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What did you do with your RV this weekend? (3/19/22 - 3/20/22))

Getting it painted...

...and my spy at the airport tells me it should be done in a week or so!
 

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Started this puppy up for the first time.

Nice clear day. Bill flew his -7 over from HMB to help. First thing he spotted was a loose fuel-to-servo line. Not a promising start to the day. Tightened everything properly, one last look, then tied the plane to my 4Runner and chocked it. Fire extinguishers inside and outside the plane, ready to go.

Start 1: Fired right up, instant oil pressure. Ran smooth, quieter than I thought it would be. CHTs topped out at 260/301/270/280 after about 5 minutes. Everything in the green. Fuel flow around 1.8gph @ 1000 RPM. Tested idle. Couldn't get it below 750 RPM so I'll call that idle for now. AC90-89 Idle mixture check: Pull mixture control back and watch for 50 RPM rise. Nothing, so maybe idle mixture is too lean. Did normal ICO shutdown.

Start 2: No good! Cranked it and it sputtered a bit w/black smoke but petered out. Another -7 builder showed up to watch. Tried about 6-7 times and we all concluded I flooded the engine with too much boost pump. Fuel coming out the sniffle valve so yea let's let it rest for about 15 minutes.

Start 3: No boost pump priming, just crank. Started right up again. Everything is in the green. Mag check: Grounding each mag results in RPM drop of ~100. Magnetos off = engine stops so no hot mag.

That's it. Didn't want to jinx it by fiddling around any more. Three notable squawks are 1. that possible idle mixture issue, 2. slightly higher than expected idle speed, and 3. I had a little bead of oil seeping out the bottom where the filter attaches. G3X put out tons of data for me to pour over obsessively this week. Good day overall.
 
I took up smoking

Had myself a good time.
 

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Just did a quick up and back to Corona where I picked up my Will Call order from Aircraft Spruce. Usually, I would hang out at the Corona Airport Cafe and have lunch, but the winds were getting up. Always good to get some air time!
 
Left early this morning to head to the SF Bay Area for the day. Due to 30-50 knot headwinds (!) and my wife only having about a 2.5 hour endurance, we planned a stop at KPRB, which would be 1.7 hours from takeoff.

Bought fuel at PRB, and had a great breakfast at Joe’s Diner, in the airport terminal. Then got back in the airplane to fly up to CCR. More headwind made the 150 nm trip a long one.

The trip home? 30 knot average tailwind, so while it was 3.2 hours up, the reverse flight (non-stop this time) was just 2 hours.
 
Great weather here in Tulsa so got to fly for the first time in a few weeks after finishing the condition inspection. Plane checked out great and flew to a nearby airport for coffee and doughnuts and to see a friends RV-10 that is nearly finished. Clocked 204 MPH at 2000 ft on way to the coffee.

Air was smooth as silk early in the day :D

Only downside was gas price ($4.65/gal) but even that could not knock the grin off, love this airplane :D

Figs
 
Only downside was gas price ($4.65/gal) but even that could not knock the grin off, love this airplane :D

If it makes you feel better, I paid $6.83 yesterday, and fueled up because it was less expensive than at my next stop, which was $7.23. I can't even find $4.65 anywhere...
 
First Flight - RV-14A

N94MS took to the skies on March 20! Ill get some pictures later. Great build and get flying airplane!!
 
Grand Canyon Overflight, landing at GCN, and exploring by bike for the day.
 

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Flew over to Phoenix for the auto auction, just for kicks and to visit friends and family. This was my favorite:

Packard.jpg
 
Another small step

Installed the upper intersection (Grove Airfoiled) fairings made by Steve at Fairings-Etc.
Very nice fit, only had to lightly trim under the wing for the right side.
I copied Mickey's simple 2 hole/2 platenuts installation.
Flight tested.
Paint is for later.
I guess I gained a couple of KTAS...??? :rolleyes:
Wheel pants are the next project...
 

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The biggest bird to every fly is on the way: Space Launch System

I had an opportunity to fly down for the Space Launch System (SLS) roll out to the pad at Kennedy Space Center. Here are a few pictures. I also used the opportunity to buzz around Florida since my return was blocked by multiple cold fronts. Thinking about writing a trip report on the adventures.
I have worked on the Launch Abort System, the solid rocket motors, and stage adapter between the first and second stage that contains the interim cryogenic propulsion stage and the deployment mechanisms for the secondary payloads.
 

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Well…an extended Weekend….

Flew the Valkyrie up to the northern end of the Willamette Valley (OR) to do a few things, including Helo flying and some video stuff for Kitplanes - got some nice views of Crater Lake and Mount Shasta…. 2080 hours on the Val - smooth and fast! Didn’t get a chance to drop in on the Mothership - hopefully next time.

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