This web page is all about the building and flying of our Van’s RV-7. We ordered our quick build kit quite a while ago now, and have made significant progress (see the hour tally in the sidebar). I’d never really bothered with the creation of a website for our adventure, but I figured it might be worthwhile, especially now that Dave is living in Australia!
We started building the plane together in February 2002, when we received the empennage kit. I had the hangar for a year empty waiting to figure out what we were going to do for an aeroplane. There was a 4 year waiting list around the Metro Detroit area at that time, so I wasn’t about to turn down a brand new hangar at YIP! Dave left for Australia in December 2002.
I’d like to thank Van’s Aircraft for putting out such a great kit. Everything went pretty well, and we were generally pleased with everything we received.
The build, stage by stage
All of the build →From the empennage kit arriving in February 2002 to first flight in November 2006: every stage, in order.
Starting Out
How we ended up this deep in aeroplane parts!
Empennage
The first part of the kit. If this is your first time building, this is the steepest part of the learning curve!
Fuselage
We ordered a quickbuild kit (although we went rather slowly), and decided to do the fuselage before the wings. I kept adding more and more fuselage pages!
Wings
From the wings sitting on Mike's rack gathering dust, to on for good, with lights, AOA, wingtips and antennae.
Finish Kit
Woo hoo! It's here! The canopy (blasted canopy frame!), and waiting for a propeller so the cowling could be done.
Instrument Panel
So, this is where all the money went?! Panel labelling done with Pulsar transfers.
EFIS
Our Blue Mountain EFIS/1. Money? Now we're talkin'!
Electrical
This stuff adds up fast doesn't it?! Wiring, and troubleshooting some electrical gremlins.
FADEC
We used Aerosance FADEC for engine control. We figured it would pay for itself eventually!
Firewall Forward
Engine, prop, exhaust and those darn baffles. STILL working on the baffles! Aaaaaargh!
First Engine Start
What we had to do to get her running for the first time. And of course the actual run!
Wrap Up Work
All the little things that need to be done to get this puppy finished. Some call it the last 90%.
Since the build
All of upgrades →Work on N834ST after she was flying: a new Garmin panel, and taking out the FADEC.
Flying
All of flying →First flight, Phase 1 testing, paint, the first 100 hours, and friends' planes.
First Flight!
The day we'd all been working towards finally arrived.
Phase 1 Flight Testing
The first 40 hours of flying is for flight testing. It's called Phase 1.
Paint
Back from the paint shop!
100 Hours
100 hours! That's a lot of flying in a year!
Tailwheel Training
I started my tailwheel training in a Piper Cub. Sweet!
Mike's Plane N223RV
Mike was in our hangar row helping us out with his vast experience... until he moved out!
Cameron's First Flight
3/5/2005 was Cameron's big day!
Events
All of events →Our trips to Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun, including Grand Champion (Kit Built) at Sun 'n Fun 2008 and a Bronze Lindy at Oshkosh 2008.
Projects
All of projects →Other projects, past and future. There's always another one!
Aviation Furniture
Bespoke aviation themed furniture, starting with a conference table made from a pair of Beech 18 wing flaps.
Scooby
A Subaru WRX with quite a lot of power... well until I blew it up anyways...
Oak Paneled Study
This has been taking time (and money) away from the plane... Finished!
Snowboarding
Another one of my hobbies and a great way of keeping fit.