Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

The VAF News - 2.17.2026. #6496.

DeltaRomeo

doug reeves: unfluencer
Staff member
Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 12.47.27 PM.png

Return of experience... 1999 kit, the -6.9 had about 300 hours when I acquired it. Noticed hairline cracks on the lower side of each gear-leg trunnion on the engine mount during the pre-buy. Those were each about 25mm long, and I watched them doing nothing for the next 7 years and some 2K hours with about as many landings (not all perfect). The only thing that happened during this time was the appearance of some rust in the cracks.
Taking advantage of my recent engine replacement I removed the mount and had it NDTed locally. The cracks were right on the weldment edges, also extending to the non-visible bottom side of the mount. Had them rewelded locally, all good for now.
Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 12.46.52 PM.png

Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 12.48.00 PM.png

Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 12.49.13 PM.png

Take a look at drawing 34, the correct bolts for those holes for taildraggers are shown there. When finished it looks like this:
Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 12.49.56 PM.png

Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 1.22.10 PM.png

OFF TOPIC:
Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 5.00.06 PM.png


Please consider donating annually to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:

Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!

Past ‘VAF News’ issues:

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)
 
Back
Top