quality aircraft lighting systems for over 2 years. Products available include a Par 36 and 48 replacement, available in both 35 and 50w systems. We also have an MR16 HID replacement for late model RV wingtip lights. The 35w landing light system provides over 3,000 lumens of light for only 35w of power draw. The 50w provides an amazing 4,100 lumens of light with only 50w of power consumption. Compare to a halogen 4509(PAR36) that puts out about 1,800 lumens for 100w of power draw.
   Don't believe the hype about lower cost HID lights. Other companies would like you to believe that all lower cost systems are the same. They aren't and we have gone through all the testing to prove it. Not only have we done the testing, we posted all the results and explanations. HID lights don't need to cost $500 per light. See: HERE for all the data. We also provide a real 2 year warranty on all HID products."
Sincerely,
Steve Adams
Planelights  4245 E Palm St  Mesa AZ 85215  planelights.com  480-655-0100
 
  [ed. Their ad will live in the forums and on the front page here. dr]

● Mothership SnF'09 Show Special Ends May 15th.

● Texas Formation Clinic, 12-14 Jun, at KBWD ...Stu
   We are conducting the Texas Formation Clinic at Brownwood Airort (KBWD) on 12-14 Jun. Participants should have excellent stick and rudder
skills, have aircraft in excellent condition, have dual controls, intercomm, PTT in other cockpit, and have NO VERNIER THROTTLES.

● May Get Together - Houston RV Builders (5/16)
   May's get together will be a potluck at Conroe this Saturday (5/16) starting approx 11:30am. Larry has been kind enough to provide the space at his Builder Center for a potluck, which means we are on even if weather is questionable. I will cover the basics (burger/dogs/buns/ice) if all those attending can bring a dish(or desert) and a few drinks. Let me know offline if anyone wants to cover one of the basics.

● Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-in / TEX'09 Coverage ...this past weekend.

● May/June '09 FAA Aviation News Is Now Online ...40 pages / PDF format.

Video:
● RV-3 Boyhood Flying Dreams ...9min 59sec.  You've probably seen this already, but if not it's well worth your time (and it'll keep you occupied at the day job for 10 minutes <g>).

Advertiser's Corner...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Victor Elms Picking Up His Egg Engine ...sent in by Jan Eggenfellner (web)
   "30 days from order to delivery  - Total cost $17,995 - Building the RV-7A next."
  

Mon 05.11.09 1338z
  Happy Monday fellow Vanheads!  Quick rundown of Fri/Sat/Sun in my abbreviated (lazy) typing style.  Friday went out to formation practice and we scrubbed.  Got in .1 around the patch solo in the bumps, then we all agree that trying to get (7) planes ten feet apart in those bumps wouldn't have been the smartest move.  Saturday was the Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In (this year absorbing the TEX fly-in, also).  The Wx was VFR for most of the time, but the low clouds did keep a few away.  Didn't get a count of RVs, but there were more than a few.  Pics below and thanks again to the 983 and Pecan bunch for showing us such fine hospitality!  Sunday was spent processed pictures from the Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In, working on the Monday edition, continuing 'Truman' by David McCullough on the Kindle, taking Susie out to a nice lunch, and fishing with my son.  A good day.
  Hope you had a great weekend and your week goes swell.
 -  My pictures From The Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In
   Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● First Flight: Wallace Goodloe (9AQB)

● First Flight: Dick Johnson's Rocket

● First Flight: Bret Smith -9A

● Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In Coverage (w/pics)  ...thread started by Scott Card
 -  Scott Card's pictures

● Rosie Cayman Adventure Update (pre-Pecan Plantation Fly-In) ...Rosie
   - (couple days later) Home Safe! post (after 3 weeks of flying) thread ...Rosie

● And it weighs in at......1,064.7 lbs. ...two winners (sorta) for the gold leaf cleco(s).

● OT: Shuttle Launch Today (2:01 p.m. EDT)
       (NASA TV / Windows Media (Best for Full Screen))

Safety
● First Flight Distraction ...a 'database' begins courtesy Ironflight.
  As a Flight Advisor, I am always interested in reading First Flight Stories from homebuilders. Always full of joy, they frequently include little tidbits of information about things that didn’t go “exactly” as the pilot expected. In fact, it is rare when something slightly out of the ordinary DOESN’T occur! Unusual instrument readings, heavy wings, unexpected wind noise or rattles – almost all of these things are usually due to minor, non-threatening causes which, if ignored make no difference to the safe and successful completion of the flight. (Complete silence at 400 feet or reversed control action would not be included in this list of “minor” annoyances BTW….) When I talk to pilots’ about their upcoming first flights, I like to spend time discussing these minor problems, and to get an understanding of the individual’s tolerance to the off-nominal, because how they react is going to determine if the issues will simply be minor notes on the kneeboard – or major distractions that lead to bent metal! Successful test pilots have proven their capability to distinguish between the two, and to filter out those events which might lead them down the road to a mishap.
  It would be interesting to build a list of events in one place (this thread being a good place) that RV’ers have experienced on first flights for the purpose of giving those yet to make their first flights a place to read about the distractions for which they might want to be prepared. Forewarned is forearmed, and you can never be too well armed when going many tens of knots a significant distance above the ground. Put bluntly - the accident records are filled with tales of bent airplanes that resulted from pilot distraction caused by what should have been ignored, and that’s a shame! If we share those tales and stories, we can build a nice library of things to review before those all-important first flights – things to ignore, and things that require attention. The goal, of course, is to help people understand the difference.
  An example. As I added power for the first take-off in the Valkyrie, everything looked and felt good. I was mostly concentrating on staying on the narrow taxiway that served as a temporary runway during some airport construction, and keeping the plane straight during the early acceleration part of the roll. When I looked down to check the gauges, I noticed that the RPM’s were indicating 1800 – well below the 2700 rpm redline I would have expected with full throttle. Due to the incredible acceleration of the RV, I was already at takeoff speed by the time this all registered, and a rejected takeoff would have been more difficult than flying – so I flew. I knew by the seat of my pants that I had full power, and the indication was meaningless – I didn’t let it distract me from flying the airplane. It turned out to be an incorrect constant that was set in the EFIS, easily corrected by the next flight, but something that needed to be ignored at the time. An abort could easily have lead to a bent airplane as I learned about the effect of deceleration on steering in an airplane I hadn’t flown before.
  From insects in the cockpit to missed push-buttons on audio panels; from minor oil leaks to loose wing root fairings – I am sure we can build quite a list. Anyone else want to share their “there I was” stories?
(chime in)

Motivation
● Air to Air Shots of Mark Burns' 7A ...and one AWESOME ground shot.
   "My good friend and RV-8A owner Zack Spivey took the first two photos yesterday while flying to the Pecan Plantation Fly-in. (No, he wasn't flying at the time)"

● Dwight Bottom's Completed RV-7

Construction
● (2) New Products From DJM Mfg. (pictures). (Dayton Murdock...the throttle quadrant guy)
    - quadrant
    - tailwheel

Milestones
● First week at the hangar, first engine run ...Steve Allbee RV7A
  Been quit a first week. Started out with taking the fuse out to the hangar, via flat bed tow truck. Than I installed the wings and set the rear spar and drilled holes for the tank supports and root wing to fuse. I removed the wings, cleaned up the holes and than reinstalled wings. Intalling the bolts were a non issue, even though it's a nose wheel plane. I didn't freeze the bolts, just lubed them with oil and pounded them in with my 3lb dead blow hammer. Again non event, I did have pilot bolts from 7/16 bolts. After installing the wings, I installed the fuel lines and vent lines.
  (continue)

Building Tips / Techniques/ Mods
● Mounting an iPhone ...Bob Mills
  "Pete,
   Blatantly copied your mounting idea for the new IPhone! I used the existing Ram mount that came in the airplane, and added the cradle for the phone...great idea!! Pix below my questions that follow.
   I've been using SkyCharts (very nice Heikki) and Aeroweather quite a bit. I also went to Brad's site (nice job Brad) and ended up loading all of my checklists into AirCheck (still playing with it, might stick with paper, but who knows).
   Heikki, in response to your question about connectivity when airborne, I found that I lost connection when flying (I was in fairly mountainous terrain). Sectional was still there to play with, but it did not fix my position (OK of course, as I have a GPS with map). It did continue to give me pop-up warnings though, and it might be nice to just get that once, acknowledge it, and be able to view the map with no further pop-ups (just a thought!).
  (continue (with pictures))

Ongoing Maintenance Issues
● Cleaning Glass Cockpit Screens

Miscellaneous
● (pics) Nose Art ...J. Eric Kerns style.

Fri 05.08.09 1152z
  I'm really looking forward to the gathering at Pecan Plantation (0TX1) this Saturday - should have a hundred or so pictures for you Monday morning, if it all works out as planned.  If you can come in your RV, please do!  Extra special thanks again to the 983 bunch for hosting this event.
  Have a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend!!!
   Doug Reeves Contact  RV-6 RV-3B IFR Track Blog

● Charity Mission Complete: Scott Schmidt (RV-10)...final Death Valley Post.
  "After delivering the picture we made our way back to the plane and had a great flight home. The tail winds were strong on the way back and most of the flight was over 200 knots GS. Thanks for all the support and by the way, we actually donated $1,220 thanks to a last minute donation." (pictures)

● First Flight Report: Eric Wolf RV-8A (also keep that first flight short)
  "On Sunday, May 3 the airplane that I have been building for 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days flew for the first time out of Racine, WI (RAC). I was the test pilot. There were a couple minor issues during the flight, but the airplane flew beautifully and the engine ran great. Here are the details..." (read more / pictures)

● If You're Anywhere Near Texas This Saturday.....(0TX1).
   TEX'09 RV Fly-In Now Same Day (and same location) as Pecan Plantation Spring Fly-In...SE of Granbury, TX.  May 9th. 
   Safety is paramount.  Game faces ON.
   NOTE: New Unicom Freq is 122.975

● Rosie/Tuppergal Continue Their Cayman Texas Adventure (Corpus/Houston) ...Rosie.
  "It's early Friday morning, and I'm just finishing up another fun-filled day here in the State of Texas! The Zilik's and us have been flying here, there and everywhere, and the only gripe I have is this thing called 'morning fog' ;-) In the desert, it's not a matter of 'if' we can fly but 'what time do I want to get up to fly'!
  Knowing that it would be foggy in the morning, I slept in until about 0900 then joined the Ziliks and Victoria who were at the breakfast buffet. We killed an hour there then went back to the room to pack-up." (continue / pictures)

● May 7 Van's QB Update ...from the mothership.

● A Few More RV-12 Revisions/Changes Posted
   Section 34.  Pages 13,11,10,9,8,3,2.
   Section 31.  Pages 10,9,4.

● RV-12 Event at Eugene, Oregon Saturday

● Tip: FAB fab for Sam James Cowl ...Rob Vermeland.  [ed. You're going to want to look at every picture on this amazing work.]
  I spent the last couple of months laying up a FAB for my Superior XP-IO-320 with Sam James Cowl. Seems like I get myself in a time consuming mess like this from time to time.

● SnF '09 Online Pictures Taken by RV Community (got some to share?)
   - (20) Adam (Dana Overall's friend)
   - (31) RV-12 pics at Sun'N'Fun 2009 
   - Eric Faires (204 photos)
   - Dana Overall
   - Brian Wallis
   - Ted Chang
   - Gary Palinkas
   - Jeff Stubbs
   - Banquet / Pics of the RV-12 Avionics Package ...Jerry G (more)

Motivation
● The Best RV Grin I Have Seen ...Kirk Groves

Advertiser's Corner...sent in by the advertisers of this site.
● Avery Tools Spotlighted Items Items
    www.AveryTools.com and/or 1.800.OK.AVERY if interested.  And now, on with the show...

Squeezer and 2 yoke package is completely manufactured and assembled in the USA from high quality materials. These tools have proven quality and have been manufactured and sold for more than 20 years to the commercial, general aviation, and RV experimental kit markets. Why buy an IMPORT COPY of a tool when you can BUY AMERICAN tools and keep America working!!
Part number M7502Y $595
Tool Specifications:
 Squeezer develops 3,000 lbs of force and is rated for 1/8" aluminum rivets.
 Built-in air line swivel included.
 Accepts industry standard .187 (3/16") shank sets/dies.
 Squeezer body weighs 4.5 lbs.
 3" Yoke weighs 1-1/4 lbs, Longeron Yoke weighs 1-1/2 lbs.
 Yokes are heat treated and have black oxide finish.
 100% MADE IN USA with a one year warranty thru AVERY TOOLS.
  Add an Adjustable Set Holder (part #274 / retail value $69.00) for an additional $25.00 Part # M7502Y-274 $620.00
*Notes: Above tool offers must be purchased as packages – no splitting up or substitutions Offer valid thru May 29th, 2009
  

CLOSE QUARTER RIVET PULLER TOOL
Designed for RV-12 rivets that get pulled in close quarter or corner applications. Manufactured from 1/4" x 3/8" steel bar. Lenght 4" long. Turned up angle at 10 degree to shift pop rivet stem and puller away from corner. Plated finish.
Pop Rivet tool shown for illustration only, not included. Part number 5012 $15.00
  

(3) Refurbished/Surplus Sioux Pneumatic Squeezers

Blemished Sioux 2” Tandem Cylinder Alligator $595
 

Rebuilt Sioux 1.5” Tandem Cylinder Alligator $475
 

Blemished Sioux Tandem 1.5" C Squeezer $525
 

Miscellaneous
● OT: White Knight II Footage/Story

Thu 05.7.09 1204z

● Rosie, Tuppergal and Friends Cayman Island Adventure Update
   (from Rosie) "First off, I have to say "Thank You VERY Much" to Scott & Tanya Card for inviting Tuppergal & I AND Carolyn & Gary "Seismo" Zilik into their home with about 2 hours notice from an unexpected phone call that originated in Louisiana!!!!!! When we departed Florida on Tuesday morning, I was aiming for a yet-to-be determined location in the Great State of Texas, and the Card's were there for us ;-)
   Here's our SPOT TRACK for the Tuesday flight from Perry to Georgetown (and to San Antonio on Wednesday). I'll double-check but I think total flight time was about 5 hours Perry to Georgetown with one fuel stop at False River (LA).
   We arrived into Georgetown (GTU) Tuesday about 4pm and were at the house by 5pm. Bill & Sharon stayed in a nearby hotel as they were going to depart for CA in the morning bright and early (and they arrived safely to Fox Field in Lancaster, CA around 5:30pm PDT. Mercedes Eulitt and Chris & Indira Kleen are also home safe to California and Washington respectively: All the Cayman flyers are home now except for us :-)"
  (continue story - lots of pictures)
  - and more pictures

  -related: Scott Card's Rosie PIREP

● Waiting for the DAR Appointment ...Jj
  Well, after having my prop governor run around, I had to delay my DAR inspection while waiting for my engine to be torn apart and re-assembled with the correct part count this time, then my chosen DAR, a legend around here, had to make his annual trek to Sun n Fun. I am awaiting his return now, trying to be patient, but hope to have the inspection done this week....hope being the key word. Here are five pictures of my RV-4 Fastback project, soon plane, mostly assembled with the new wheel pants now minus a couple fairings already off awating THE INSPECTION!

● First Start ...Jim Sharkey
  After almost nine years first start was on April 25th 2009 at Chapin Field (1B8) NY. New experimental Lycoming O360-A1A. A few initial puffs of smoke to burn off the preservation oil but otherwise smooth and clean with no leaks. Idle rough but may just need more running and/or mixture and/or idle adjustment.

● Glued Canopy Pics ...descriptions by Mike Newall.

● I added (2) links on the front page pointing to the registration page for the forums, so folks wanting to do that can find it easier.  Also helpful when telling a flying friend how to sign up.
  
   Arrows showing where
   the new links are

VAF Family
● Rest in Peace: Mr. Bobby Berry

Troubleshooting
● Problem with GS-AIR Nav/Strobe Lights
  I have 82 hours on my RV-6 and while doing maintenance work today I noticed that the rear white LED lights on my GS-Air Nav/Strobe lights on both wing tips were not working. The Red and Green forward facing LED lights work fine. There is only one set of wires for both the front and rear LED Nav lights so it can not be a wiring issue. I am going to call GS-Air tomorrow to discuss. Has anyone else had this problem with there lights? I like there lights and was surprised by this problem.
Frank Smidler
N96FS, RV-6

Wed 05.6.09 1206z
  Mist and OVC all day in Dallas yesterday - it was the kind of day to spend on the computer.  Rosie and Tuppergal made it as far as Austin, TX on their 'long way home' from the Caymans (update below) and are now guests of Scott and Tanya Card (-9A).  Weather in the northeast changed their plans.
  The beauty of having your own RV to fly?  "Lets go West instead of North today."
  Have a nice Wednesday.
    Doug Reeves
   www.DeltaRomeo.com
   RV-6 RV-3B IFR/Panel Track Blog

● Must See Video Clip: Cam Benton's RV-4 Panel Retrofit
   ...your next two minutes are spoken for!  I don't know how many pictures are in this clip, but Cam did an EXCELLENT job of documenting the installation of his new panel.

● Trip Write-up: From N. E. Georgia to the San Francisco Area.
  ...an example of why aviation folks are so awesome, "Why don't you fly back to Georgia with this one and UPS it back to me when you get there."

● Video and Photos from West Coast Formation Clinic 2009 ...by Gary Sobek
   - photo album (23 pics) and (2) video clips

● New RV Hotel: Scott & Tanya Card's House :-) ...update from Rosie/Tuppergal
  It's 10:20pm here in Georgetown, Texas and Tuppergal & I are here at the home of Scott & Tanya Card When we got up this morning in Perry, Florida, we saw that flying north was not going to be possible.
  So looking at the weather, we saw that we needed to fly westbound, and that's exactly what we did (we picked Texas as our target).
  Jimmyb & Vicki were able to file IFR to get to Goodland, KS and Gene & Janet Larsen stayed a bit later at the hotel than us.
  Bill & I departed a 2-ship westbound, stayed along the coast out of the big stuff, and arrived into False River (HZR), LA around 1300 CDT. So not really have a destination in Texas, Gary Zilik had mentioned Austin...... Austin..... we know somebody near Austin.... who was that... OH YEA... Scott & Tanya Card!!!!
(continue)

● Another Idea For Dimpling in Tight Spaces ...Dean Eiland
  I needed to squeeze some dimples in a tight space this past weekend and I didn’t want to wait to order a new tool so I came up with something that maybe someone else can use. I started with a pull rivet dimple set I had in my arsenal of tools, and added a pair of vise grip pliers (available at your local aircraft supply store, Lowe’s).
  I used an angle grinder with a $2.00 .045” thick DeWalt thin cutting wheel blade to cut a slot in the teeth of a pair of $8.00 - 10” vise grips. I also cut out the top of the jaw on one side of the vise grips to allow the head into a smaller area.
  As the picture shows the nail normally used to pull the dies of the dimple set together now only hold the dies in position until the vise grip pliers squeeze the dimple.
  Not bad for the price, and it fit well into the tightest location in the rib of my RV-9 elevator.
(more pictures)

● RV-12 Plans Revision/Change ...from the mothership.
   - Section 31, Page 3, Date of change: 4/14/9, Posted Online: 5/4/09
       fmi: Letters, Service Bulletins, and Revisions

● Seven Degrees of Kevin Horton

● Some Pics of Jon Abar's New Engine ...built up by America's Aircraft Engines, Inc.
   (from Steve Fowler)  "Here is the new ECi Titan engine OX-360-A4B1N for Jon Abar from Fayetteville, GA. He is building an RV7. We built this engine at Sun-N-Fun in the hands on workshop area."

● Van's 2009 Homecoming is sched'd for Aug 28th and 29th.  Be there!

● DAR PIREP ...Bud Johnson
  I just had an RV6A airworthy inspection done by Ted Gauthier from Pontiac, MI.  He did a very thorough job, was very helpful with paperwork and making sure the airplane was safe and ready to fly. Ted was here within a week of receiving my application for inspection. He owns and flys an RV-6 and has inspected and issued airworthiness certificates to dozens of RV's. I HIGHLY recommend Ted.
  fmi: VAF DAR Section (Ted's in there)

● Mothership First Flights Reported

● Perfect Flying, If Only.....JDRhodes

Troubleshooting
● Kevin Horton Talks About Static Port Sensing Pressure Higher Than Ambient Pressure
● Shimmy Eliminated: Balance Your Wheels ...Randy Lervold

Thrift
● DIY Landing/Taxi Lights

Tue 05.5.09 1200z
  Got to take Flash out for a walk yesterday evening for .3 hrs.  The kids were already fed when Susie walked in the door from an afternoon yoga class.  I looked out the window and saw the trees weren't moving, so Let's Fly!  Very nice...haven't done a sunset flight in quite awhile.  A red RV launched for its evening flight while I was on downwind.   Charlie Kearns (RV-8) was out doing fiberglass work in his hangar, so I stopped in to say hi (iPhone pics below).  Rode Tink around for a bit.  Gotta do that...  Home by 8:30pm.
  No flying today...25 years ago on this day I met my wife, Susie.  I still have the scrap of paper with her phone number on it.  She says she'd do it all over again, and I think she might be telling the truth.  Me too.  ;^)
  Have a great Tuesday (and if you're anywhere near Texas on Saturday plan to come to Pecan Plantation for the gathering!)
    Doug Reeves
   www.DeltaRomeo.com
   RV-6 RV-3B IFR/Panel Track Blog

  
    Charlie Kearns RV-8.

● Rosie and Tuppergal (and the rest) Back In The U.S.A. ...update from Rosie
   Hi All, I can honestly tell you that 10 days in the Cayman Islands was perfect time for Tuppergal & I to enjoy ourselves without feeling that we just got there when it was time to leave!!!
   Jim & Cathy Pappas were off on the twin otter for the flight back to Grand Cayman, continuing onto Chicago. Annmarie Strachan and her Mom Carol also departed with connections to LAX.
   Our day started about 0730 (all times EDT) waking up, and getting the planes all packed up. We couldn't file our flight plans for the 5 minute flight from Little Cayman to Cayman Brac until 0900 when the tower opened (and then they told us to call back in 20 minutes :-(
   We finally got it all together and were checked out of the villas and airborne, 4 ships in trail, around 0930. We flew one circuit around our dive company's boat, the "Sea-esta" and the Villas then flew over to Cayman Brac, cleared straight in, 1 mile in sequence, no problems with the tower (this tower is used to 1 plane in, 1 plane out so you can imagine their surprise when they get more than 1 plane in!) We kept it simple on the radio with plenty of separation as they will tell you to go around in a heartbeat "to avoid landing traffic."
   Customs opened at 1000, and they too were not expecting FOUR private pilots at once. They told us the "Flying Physicians" used to come in with several planes but haven't in a long while. We got through Customs fairly quickly but then it was up to the tower to file the FOUR international flights planes....
(continue rest of update (w/ several pictures))

● Garmin G3X Single Display Panel ...Steve (canard guy)
   My single display G3X panel is at the other end of the spectrum from the great 3 display panel that Matt posted, but it shows what you can do in an aircraft with a small instrument panel like the Longez.   The most important engine gauges are shown at the top of the PFD. There is a separate engine page that shows the less critical gauges that can be selected to the bottom of the PFD.  The XM radio and audio alert connections from the GDU375 are tied into the GMA240 audio panel which is great for this because it has a dedicated music volume knob and a quick access Music on/off button.  Separate GPS and XM antennas are mounted inside the aircraft under the access hatch you see in the "nose" picture. Since the XM receiver and GPS are built into the GDU375 display, the antennas are very small.  The AHRS/Air Data/engine interface is mounted forward of the instrument panel just aft of the canard on a bulkhead. The magnetometer is mounted in one of the wing strakes.
   The last picture was taken this weekend just before the first flight. This was the first flight of a G3X system in a homebuilt aircraft.
Steve
  [ed. Steve works for Garmin...but you probably figured that out <g>.  dr]

● Falcon Flight Phots From SnF'09 ...pictures taken by Joe Blank (RV-6)

● Another glued canopy ...John

● (TX) Pecan Plantation / TEX'09 Update ...Gary Bricker
  "We are expecting a great turn out if the weather permits. Anyone that can please come early. Also if anyone would like to help with the parking we could use it. I will have bottle water and a gathering place for the group in my hanger. It is next to the parking."
   - More Info

Miscellaneous
● Video: Most Insane Low Altitude Aerobatics I've Ever Seen Online

Mon 05.4.09 1145z
  Good morning fellow Vanheads!!!  Hope you had a great weekend.  Schools are closed for the next week in our neighborhood thanks to the swine flu (news) - we found out Friday at 3pm.  I might not make it out to the airport as much as I'd like this week.  If I do, I'll probably be bringing a kid or two!
  Saturday was Tate's First Communion (pic#1  / pic#2...on end closest to you), and the whole day revolved around that, of course.  It really was a special day for our family - in the top five on the bucket list.  Saturday was a good day.
  Sunday was filled with working on the Monday edition you're reading now, LOTS of paperwork, cleaning the garage (a tiny bit of work on the -3B) and exercise.  No flying, but it was VFR for most of the day, so I'm sure a few of the locals got some air between their RVs and the ground.  While exercising I had the iPod on, and after hearing it in the rotation once again, decided to add Paul McCartney and Wing's live version of 'Live and Let Die' off the Tripping the Live Fantastic album to the 'songs to fly to' playlist (listen to it).  I do love a bass tuned down to low D.  About 45 seconds in, when the tempo speeds up to a fast 4/4 and the bass starts the repetitive G, is about where I'd start the first roll (of ten or so...).  That has the makings of one great RV flying song....I'll have to check that out, of course, just to be sure.  You understand.
  Lots of good RV reading and pictures to keep you from being productive at work today.  Thanks again for stopping by and have a nice Monday.
    Doug Reeves
   www.DeltaRomeo.com
   RV-6 RV-3B IFR/Panel Track Blog

● First Flight: Mike Behnke RV-9A
  N291MT took to the skies above Anoka-Blaine today!  Doug Weiler took it up for it's maiden voyage, with Tom Berge, Bernie Weiss, Pete Howell and I flying chase in Tom and Bernie's RV's and Peter Fruehling and family taking pictures from the ground.  Doug reports it flies straight, hands off, so clearly I canceled out all my building mistakes. Aside from a leak at one of the oil cooler fittings, all went very well.
  Thanks to all the RV'ers in the Twin Cities area including those above, Alex Peterson, Gary Specketer, and also Bret Smith in GA (who'll be flying his -9A as soon as the rain stops).
   - several more photos (photos by Pete Howell)

● Rosie, Tuppergal, and the Gang's Last Day In The Caymans
  All good things must come to an end, as does our 10-day trip to the Cayman Islands.  But the good news is that we had a GREAT day flying to and spending Sunday on Grand Cayman.  After seeing the commercial fliers off on the morning twin otter flight, we got the planes untied and readied for the ~75nm flight to Grand Cayman. The fliers included Bill & Sharon Souza, who took on passengers Jim & Cathy Pappas in their RV-10, Gene & Janet Larsen and Tuppergal & I.  Jimmyb and Vicki Baker enjoyed their last day on Little Cayman. (more)
  - continue reading (with several pictures)
  - even more pictures
  - Rosie's SPOT flight tracking link

(from Rosie...)  "We plan to depart Little Cayman 0830 CDT and hope to be airborne back to Cuba by 1000 CDT. Will arrive Key West by 1300, clear customs then decide where to fly (looks like my northern trip will be weathered out). Possibly shoot for Pensacola for Monday night."

● Soup Season ...Ironflight
  The Texas Gulf Coast in early May – the first hint of the coming summer. Soup Season. Temperatures and humidity are warming up like the chorus behind the scenes on opening night, a preview of miserable times to come. The nice thing about owning an RV? The ability to escape!
  Sunday dawned with hazy skies, hints of blue peaking out between fuzzy, scuddy cumulous, the nearby AWOS reporting visibilities of about 5 miles. Cloud heights varied between 1200 and 220 feet, with a 30% chance of thundershowers through early afternoon, courtesy of the tail end of a cold front creeping across the state from the Hill Country. To the north, big thunder boomed! The radar showed a solid blob of red maybe 100 miles across, from just north of Houston all the way to the east side of Dallas. Moving east with the front, this didn’t appear to be a factor for today’s mission – a quick trip to our property at Kestrel Airpark, north of San Antonio, then lunch at the Aviator Café in nearby New Braunfels. We were in no hurry to get started, and puttered around the hangar until it was nearly 1100 – time to let the haze get organized and merge with the clouds to provide a little more definite ceiling. Still soupy though – air thick with moisture, and the heat getting worse.
  It was the Valkyrie’s turn today – Mikey gets to go north next weekend to visit friends at Pecan Plantation and hopefully pick up his freshly painted wheel pants and fairings. I was feeling the need for some travel because work beckons for the next month of weekends (if all goes on schedule), and chances to slip out of town will be slim. I’ll take any excuse to get out of Houston, as will Louise, so she slid into the back seat and we fired up for the one hour trip to the west. The wind was directly across our narrow runway, but at ten knots, it was manageable – the density altitude had us climbing a little slower than usual, but enough to get up and away and out of the breezy swirls that come off the hangars set close to the pavement. We turned west leveling off below the Class B and the scattered layer. To say that the soup had the (now) reported 7 miles of visibility was generous. Our destination was reporting scattered and broken clouds, so as soon as we escaped the confines of the Houston airspace, we looked for a long break to climb on top, following a shaft of sunlight and topping the white stuff at 6500 feet. The single METAR between us and the Hill Country showed overcast skies, and sure enough, we had a solid under cast, but the horizon showed that dark line that signals a clearing ahead.
  The clearing was real, but not very clear – the gunk flowing inland from the sea had penetrated many miles, and the poor visibility swallowed us on the descent and stayed with us until the terrain began to rise up ahead, the edge of the central Texas hills. On the ground after landing, walking our property, it felt good to get out of Houston. Louise pointed out that it was still awfully humid – just less so by comparison. She was right of course – the soup might be thinner here, but it was still soup. Flying back, after a light lunch, we climbed for the cool air, but couldn’t stay there as the clouds once again thickened below us. Louise asked why I didn’t just stay on top and file IFR, but I’ve flown with Houston Approach too long – as soon as I was IFR, they’d send me down below 3,000’ anyway, pounding along inside the sticky, bumpy clouds, and it wouldn’t be much fun. You can’t win unless you’re burning Jet A I’m afraid – those of us with pistons and cranks are relegated to the lower levels, below the sanctuary of the Class B…..
  But even though the soup was thick, the air hot, the humidity enough to mist the outside of the windshield – it was still better than being stuck on the ground, stuck in the “soup”. The RV, with its great climb, good speed, and long range can take us away, if even only for a few hours. The summer prelude is almost over, and the heat will rise, bringing days when it is too hot to even make clouds – the visibility will improve, and the soup will go away on occasion. But the escape capsules are always there, sitting the hangar – all they need is a destination!

● Special At Tina's Pilot Shop...will probably sell out today.
  We would like to offer the VAF site viewers Corrosion X Trigger spray, 16oz.  Retail $21.99  Special price 50% off.  ($11)  Limited quantities.  Description: Good for airframe interiors, battery terminals, hinges, cables, wheel hubs, rotor heads and trim drum actuators. It may also be applied to electrical and avionic components such as micro switches, cannon plugs, antenna bases, circuit breakers and buss bars.  [ed. They open 0900 Dallas time. dr]
  Call 1 (817) 490-0046 or www.TinasPilotShop.com ...tell her you saw it here.
 

● Pics and Words: Sun n' Fun RVers Get Together Report -2009 ...Vlad
  We had good time! Days in Sunny Florida are long and time flows much slower than in New York City. A group of RV owners and airplane enthusiasts gathered under the shade of brand spanking new Rich's camper. In New York we do not even have apartments that big.

● Pics and Words: S-n-F Volunteer's View ...Vlad
  It was my first visit down south and first S-n-F experience. I was volunteering with sheet metal workshop. To say it was great or cool means to say too little. It was absolutely BRILLIANT and RIVETING experience! I am missing that place already.
  I Jetted my way to Tampa. Working and living in New York City I got used to 24/7 fast-paced life. I was expected some crowds walking Tampa streets after I have read all those tourist guides. No way. The downtown was EMPTY on a beautiful weekend evening. I didn't catch neither my planned street car ride nor a show. Wait, there was a disco concert across the river at the University. Some groups of young people were spotted there may be a hundred souls or so. It made me feel better.

● Registered! (Pic): Steve Eberhart's RV-7A
  Today Sky Terrier N14SE took one more step toward becoming a full fledged airplane. After having my registration paperwork for only two weeks, Okahoma City sent me the registration certificate for N14SE. Now all we need is the pink one :-)
  Heading down to Georgia, in a few weeks, to spend some time with Pierre and his RV-6A to get ready for the Sky Terrier's first flight. Still need to get the nose art on her but she is getting very close. The RV grin is already starting to appear and I am still weeks from the first flight.

● Pics and Words: Allie Gives The Thumbs Up...Don Hall
  Today I celebrated the end of phase 1 by leaving the penalty box for the first time - with my youngest daughter - flying to a fly-in. These are all things I could only read about before today. No sooner had we lifted off than she was exclaiming how much fun this was, and minutes later she's asking for some loops and rolls. I think I might be off to a good start on the "programming". [evil laugh] I also was reminded of the important VFR 1-2-3 rule. 1 kid and 2 hours of singing is to be followed by 3 aspirin. Hey, it was a blast.

● Pics and Words: Matt Sturgis' First RV Ride
  Well even though I am half way through my emp kit, until today I still had never flown or gotten a ride in any RV. I was building on faith, faith that I was building an airplane I would find enjoyable and useful. After today, I can say I made the right choice. However I found out that it's not only the airplane's great features that confirmed my decision, but was also the great community of "RVers".
  I have to thank the guys of the "Freedom Flyers Squadron" of Conroe, TX. Dick, Sam, Denny, Joe, and Stephen. They were more than gracious enough to let a stranger in to their group today.

● Pics: A Little Flight Over Lunch ...Dr. Hans Conser

● May '09 Issue of ch105 Newsletter is Now Online ...lots of RV stuff as usual!

● Pics and Words: REPORT: Falcon RV Squadron Flyin-Peachtree City, GA ...Vern
  In spite of low ceilings and thunderstorms in the area, we had a great turn out. Many visitors and a few builders got their first RV rides. Children lined up for their rides including Allie (see separate post). A number of large formation flights launched.  Food was good and plentiful! All Van's models were present except for a 9 taildragger and the 12.

VAF Family
● Self-Portrait: Karl
   Here I am with my wife in the back. Enjoying the view of Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk Mountains

Motivation
● Out and About...Demo Ride (from Jay Kurtz)
   "Jake White-Diemand, Blackhawk pilot just back from Iraq, got his first ride in a RV-9A with Jay Kurtz at South Lakeland Airport during Sun N' Fun 09.  Note the RV grin."
   

● (Pics) A Little Sunday RVing in the Southeast

Milestones
● The Big Move To The Airport (in words and pictures) ...Chad Jensen

● Pic: Steve Allbee's RV-7A Finds A New Home (at the airport)
  Look what found itself a new home. I was like a young boy on Christmas morning. I will say, this is the only way to do it. No problems what so ever. Now I just have to put it all together.

Safety
● Heads up on NOTAMs ...Larry Pardue (RV-6)
   It is getting hot where I live, 99 degrees yesterday and summer isn't here yet.
   Two places I thought would be nice places to RV to are Durango and Telluride. Both are interesting towns with good airports and they are convenient and cool.
   A few days ago I was driving in the area and decided to take at look at the Telluride Airport, KTEX (don't know why none of you Texas folks got that identifier). It is in an area where it doesn't look possible to fit in an airport catering to business jets, so I thought it would be interesting. It was. There was lots of bustle and lots of cars in the lot but one very surprising thing.  Here is the photo...
   I have never found decoding NOTAMs to be particularly difficult, in fact I have issued quite a few myself, so recent changes in the system have snuck up on me. I can look at all the KTEX NOTAMs and not realize what was going on.

!TEX 04/020 TEX Runway 27 PAPI Out of service until Nov 02 2009 23:59 UTC
!TEX 04/019 TEX SVC AWOS Out of service until Nov 02 2009 14:00 UTC
!TEX 04/021 TEX NAV Runway 9 ILS LLZ/DME Out of service until Nov 02 2009 23:59 UTC
!TEX 09/003 TEX Runway 9/27 DIST RMN SIGN Out of service
!TEX 04/022 TEX AD Closed Except HEL Prior Permission Required 970-728-8603/CTAF 123.0 until Nov 02 2009 14:00 UTC

   It looks like several things are out of service, but nothing that would affect me in the RV. I don't care if some navaids and lights are not working or if the distance remaining sign is not there. That one about AD though. What is an AD. Well it is airworthiness directive but what else could it be?
   I knew that French had come to weather reporting in a big way but was unaware that we are now using French for NOTAMs. With weather, at least it is a small number of things, but there are huge possibilities in NOTAMs. When I first figured out that something strange was going on I went to a whole bunch of sites to find out what AD is, and couldn't, although I did guess. Finally I did find a site that had the current abbreviations and there it was.
   The thing is, with weather, if there is doubt, you can get the decoded version. With NOTAMs the only possibility I see is to get a booklet with the entire list of abbreviations, and carry it around, or is there a better solution someone has found?
   Even if there is some sort of solution, this seems like a huge step backward in safety, to me. I don't see why we couldn't make such a basic thing understandable and in English, like it used to be.

● Induction Fire - All is OK  ...Ed 'Turbo' DArcy

Building Tips / Techniques/ Mods
● Tip: Dust Covers / Hangar "Jammies"  ...Mike W.
  Banquet tableclothes. Big seamless panels, and they're cheap. The fabric is fairly slick, so it shouldn't hold grit too easily (like flannel). Toss 'em in the washer if they get dirty. I was scratching my head trying to find a cheap easy solution when I finally had one of those "ah ha" moments.
  Something like this. One will easily cover a wing.

Charity
● RV Community Act of Charity: John Trollinger (RV-10 Empcone) Is Trying To Raise $1,000 For Diabetes
  "I am riding my bycicle 100 miles to raise money for diabetes.  This is my third year doing the ride and I am trying to reach $1000 also.  Here is a link to my event."  Jon is 'jtrollin' in the forums.
   - related: RV Community Charity Section

Miscellaneous
● (AP) Economy buffeting student pilots, flight schools
● Donations page updated ...and as always...THANK YOU!!!

Fri 05.01.09 1305z
  Friday!!!  Big weekend for our family.  Tate's receives his First Communion on Saturday and Audrey has opening night in a local rendition of 'Alice In Wonderland'.  I hope to get out to the airport today at some point to fly.  It's been wet and