TOP STORY
Vertical Power is ready to fly
by Bob Collins
(>> Listen to audio <<) RV builder Marc Ausman wanted a piece of avionics that would help him with aspects of a flight, and make it easier to wire the plane. The problem is: it didn't exist. So he invented it. His company's signature product is the new "I've gotta have it" addition to the panel, and it's on track to ship in August. Meet Marc, his team, and listen to an extensive interview.
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Mackinac Island by RV
Mackinac Island is a great place to visit. It's an island right next to the straits between lower, and upper Michigan, in full view of the famous Mackinac Bridge. What's kept me from going there since I was a kid is that it's just a long, long, long drive for a weekend getaway.
[myrv10.com] (More)
Related Link(s):
Pilot Getaways - Sept/Oct 2006
Scott & Deb's Caicos/Turks trip (slideshow version)
Mike Holland's 10-state trip (SoCal YGroup)
Lots of good food at 2J3
RV-7A noses over
It's not something, certainly, we like to see, but a photographer captured very dramatic photographs of an RV-7A nosing over at a fly-in in the U.K. last Saturday. Fortunately, the pilot and the passenger escaped unhurt. The incident happened on a turf runway at Croft Farm when the 7A nose gear collapsed. A forum has details here and you can find more of the images here.
Related Link(s):
VAF thread
RVSQN thread
Hotline archive The nose-gear debate
Thirty-five ship formation planned for OSH
Stu McCurdy reports the pre-Oshkosh clinic will again be at Rock Springs IL (KSQI) on 20-22 Jul. Call Holiday Inn 815-626-5500, mention Formation Clinic, ask for Megan. We will do a short classroom session Friday afternoon, the Sat morning will will fly two rounds of 4-ship for warm up, the Sat afternoon will will brief and fly the 35-ship (withchase/photo/spare) with an extensive debrief, then fly 4-ships with remaining time. We will have a dinner Sat evening at the Candlelight Inn, as we did last year. Sunday morning will will again practice the 35-ship, specifically addressing the debrief
items from Sat. Then after lunch on Sun, we will depart SQI at 1300 as a 36-ship headed to OSH, do a flyby and land. Monday is off day (except for registration) for all as that's when I do my final coordination. We will try to fly Tues, Wed, and Thurs at OSH, but I never know specifically when until a week or so before. I anticipate the 35-ship flybys will be at ~1130-1200 each day. [Ohio Valley RVators YGroup] (More)
Full house at the BBQ
On Wednesday the 350th person registered for the RV Builders Family Reunion BBQ at Oshkosh, capping the sign-up process, and making the BBQ the largest ever. Attendance was capped to preserve the "grassroots" feel of the event. This week, organizers will start assigning "chow line" duties to those who've offered to volunteer. Many, many thanks to Stein Bruch and RVer-owned businesses who've stepped forward to help.
[Bob Collins] (More)
TIPS/Q&A
Inserting bolts in elevators
Not sure if this is original, but I found a novel (to me) way of inserting the AN3 bolts in the elevator and rudder hinges. I have this 4-pronged grabber thingy that I bought from the dollar store. It is made of some spring material and is about 2 1/2 feet long, with a push button at the end. When you push the button, the prongs open up at the other end.The great thing about this is that it grabs the bolt firmly enough that you can apply enough side-pressure for inserting the bolt, at least partially. You can then reposition the grabber on the bolt to push it further. It sure is far easier (i.e. did not lose any bolts this time) than the method I was using previously, needle nose pliers. [Ottawa Area RVators on Google Groups] (More)
Control lock ideas
I've had some down time lately at the day job twiddling my thumbs watching the clock on my computer tick by so I've had some time to do some thinking. The first time I flew a rental DA-20 Eclipse I was impressed with the control lock they have. It's simple, you don't have to worry about forgetting to remove it before flight, and it's one piece that locks the ailerons, elevators and rudder in place. I can see no reason this would not be a good design to work on the RV. If you make the stick-to-rudder pedal tube adjustable/telescoping it will work regardless of where the builder has placed his/her rudder pedals. (Jamie Painter on VAF)
[Jamie Painter on VAF] (More)
Related Link(s):
Jamie Painter's Web site
Miscommunications are a major cause of runway incursions. The FAA has provided this guide, which features information regarding communications with Air Traffic Control.
[faa] 
Taking his trusty RV out for a ride, Dave Gamble discovers a gem. "Noble County (I40) is one of those airports that makes you want to sacrifice a goat or something to honor whoever the greek god of GPS is." Man, I wish I could write like that.
[The PapaGolf Chronicles] 
