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RVers search for answers in nosewheel mystery
by Bob Collins
The flip-over over an RV-7A in the U.K. a few weeks ago has reignited the controversy over the nosewheel designs on Van's airplanes. But this time, something different is happening; RVers are looking for solutions rather than trying to convince others that there's a problem in the first place. I've always wondered why, given the varied backgrounds of RVers, nobody has tried to organize an engineering response to the nosewheel design. Most threads on most bulletin boards have usually resulted in a "there's a problem" vs "bad piloting" approach.
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Related Link(s):
Hotline archive: The nose-gear debate
RV-7s in Walla Walla
The article is about mostly mooneys but I thought it was funny how the writer referred to the RV-7's as "high-speed". When compared to a mooney, that's quite a compliment.
A cluster of fliers in small planes swooped into [Walla Walla] over the weekend to take in the sights, and the wine.
[union bulliten] (More)The 2,500-mile RV-9A voyage
In May I received an invitation to attend a seminar related to my job in Albuquerque, NM. A grin formed on my lips, since this was the excuse I needed to test my newly built Van’s Aircraft RV9A on a long journey. Two days would have been great to do this 1000+-miler voyage, but I had only one day available to get to our destination. My golden rule of flying is: Whenever I fly myself, there should be no pressure to get to my destination. If I NEED to be there, I will fly commercially.
[Pete Liem on VAF] (More)
Related Link(s):
EAA 186 RV gathering
Long weekend trip to Niagra Falls (Tim Olson)
Chino trip report (EAA 326)
Another RVer in the News
That people travel thousands of miles to visit Block Island is no surprise. Nor is it unusual to find those who take airplanes to get here. But it's rare for someone to fly the 1,500 miles between Colorado and Block Island in their own plane - and in a homemade aircraft to boot. But that's just what Greg and Lisa Puckett did. The Pucketts left their home outside Denver last Tuesday, June 12, and landed on Block Island Friday, June 15.
[Block Island Times] (More)Plane crash victim loved to fly
Family and friends of the two men who died in an RV-4 plane that crashed Sunday in the Town of Wallkill said that the two shared a love of motorcycles and flying. Relatives took issue with the news media's description of Whiteford's assembled plane "They're making it to be like it was duct tape and cardboard, and it wasn't. It was a very expensive plane," George Kydon said.
[Times Herald Record] (More)
Formation flying attempt cited in fatal Oklahoma crash
The National Transportation Safety Board ruled on Thursday that the December 2, 2006 crash of an RV-7A in Norman, Oklahoma, was a stall-spin accident that was exacerbated by the pilot's attempt at formation flying. The finding was one of five released by the NTSB this week in crashes involving RVs.
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Related Link(s):
RV Hotline archive: A weekend of tragedies
TIPS/Q&A
Rudder locks
I've made a rudder lock for my RV-6A after seeing a concept at Sun N Fun a year ago. So, I don't take credit for the idea. I found a simple and cheap way to make one out of PVC pipe and one "T" fitting. I was planning to give more detail for anyone who might think it useful. Then, I read your post. I've been using my seat belt on the stick for elevator and ailerons. I don't have the rudder lock here to quote the dimensions, but you can get an idea of the concept from the photos. I'll post the rest of the info when I get a chance. You can see that it is very simple and cheap. It merely requires a piece of PVC pipe, a "T" and a union cut to hold the splayed halves of the pipe and come PVC cement.
[Richard Dudley on RV List] (More)
Related Link(s):
Gust locks thread (RV-List)
I've been trying to remember that old saying about the theory of relativity this week but I can't recall is precisely. But you probably know it. A perfect example of the theory of relativity is an hour with a beautiful woman vs. an hour in a meeting at work. One is fleeting, the other goes on seemingly endlessly; both last an hour. Progress when building an RV is like that. Quite often, the feeling of real progress is as much of an illusion as the feeling that you're getting nowhere. 
Stephen Reynolds forwarded this video. "My friend, Trey Johnson, flew his RV7 on floats for the first time, here is a short video clip. Apologies for the crappy quality, I hope I am better at riveting than video production," he said.
[YouTube] 
