What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

What did you do with your RV this weekend? (March 11 and 12th 2023)

Ooh, I'll get it started. During annual this year we decided to move the oil cooler from the show planes mount to the firewall. We couldn't get a good seal with the show planes setup and had oil cooling issues on the ground. I 3d printed out some parts, wrapped them in carbon and now have a semi-ok nozzle and defuser setup. We sanded the gap a little bigger with everything in place, and used a piece of neoprene to make the flex tube connection.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20230308_235042515.jpg
    PXL_20230308_235042515.jpg
    394.3 KB · Views: 213
Flew to see our daughter in CLT.

 

Attachments

  • 112D06CD-0DEB-4E29-BDFC-72FD9DE1BDFB.jpg
    112D06CD-0DEB-4E29-BDFC-72FD9DE1BDFB.jpg
    421.4 KB · Views: 325
  • E0D5A6AD-6AC9-44DA-91DC-81EFCAD8C50D.jpeg
    E0D5A6AD-6AC9-44DA-91DC-81EFCAD8C50D.jpeg
    503.3 KB · Views: 314
  • 204591F9-0B15-4EC7-ABD9-9BA41E626374.jpg
    204591F9-0B15-4EC7-ABD9-9BA41E626374.jpg
    370.2 KB · Views: 342
Birthday Party Trip

Flew my wife and daughter up to Alpharetta GA (NE Atlanta) to attend my uncle's 100th Birthday.

The good.... The party was awesome! Almost a mini family reunion on my dad's side.

The bad.... Had to fly through some knarly weather around Atlanta going up Friday afternoon and coming home Sunday morning. Spent most of the return flight sitting with wet jeans from the preflight and loading.

The ugly....My number 1 radio (SL 30) com side died on the way home. I also discovered I have some sort of oil leak going on. I pulled the cowl for a quick looksee but didn't see a smoking gun (I think I got a cracked seal someplace). Just so happens I'm starting my condition inspection this week (a few months early) because I'm pulling my prop for a reseal as it has hit its calendar TBO. Since the plane will be down for at least 3 weeks for the prop, I figured I might as well knock out the CI. The bonus is the weather is way nicer right now then in June which was my old date. Anyway, now I've got extra troubleshooting to take care of.
 
Weekend 1 of CI

Weekend one of CI. 12 hours in, nothing major, about halfway. It was walking weather all weekend anyway. I’m not looking forward to the in cabin stuff, which is all that’s left.
 
Converting my inverted flop tube tank to semi-standard. Also found something to keep my high school girl busy for a while and build some upper body strength. She just bought a used Carolla and wants to pay it off early.
 

Attachments

  • 3DAFE20A-C338-4F0D-9C36-A280CB8B086A.jpg
    3DAFE20A-C338-4F0D-9C36-A280CB8B086A.jpg
    472 KB · Views: 151
  • 90C5376F-5E9C-441F-B150-00A15D5D24C6.jpg
    90C5376F-5E9C-441F-B150-00A15D5D24C6.jpg
    382 KB · Views: 132
  • 1839C041-7CE4-4F3A-BB62-83E3FBEEF8AD.jpg
    1839C041-7CE4-4F3A-BB62-83E3FBEEF8AD.jpg
    396.6 KB · Views: 217
Last edited:
Flight with Granddaughter

We had a nice Saturday - clear and low wind so I was able to take another one of my granddaughters on a flight. She liked it but got a bit nauseous when we did a couple turns around our house. We were going to fly to breakfast but flew back to the airport and had breakfast on the way home. She did enjoy the flight and it is rewarding to give them a chance to fly.
 

Attachments

  • image0.jpeg
    image0.jpeg
    132.9 KB · Views: 118
  • image5.jpeg
    image5.jpeg
    236.6 KB · Views: 126
Last edited:
Took advantage of daylight savings time and knocked off my night landing currency before heading east for breakfast.
 

Attachments

  • 22D9E559-1474-4622-BA42-DAF98E047A2F.jpg
    22D9E559-1474-4622-BA42-DAF98E047A2F.jpg
    161.6 KB · Views: 110
After a 2 months flying break

A beautiful day here so I went out with a buddy to get the winter kinks out.
Since we're both studying to get our IFR ticket, we simulated a couple of RNAV approaches at nearby fields. Needless to say maintaining VFR at all times.

My ride isn't yet equipped with a IFR navigator so I manually entered all approach waypoints and let the Dynon Autopilot do its thing. I only managed engine power during climbs and descents.
Amazing machine and equipment.
Now, I have to get out once more to really get the winter kinks out by manually flying the whole time... ;)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8419.jpg
    IMG_8419.jpg
    96.9 KB · Views: 95
  • IMG_8420.jpg
    IMG_8420.jpg
    177.5 KB · Views: 103
Made the first flight! Orbited over the field for about 40 minutes testing doing the usual stuff - testing trim / bad tendencies (none! It's stable!), starting engine break in.

Flew it again today out to the countryside and back. Tried a stall to calibrate AOA - doesn't really stall. Mushes. No wing drops.

But it cruises at 185 kts TAS, even running very very rich to try to control one hot CHT. Cyl 1 (and 2, a little) runs hotter than 3 and 4. Need to play with some baffling.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2406.PNG
    IMG_2406.PNG
    2.9 MB · Views: 98
  • mdyn8v1j.png
    mdyn8v1j.png
    4 MB · Views: 157
Attended the yearly NASA fly in with my RV10, taking two friends with me. My base is in Mossel Bay South Africa. NASA is a flying club in the Northern Cape. I am copying my story below.

What an amazing weekend in Springbok in order to attend to the yearly club fly in. Myself and Francois Gouws took off from Mossel Bay on Friday at about 8:30 and set heading for Diemerskraal where we had to pick up Christie Coetzee A stunning morning with clear blue skies. Passing Worcester we realized that we cannot cross the mountains as there was an overcast on the western side. We went north over Tulbagh for about 10 minutes where it was possible to turn west and then south again while descending and promptly landed at Diemerskraal. Minutes later we were off again following the coast up north and late inland to Springbok. Flight time just over three hours. Friday evening we had a fabulous steak and chips braai. Aircraft count was at about 43. Saturday morning the pan at Port Nolloth was clear of fog and most aircraft flew out there - it was even manned with cones out to mark the “runway”. Soon we we taken into town where the local NG Kerk men and ladies cooked up a delicious hamburger with chips. We took off again following the coast north to Alexander Bay. Then south again low level passing Port Nolloth again. Amazing sights of all the diamond claims, shipwreck and a huge seal colony. At Kleinzee we turned inland again back to Springbok and spent more time talking aviation with all our friends. Saturday evening we opted to have a quiet braai with our hosts of Brandrivier Self Catering Units, Pieter and Erika. Sunday after breakfast we left Springbok climbing to FL085 in smooth conditions with a ground speed of about 165 it’s burning only 40 liters an hour. Before too long Christie did a nice landing again at Diemerskraal. After refueling me and Francois took off again for Mossel Bay. Total flight time again just over three hours. Put away the Blue Train and was off to a lovely lunch with my wife and friend at Pinnacle. A big thank you to the NASA people and Pieter. Enjoy the pictures.
 

Attachments

  • 22DA8436-3998-47A3-BA54-51143653474F.jpg
    22DA8436-3998-47A3-BA54-51143653474F.jpg
    574.9 KB · Views: 100
  • 68EF167C-C2DE-46C2-9CA5-9164757D97B3.png
    68EF167C-C2DE-46C2-9CA5-9164757D97B3.png
    2.6 MB · Views: 91
  • 2BE59BF3-1E95-4A37-BFE8-0F2E6E4F3783.jpg
    2BE59BF3-1E95-4A37-BFE8-0F2E6E4F3783.jpg
    163.3 KB · Views: 86
  • 194756A8-7183-41BB-9D8B-FB97FAC2FC9B.jpg
    194756A8-7183-41BB-9D8B-FB97FAC2FC9B.jpg
    741.7 KB · Views: 74
  • 7631F861-45CF-4BC7-B53F-7B161D498E89.jpg
    7631F861-45CF-4BC7-B53F-7B161D498E89.jpg
    315.5 KB · Views: 90
  • C0B33A18-D785-4BC3-90F0-70B4A7FD44AD.png
    C0B33A18-D785-4BC3-90F0-70B4A7FD44AD.png
    2.6 MB · Views: 81
  • 4797F258-C537-4FE9-AF13-B3CFA4BC9891.jpg
    4797F258-C537-4FE9-AF13-B3CFA4BC9891.jpg
    326.4 KB · Views: 107
  • AFF42E1B-C205-4FB6-8FAE-0C1B3818CDF9.jpg
    AFF42E1B-C205-4FB6-8FAE-0C1B3818CDF9.jpg
    394.9 KB · Views: 105
  • ADBF45DB-D34D-46F4-8A22-AB526944A33D.jpeg
    ADBF45DB-D34D-46F4-8A22-AB526944A33D.jpeg
    291.6 KB · Views: 88
  • C56811E0-CF78-45E4-BCEE-7273A7D73821.jpeg
    C56811E0-CF78-45E4-BCEE-7273A7D73821.jpeg
    111.6 KB · Views: 75
  • CE9150EF-C920-4CB7-8E40-BEC7AE768EAF.jpeg
    CE9150EF-C920-4CB7-8E40-BEC7AE768EAF.jpeg
    71.1 KB · Views: 110
1st Overnight Trip

Took my wife on the first overnight trip with the new 14a. DFW area to Fredericksburg Texas T82. Great trip all around. The plane made a 4 hour drive a 1.25 hr trip which my wife loved. Smooth flying and love these RV’s for small cross country flights. What a time saver.

And Fredericksburg is a gem. Tons of wineries and shops and beautiful countryside. We made a drive out to Enchanted rock. The Hangar Hotel at Gillespie County airport and FBO are excellent.

I think I won the wife over on taking more trips.
 

Attachments

  • E93792D2-259C-4451-945B-B5BECD3F1363.jpg
    E93792D2-259C-4451-945B-B5BECD3F1363.jpg
    808 KB · Views: 122
  • D8119FB8-9097-45FC-84D6-D3D280AA03F9.jpg
    D8119FB8-9097-45FC-84D6-D3D280AA03F9.jpg
    817.2 KB · Views: 151
  • 6F6538E6-08B9-4BC3-AEC9-CCABE2DE1269.jpg
    6F6538E6-08B9-4BC3-AEC9-CCABE2DE1269.jpg
    740.1 KB · Views: 116
Flew around the north Oregon's coast range mountains

Flew around the Oregon coast range mountains for a bit. This is 3,067' Onion Peak, 11nm south of my home airport (56S, Seaside Municipal) and 4 miles from the ocean, in the North Coast Land Conservancy's Rainforest Reserve.
 

Attachments

  • onion_peak_03_2023.jpg
    onion_peak_03_2023.jpg
    250.5 KB · Views: 100
WASP Museum and Sweetwater, TX Rattlesnake Roundup

Flew the kids and wife to Sweetwater, TX to see the WASP Museum at Avenger Field and also the 65th Annual Rattlesnake Roundup. On the way out there at Chennault (Lake Charles, LA) the kids got to watch a flight of CH-53s take of on our taxi in as well as a flight of two F-18s while we got fuel. The back seater in one of the F-18s waved on their taxi out. The kids also got to learn the difference between a firetruck and a crash truck as Chenault had their two day old, $1.8 mil Oshkosh crash truck near the self service fuel. On the way home we made a stop in Hammond, LA for lunch with friends and in New Orleans for the night with some beignets before blasting home. Got lucky enough to be a judge in the brisket category at the bbq cook off in Sweetwater too. RV life is good.

AMWts8BfAYPhSNP-2DRXrvUHQPDE33ec9Gs7fTMSFkYw_mJa73cRwhcI4WO0QCB9j35SP3y3NFHQK_G4dqm9zhxBrJhRan85BMJ5SO3DNRgvAZrD6X9PEWO-CjJwOh6mZ2dsHycG40HmBdY2PnhlOOd3tENa7A=w800


AMWts8ASU4e7DMSEUz6v_iu0xTORjwM1sBkGXn2T0jb1BizF8KtxJKvteBSlXQ2RBaibcM_Gf-TY7Rsz0akR54LvVhTo0bz9n51nP2x_NYZsGkmHPCYuGbYLTA7K8Lx9KAol_QWbG1TCkEawmz4xxcGt0yAv9g=w800-h873


AMWts8BZsdtCIQOVWdZyi1mbHCY1d0bdezWxyLY-WBqVEdocJwCZsorzPk9yj6VeEdN_R2v1y5NMz63y0nJ5Ov5I_3sRt04v3wgqSnWkkqL26aWLsQfTQr06aGw1YOeWv3w_iYsHqDWo0GRA8SnwwPnCB5YNYw=w800-h873


AMWts8DbH9plhIdrqbX731uUEZPjchyiFnmC9QD70-3OMMZypaLq9QWU-4szAFAP2-Z4Cv_m6pU8r8dJL1RazkRtxn2Eg7I_Lx-kXlGYflY42Vt9U4WLGsgf824JScnPnQPVxUxzulqaGMzv6GuNkSiUNaaGYg=w800-h873


AMWts8DDtiaUGAtHFHP3kHK7cNqIHM9cE5nbs8VSn9Jw92a3xdlyFibSl-R93pBKZOBTdDi3fB565w2praiTY_XfsQxDitfPVVTLcU-3lvNS8oq6KL6iMdt2O985hSkcku3IEQgAYPe8E-aPU2griKJkCK_bdg=w800-h873
 
Last edited:
Saturday saw us flying over to Taieri in our RV-6 to catch up with our daughter who is learning to fly over there. Its only about 70 nm each way so normally about 30 mins flying time however we had a nice tailwind going over and with 182 kts GS the flight only took about 20 minutes. Naturally the trip home was a little slower!

I took advantage of some "local knowledge" and got my daughter to give me a scenic tour of the coast since she's been training in that area recently. She has also been hinting strongly (with puppy-dog eyes) about getting rated in the RV-6 but we both know that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. :D
 

Attachments

  • 20230311_104237_resized.jpg
    20230311_104237_resized.jpg
    96.6 KB · Views: 114
  • 20230311_103649_resized.jpg
    20230311_103649_resized.jpg
    77.7 KB · Views: 96
  • 20230311_103332_resized.jpg
    20230311_103332_resized.jpg
    89.7 KB · Views: 101
  • 20230311_103159_resized.jpg
    20230311_103159_resized.jpg
    120.8 KB · Views: 164
  • 20230311_104559_resized.jpg
    20230311_104559_resized.jpg
    94.6 KB · Views: 87
Back
Top