TOP STORY
This one's for Tom
by Bob Collins
There was no mail delivery on January 2, 2007, but Dr. Thomas Walsh didn't know that when he walked across the street from his Waterville, Ohio home to pick up the day's delivery after a day at work as cardiologist and heart surgeon at Toledo Medical Center. A moment later, Walsh, 57, was dead, struck by a passing car, leaving a wife, two small children, and an unfinished dream behind.
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Related Link(s):
Tony Kirk's Web site documenting the project
Listen to a podcast of Tony Kirk's story
Hundreds attend RV BBQ
An estimated 500+ people didn't let a thunderstorm disrupt intentions, as the RV Builder's Family Reunion BBQ played to a full house in the campgrounds of Oshkosh on Wednesday July 25. Dozens of folks won door prizes ranging from T-shirts to aircraft engines to tail kits. At the conclusion, it was obvious we need to do this again next year. Here are more than 100 new images from the event. (Flash is required)
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Related Link(s):
RV BBQ site with Doug Reeves' images
Oshkosh coverage summary
If you've found a site you like with photos or stories from AirVenture and you don't see it here, please send the link along. With so many in attendance and taking photos and video there is so much great coverage it's hard to gather it all together. Here's a sampling that Bob and I have dug up with your help.Related Link(s):
Oshkosh award winners
Doug Reeves' Oshkosh slideshow (Vol. I)
Thread: Oshkosh notes (VAF)
Video: RVs at Osh (Rob Riggen)
Doug Reeve's Oshkosh slideshow (Vol. II)
FlyVans.com's outstanding daily slideshow
Amit Dagan's Oshkosh slideshow
Tad's 35-ship formation slideshow
Christopher Checca's Oshkosh pictures
Rob Riggen's Oshkosh photos
Smitty's Oshkosh slideshow
Doug Reeves' Oshkosh slideshow (Vol. III)
Hog's 35-ship formation slideshow
cnet blog
Surviving forced landings
Forced landings are probably one of the most feared things that most of us pilots think about and fear; second, perhaps, only to fire in an airplane. There are some common things we may not think about ordinarily that will improve your chances of survival. (More)
Canopies! Canopies! Canopies!
You know how it is when you're building RVs, right? You go to a fly-in and you go from RV to RV, looking at one part -- just one part. It's the part you're currently building. My building-buddy, Warren Starkebaum of Plymouth, Minnesota, is about where I am on the building process -- the canopy. And so when he tackled Oshkosh in 2007, he dutifully documented some of the canopy fitting on the RVs.
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Related Link(s):
Kevin Horton installs a canopy lock
Test-flight card, pitot static and IAS check
I now have several hours of flight time logged on my new homebuilt. I am becoming quite comfortable with basic flight maneuvers, and also have several hours working the engine to help break-in seating of the rings. It's time to proceed with the exploration of the flight envelope.
[I want to Builder my own Airplane (EAA Chapter 1410) ] (More)
Builder profile: Bill Rose
Bill's list of owned aircraft include a J-5, Aeronca Chief, Cherokee 140, two Bonanzas, and his current RV-8. [EAA 983] (More)
TIPS/Q&A
Tip-up safety latch mod
Shortly after ordering my RV9a tail kit back in 2003 I witnessed an RV-6A owner struggle to get his tip-up canopy open. It seems the canopy slipped out of his hand on closure and the safety latch had pivoted and partially engaged under the roll bar when the canopy slammed shut. After about an hour of working accompanied by much colorful language he was able to get it unlocked without damage.Hmmmm--how to avoid this as well as keep the latch from continuously scratching the high dollar jet flex paint I intended to use on the interior??
After much head scratching I tossed the stock mounting block and replaced it with some white UHMW plastic. The new block is the same thickness as the old but it is about 1" shorter and 1" wider. I drilled this block for the safety latch shaft handle, purchased a SS compression spring (aviation section of my local Lowes), and mounted the stock stop washer and cotter pin. The block was mounted whereby the safety latch is high of the roll bar when not in use therefore it can not pivot and lock with me on the outside of the plane. When you need to latch simply pull down on the handle (compress the spring), pivot, and release. It also will not rattle as it wears as the spring will remove any slack. You will note from the pic that I also mounted a thin strip (1/8th thick) of the UHMW plastic under the canopy bow--the latch rides on this when engaged. The angled white metal above the latch shaft is simply there to contain the spring in the event the cotter pin gave up--it is probably overkill but I did not want the spring releasing into my plexi. [VAF] (More)
Brad Bensing, an 18-year old from Stafford, Kansas, had dreams of one day owning and building an experimental aircraft. His interst in aviation stemmed from his involvement with his local chapter, where he became a fourth-generation pilot in thhis family. Brad knew he'd find someone, somewhere, who would be willing to help out a young pilot, and after only a short period of searching, he did. Enter Ken Simmons. Pg. 92
[Sport Aviation - August 2007] 
There's just too much coming at you at Oshkosh. Helicopters, scooters, blimps, homebuilts, jets, kids.... how can anyone stand it. I miss it already. Follow the daily observations.
