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Fourth diesel RV added to 'fleet'
by Ray Clegg
Van's RV-9A G-CDZD undertook its first flight on 26th August 2006. This is the fourth aircraft in the 'ZD fleet' completed by Ian Bellamy and myself. We thought long and hard about the diesel engine. We knew it represented a much more economical way of flying, compared with Avgas, but our only experience had been at the Rally in previous years, walking past the Wilksch stand and both agreeing what ugly installations therewere on both the Thorp 211 and Europa.
Breakfast at Pine Mountain Lake
Pine Mountain Lake is a airport community located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. When your flying toward it from the west, you're pretty much staring at Yosemite National Park the whole way. Half Dome (one of Yosemite's trademark granite cliffs) stood out sharply this morning in the clear cool air. [Scott VanArtsdalen on Rivetbangers] (More)Oregon says 'welcome home' to RVers
Van's homecoming was held last weekend at Independence Oregon. I left on Friday and flew to Cal Pines airpark (A24) to spend the day with former CNO residents Todd and Sue Erlinger. They are airpark pioneers in arguably one of the quietest corners of Calfornia. If you are looking for a great place to get away from the rat race, this is it; not a rat in sight. [Mike Holland on SoCal YGroup] (More)Related Link(s):
Doug Reeves' Homecoming review
Mike Starkey's write-up and pictures (VAF)
Installing a FADEC system
I have been toiling in the shop on an RV-7 with the Mattituck TMX IOF-360. Some people have asked me to post my experiences with the installation of the FADEC. First impressions: WOW!!!!! The connectors are idiot proof, the wire harness just about fits perfectly as it comes, each and every end is labeled very clearly. And most impressively, It works most impressively!!! But read on there are some "gotchas" and "I wish I would haves the first times." Yes my next RV will have the FADEC, and using what I am telling you now it will be much easier.
[Noel Simmons] (More)
Netherlands RV-7 First Flight
Four motivated men in the Netherlands have completed and flown a most gorgeous Van's RV-7. Here is their first hand account from the sucessful flight.
With almost everybody returned from holidays, it was time to take the plunge. The start of the week was quite windy and rainy but a improvement was predicted for thursday so we had planned to keep our agenda's free for the afternoon. It started grey and rainy with CB's all over the place, but at least the wind was calm and into the runway, so we decided to try and come to Lelystad airport.
(More)Related Link(s):
Web Site
TIPS/Q&A
Bending 3/8 inch tube
Bending the fuel-line tubing as it snakes on an A model from the fuselage side, around the landing mount, and to the fuel valve, isn't easy. Although some people have had success with installing the landing mount at the same time as the tubing to make it easier, Don Swords tells the SoCal Yahoogroup that he found a little bender to make it easier. A regular sized bender is difficult because of the confined spaces.
Related Link(s):
Hotline archive: The art of the bend
This week I drilled the canopy on my RV-7A project to the rollbar and side frame. In the process of documenting it in my 