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First Flight: Jerry Bland's RV-9A | Lubbock, Texas. RV-9A #93271

jerry98b

jerry98b

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2026-05-09 09.20.32.jpg
It took more time, more money and more work than I expected, but N8239A finally left this earth and joined the ranks with all the others before her in the sky.
It was an uneventful flight if you can call flying something you spent five years building uneventful! I made a quick loop in the pattern and all went as expected and as I had hoped.

Here is a link to the video on my YouTube Channel:
Watch the Flight Here on YouTube
 
Congratulations Jerry-there is no feeling quite like a first flight!
Best wishes for many happy hours in your 9a!
Dave
 
Congratulations!

You work so long on building that thing that it feels very surreal when you're climbing out on that first takeoff and realize that it's gone from a collection of parts to an actual flying airplane.

I'll never forget that feeling, kind of like the feeling I got on my first student pilot solo which for me was 35 years ago...
 
jerry98b said:
View attachment 117696
It took more time, more money and more work than I expected, but N8239A finally left this earth and joined the ranks with all the others before her in the sky.
It was an uneventful flight if you can call flying something you spent five years building uneventful! I made a quick loop in the pattern and all went as expected and as I had hoped.

Here is a link to the video on my YouTube Channel:
Watch the Flight Here on YouTube
Click to expand...
Awesome landing! Not sure why but looks like everyone's first landing is the best landing. :D Congrats!
 
Congratulations Jerry.
Nothing I can think of compares to the feeling of flying an airplane you built. Yes, lots of things way up on the list, but it's a feeling very few experience. One day it's a box of parts delivered to the house. Later the tires leave the ground and she feels the sky under her wings. I still in awe every time.
 
jerry98b said:
View attachment 117696
It took more time, more money and more work than I expected, but N8239A finally left this earth and joined the ranks with all the others before her in the sky.
It was an uneventful flight if you can call flying something you spent five years building uneventful! I made a quick loop in the pattern and all went as expected and as I had hoped.

Here is a link to the video on my YouTube Channel:
Watch the Flight Here on YouTube
Click to expand...
Way to go Jerry,
39A is a flying machine now.
Stop building and start buying gas.

Jon
 
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