Past Issues Saturday July 14, 2007 Subscribe

TOP STORY

Two Weeks to Taxi Program Adds Vans RVs!


Wow... If This Can Happen, Can World Peace Be Far Behind?

Macy's and Gimbels... Coke and Pepsi... Glasair/GlaStar and Vans Aircraft... there are some pairs in this world that always seemed destined for a unique but seperate reality. Until now.

Following an ANN exclusive news interview, we have learned that Glasair's unique Two Weeks To Taxi program is now available for the Vans RV-10 and RV-7, in addition to the Glasair Sportsman 2+2.

"Glasair and Vans aircraft are the most popular kit planes in the world," says Mikael Via, President of Two Weeks To Taxi, LLC.

"Between the two companies, more than 14,000 aircraft kits have been sold, yet many remain unfinished. We feel that providing a service focused on allowing builders to complete an aircraft in just two weeks is a remarkable opportunity."

[aero-news.net] (More)

Related Link(s):
vaf thread

Home-built planes climb in popularity


"These are the Ferraris of the air," said pilot Randy Shatz as he rested in the shade of Hanger MB 2 on a recent Sunday. "It's like riding a Harley in the sky with no speed limits and no cops."

The increased popularity is a result of easy-to-build parts that allow pilots to customize their aircraft in bright, high-gloss colors, add horsepower to the engines and select stylized instruments.

It's not exactly a new concept. After all, the Wright brothers built a homemade flying machine. And there are more and more wannabe Wilburs and Orvilles, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association, based in Oshkosh, Wis.

[dailynews.com] (More)

Related Link(s):
ExperCraft Builder Map
Video

Loose Items - Low Hanging Fruit For Safety

On June 5, 2005, at 0800 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Rans RV-8, N61TW, was substantially damaged during collision with terrain following an uncontrolled descent after takeoff from the Canandaigua Airport, Canandaigua, New York. A subsequent examination revealed an ink pen lodged beneath the rudder bar. As a result, more force was required for a right rudder input than a left rudder input. The pilot owner said he routinely stored pens, unsecured, on the ledge next to his right knee. (More)

Related Link(s):
Full Accident Report

Take Action on User Fees

The user fee battle requires an effort on every pilot's part. Not only that but builders who will become pilots should be invovled in the coordinated efforts against this potentially descructive force in GA. If you're not already a member of AOPA and EAA, consider signing up for either one or both of these fine organizations.

Do you know someone who would love to learn about user fees who will be at AirVenture Oshkosh? We encourage you pass this e-mail along. The more aviators, the louder our voice!

[eaa] (More)

Arlington Underway

The 39th Northwest EAA Regional Fly-In is open and welcoming visitors from throughout the Northwest and beyond through Sunday, July 15, at Arlington Municipal Airport, Washington. This is EAA's largest regional fly-in event, and the second largest event overall behind AirVenture Oshkosh. [eaa]

Related Link(s):
Daily coverage
Official Website

Record Warmth Greest Opening Day at Arlington

July 12, 2007 - Aviation enthusiasts in the Great Northwest withstood record heat as the Arlington EAA Regional Fly-In opened Wednesday to an enthusiastic Kid's Day crowd. More than 1,000 kids came through the gates along with a steady influx of aircraft and people as temperatures reached the high 90s. "There are lots of planes flying in, it's been very busy," said Barb Tolbert, fly-in president Thursday morning. "We had plenty of water available for everyone to help beat the heat. [eaa] (More)

TIPS/Q&A

Beware the common canopy frame mistake

In reviewing the instructions and looking at various builder sites, I've found what appears to be a common mistake in construction; a mistake which I have now also made. We'll see if it causes any problem.

When you install the side  (725) rails, the instructions say to lay out and drill the holes on the rear angle where it attaches to the 631 canopy frame rear channel.

Looking back, it DOESN'T say drill those holes through to the canopy rear channel. Lots of folks -- and now me -- do.

But looking ahead in the instructions, those holes aren't drilled until after the big cut is made. The reason is that after the cut is made, and while the now-split canopy is resting on the roll bar. You reposition the channels so you get a good fit up against the canopy and then you clamp it. THEN you drill the splice plate (everyone gets this one right) and THEN you drill the rear angle through to the channel.

 

Vendor Highlight

ePanelBuilder

The design of your instrument panel is one of the most important decisions you will make in building your custom homebuilt aircraft, and ePanel Builder is here to help from concept to first flight.

The ePanel Builder is an online aircraft instrument panel design and collaboration tool providing you the resources necessary to design and build your custom aircraft's panel.

(For more info click on the ad in the left column)

Accident Reports

RV-9A Flips on landing

The Van's RV-9A was in the circuit at Penticton, BC when the engine stopped. During the forced landing on an area adjacent to the runway, the aircraft nosed over injuring the pilot and incurring substantial damage. [chbc.com]

Related Link(s):
video

Calendar

July 23-29 - Airventure, Oshkosh, WI

1 Week 2 Days to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007! (More)

Other News

Sentimental journey

I like RVs as much as the next person. But sometimes, at some fly-ins, you just have to live in the past to breathe in the wonder of it all. (More)

Airplane lovers dig vintage craft

Somehow they lumped an RV-6 into the category. Of course, at the rate I'm building, perhaps it's accurate.

[Gainsville Times] (More)

RV-12 Walk Around Video

I shot an rv-12 walk around video this evening. [andy karmy] (More)

ATA Attacks GA (again)

In the illusion trade, they call it misdirection. It's a form of deception where the attention of the audience is focused on one thing in order to distract attention from what is really happening.

The airlines' trade organization — the Air Transport Association (ATA) — has become particularly adept at misdirection. ATA continues to blame general aviation for air traffic control (ATC) delays in an attempt to change the tax system to the benefit of the airlines.

[aopa] (More)

Related Link(s):
FAA's "Fact Sheet" on user fees
EAA's Position on user fees

Jackson Anti-Homebuilding Ordinance Update

July 12, 2007 - Amidst this week's continuing ramp-up to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, EAA's Earl Lawrence was able to break away to visit with the EAA homebuilding community in Jacksonville, Florida, as they prepare for an important city council meeting and discussion of the controversial anti-homebuilding ordinance there.

Lawrence traveled to Florida Thursday, July 12, and planned to meet that night with Milford Shirley, president of EAA Chapter 193, and others to facilitate action strategies for repealing or changing the ordinance. The law presently prohibits storing, building, and maintaining aircraft on residential property within the city limits. [eaa] (More)

GA MUST PAY, SENATORS SAY

User fees or bust. Two powerful senators drew a line in the sand July 12 and made it very clear that there would be severe penalties if their FAA funding bill (S.1300) is changed or disapproved. "Commercial airline passengers shouldn't continue to subsidize corporate jets," said aviation subcommittee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday. "If we don't restore equity, then as chairman of this aviation subcommittee, I will address the equity issue by looking for ways to limit general aviation access to congested airspace." Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said, "We're going to have a fair bill or no bill, and I'm prepared to go to the mat." [aopa] (More)

Hot Threads

  • Rustoleum on Panel?
    What kind of paint are people using on their panels? [vaf]
  • Conduit and proseal?
    How to install conduit and prevent chafing & vibration [vaf]
  • What they're building
    A great thread catching you up on where the rivet banger guys and gals are in the build process [rivetbangers]
  • Wing root fairing fillet
    Trouble with the rubber wing root fairing fillet? Here's a tip for glueing it. [yahoo RV8]
  • Kitplanes Reconsiders Web Charges
    Effective immediately, access to the KITPLANES web site will be free of charge to our print subscribers. [vaf]
  • 2 weeks to taxi thread
    Here's the chatter about the announcement [vaf]
  • Oshkosh panning
    when is everyone planning on arriving? I'm planning to leave saturday morning [rivetbangers]
  • Manual flaps
    This thread will be the one I use to show all how hard it will be to install manual flaps in an RV-7 (besides my website...) [rivetbangers]
  • Subaru engine failuer
    Some chatter about an incident in Airzona this month [rivetbangers]
  • Fuel injection debating
    A spirited discussion on fuel injection choices [matronics]

What They're Building

RV-8A - Albuquerque, NM US


Guy Prevost is working on assebmbling the empenage to fuselage.
I aligned the elevator horns this evening and drilled them for the control rod. I used the wood spacer method sugested in the instructions. I also discovered that my elevator tips are a bit crooked.

[expercraft]

RV-9A - Seminole, FL US


Jim Nelson is working on the wing tips. Here is the cut out for the sub panel for the strobe light. I chose a thin SS sheet for the sub panel to gain reflectivity in the area. The LED running light will snug up to the strobe light panel at the interection of the two flat surfaces.

[expercraft]

RV-8 - Greely, ON, CA


I attacked the pitot tube line connection at the pitot tube this week. I originally had a fairly complicated plan that I had borrowed from another builder web site, with many different fittings required to make the transition from the pitot tube to the nylon pitot line. Then, when I pulled out my tray of #4 plumbing fittings, I spied a fitting that I had forgotten I had, and I realized that it would allow me a much simpler transition.

[kilohotel.com]