More than usual ‘occasional part time’ side sim job this week - they were shorthanded. Fifteen approaches Wednesday. Back and brain still hurt. ;^). I *hope* to get out to the RV sometime in the future to see if it remembers me. I’m gonna get in my RV and just fly out to the NW area where there’s nobody around and putt along doing nothing I don’t want to. No IFR. Just looking at the grass.
Wishing you and yours a happy, safe, RV-filled and V1 cut-free weekend.
v/r,dr




Big day at the hangar! I had the airport mechanics come and help me with this one. No way was this engine hang a one person job imo.





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Wishing you and yours a happy, safe, RV-filled and V1 cut-free weekend.
v/r,dr
RV8 ("Red Tail") ... Reserve Grand Champion - Homebuilt (SnF)
My friend, Scott McElroy, received Reserve Grand Champion - Homebuilt at the 2026 SnF. He doesn't do much posting (or talking about his excellent work), but has given me permission to share a few things here. I will include a picture or two here, and he and I will get some additional photos to...
vansairforce.net

Installing the New Flap Actuator in an RV-8?
If you have been thinking about upgrading your flap motor to the new RV Max (now the de facto standard flap actuator replacement) in your RV-8, we are now offering an install kit to facilitate doing this. You might want to do this if you're looking for internal position sensing, say, for a flap...
vansairforce.net

Flap switch shape
Anyone come up with an alternative to the little skinny flap switch on the top of the Tosten stick grip? I find it very uncomfortable. It's too "pointy". Something more rounded or paddle shaped?
vansairforce.net

How well do I fit... tall pilot mod?
I'm looking at building an RV8. I sat in one at a formation clinic I attended (All Red Star - I currently have a Nanchang), and it is pretty tight. With a seat parachute, I can't get a helmet on. But with a back parachute and making the seat recline a little more (tall pilot mod?), it might...
vansairforce.net

Big day at the hangar! I had the airport mechanics come and help me with this one. No way was this engine hang a one person job imo.
Irv’s RV-7A journey
I added an inspection window I saw on another builders project. I recommend you remove it and reinstall the solid inspection plate. The RV-7 already has an problem with flutter of the vertical stabilizer and rudder if VNE is accidentally exceeded. Reducing torsional stiffness in the bay...
vansairforce.net

Prop Pitch Tool
Anyone have a lead on where I can get the prop pitch tool for the Sensenitch 2 bladed prop? Tool 00002. Its backordered on the Vans store until late May apparently. I recently got my gearbox inspection done and they didn't have the tool to restore the pitch. They just marked where the prop...
vansairforce.net

Tunnel cover nutplate options
I think the builder of my plane missed the note at the top of 28-07. Page OP 62-02 shows the install of five nutplates on each side of the cover. These nutplates hold on the tunnel cover underneath the belly. While investigating some streaky fluid underneath I set out to remove the tunnel cover...
vansairforce.net

Testing vernatherm question
It's been years since I heated one of these. When working for a shop we just replace if in question. On my personal Lycoming I'm considering removing and testing since my oil temp is high. I've already flushed the cooler which changed nothing and cylinder compressions are good eliminating...
vansairforce.net

Wing, platenut, rivets slightly proud
RV-14A, page 13-03, there is a note right before step 2 that says "countersink just deep enough to fit the head of an AN426AD3 rivet". I did that (even impressed myself with how perfectly flush they all are!). Step 8 says to spot-prime all of those countersinks. I dabbed some Rustoleum...
www.vansairforce.net

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Please consider donating annually to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:
THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)
https://vansairforce.net/threads/the-vaf-list-a-list-of-rv-related-lists.223964/
Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!
VAF Charity Cap: Help your charity and promote this site.
Get the cap all the cool kids are wearing! I don’t get a penny. It’s around $15. $5 more if you want your N-number on the back (I put 'STAFF' on the back of mine because it makes me laugh. Put STAFF on yours too if it makes you smile). And down the road $10 to the charity of your choice...
vansairforce.net
Past ‘VAF News’ issues:
Doug's Area ...The VAF News, About VAF, My Resume
Pushed out every now and then.
www.vansairforce.net