My RV9A
 

Recently started my RV9

appears to be high quality work!

That primed VS spar looks beautiful. Did you use a squeezer or a rivet gun? Nice uniform riveting unlike mine. Time to order the wings :)

Thanks!

Squeezer for most of it, the ones near the hinge brackets I couldn't get the squeezer on.


I did have an oopsie figure 8 while dimpling the skin, really upset me lol, but drill two adjacent holes and move on, I'm building to fly not to show. I think getting into a rhythm is both good and bad, I was nervous on the skin rivets, had to mentally do each step on every rivet,

The engine I'm nervous about lol

good engine core? prop strike?

Just old, I think 8 years since its ran, 25 since its flown. 1500 tt on it. 1200 in a piper, 200 in a BD-4. But it was a good price, included, pretty much engine mount forward.

Really
 

I would use the term lossely. Propr strike? Looks more like a movie prop.

But like all of us, it might just clean up nice.

left HS
 

First oopsie!

Happens to lots of people. Be careful using a c-frame dimpling, as this and a slight amount of dimplingitis, caused me to make the same mistake. Take the extra 0.5s to ensure the male die is in the right place & save yourself the hassle of a repair.

Or, get yourself a DRDT-2.

Guilty of that too. Fixed it the same way as well. I also took a file and emory cloth to my dimple 8 and to make sure the edges were smooth again. My extra dimple literally tore the aluminum and needed some TLC after that beating.

Wings ordered
 

Submitted my order for my wing kit today😁

Good timing! If you come to the shop every day for couple hours and rivet all weekends the wings are done in 100 days. Start saving for a fuse deposit.

I'm still saving for the wings lol

505a
 

popped the cap on the ebay engine.

Got a look at the cam today.

Wings scheduled to be crated the week of air venture. 😊

Did you fix the oopsie? :)

Gonna let the paint guy fix it...oh wait I'm the paint guy.

I haven't gotten anything to fill the hole with yet.

Rudder rough assembled, waiting on rudder and elevator horns that are back ordered, estimated arrival May 21, not much to do without them.

Right Elevator
 

forgot something in the second pic lol

elevator into practice project.
 

I should have walked away and come back to it.

I have seen worse. I have a couple small dings on mine.

OOOPs
 

I know the feeling well when you make your first mistake or make the first smilie, it really saps your confidence as you are determined to do everything right, been there!!
I have a matching one on my 9A rudder where the gun slipped and a few others on the way to where I am on my build, the dreaded tip-up canopy.
The expression 'move on' I never understood until now which is when your build is finished and painted you will have forgotten about the smilies and the numerous not 100% formed rivets you will have.
Learnt the hard way about not redoing a non perfect rivet, you do more damage replacing it normally and it sometimes isn't any better.
Keep on trucking!!
Duncan

progress so far.

Also considering dropping the "A" from my build.

I have a few friends that have taildragger RV9s, they love 'em.
I've never seen an taildragger RV upside down, but I have seen 4 "A" model RV's inverted on the runway. That's reason enough to go tailwheel.

As opposed to ground loops.

pluses and minuses....

do it
 

Not done with my -9 yet, but everyone says it's the easiest taildragger to land they have flown. I'm betting they are right and am looking forward to some new challenges!
Good luck.

I have over 400 hours of tailwheel time on my 170 and have 180 and cub time as well. Now that the little wheel no longer scares me, I much prefer it because it's so much stronger and I can land the airplane without actually stalling it which gives me some flexibility.

The look is far better, but insurance much higher.

waiting on wings with no motivation to do the fiberglass work on the emp.

JSLOW,
Tail wheel RV-9's are the bomb.
If you go that way get me your tail # when you get it.
I am keeping a list of RV-9's.
Only about 30-35 in the world that I have found.

I wanted the 9 for IFR stability but the tailwheel for sport and looks.

Pretty sure on the change to the TW. N7567S tentative number

Elevators
 

First tech counselor inspection passed. If you're in Michigan I'd recommend Carl Franz, super nice guy, very knowledgeable.

Elevator preliminary mounting done.

Wings shipped today :D

$921.33!

Wings arrived today.

Mounted the trim tab, empannage is done for now.

Cleaned up they paper from the wing crates.

Inventory done starting the left wing main spar.

Prepping ribs...time consuming.