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First Time RV Grin

by Rob Riggen

Soaring at 3,000 feet over the Champlain valley in Northern Vermont, Dick Axelrod kept tapping the face of the Dynon EFIS display on the panel. He was trying to draw my attention to the impressive cruising speed of his newly acquired Van's RV-7A. I hadn't noticed. I couldn't. I was too overwhelmed by the feeling of flying his wonderful airplane. He was generous enough to offer me the controls shortly after takeoff (which he would have let me do, too but I was chicken). Now I had the stick in one hand, the throttle in the other and my gaze fixed outside on the gorgeous panoramic view. Amazing! My mind was racing as I tried to get a feel for this slick machine. I could tell we were going fast but I had trouble looking at the panel other than short glances to see that we were still climbing. The feeling of flying it was beyond what I had been expecting, contrasted by so many hours in a Cessna 152. We had taken off from the Burlington airport (BTV) that morning so that I could have my first ride ever in a RV airplane.

I met Dick via the Yahoo RV forums. He lives a little way North and East of me near Lyndonville, VT. He introduced himself via e-mail when he realized that we were "neighbors" and offered to show me his airplane. He might not have expected me to react so quickly, but after all I am still "in between positions" (unemployed). I was fully prepared to drive over to Caledonia County airport the next day to meet him and check out 804TM. Northern Vermont is absolutely gorgeous this time of year and so I was kind of looking forward to the 1 1/2 hour drive over. Maybe he was thinking of the views as well when he offered to fly down to pick me up instead. Or maybe he was having some pity on me since my own airplane's first flight is so far off in the future. Either way I quickly accepted his generous offer and arranged the time to meet.

"Do you want to try some slow flight?" Dick asked. I am glad someone was thinking. I probably would have kept on zooming around in big, lazy turns with a stupid grin on until we were out of gas. I had been hypnotized by this airplane. Slow flight seemed like a great idea. "You're going to need to back off the throttle more than that to get her down to flap speed." Cool! Okay, throttle back, more back pressure on the stick to maintain altitude... slowing... slowing... and now the flaps can come down. Once I got it slowed up with full flaps I performed some turns in each direction. Positive control, even as we approached stall speed. It felt smooth and stable. Ease back on the power and hold the stick back to get the full stall. A sharp break and some buffeting announced the stall. Recovery was a simple matter of relaxing back pressure as power was fed back in. What a treat! "Now let's go see if you can land it", he said. Oh boy, this guy is brave!

I liked Dick right away, and not just for letting me fly his RV. He's a retired guy who is clearly fit enough to kick my butt without question. He's getting ready to go on a cycling trip to Spain with his wife and had to plan our meeting around his training rides. That is impressive! I hope that when I am in retirement I am motivated like that, too. Also, he's not just an RV owner and a fitness buff but a published aviation writer. Those of you who read EAA Sport Aviation might recognize him from an article in a recent issue on the Spruce Creek fly in community in Florida (where Dick has a home). He's also written for AOPA Pilot and a local Vermont magazine as well. Prior to buying the RV-7A Dick had owned 2 airplanes; a Cessna 210 and a 1978 Varga (which is for sale, by the way for $44,900). The RV was meant to serve a dual role to replace them; a cross country machine for his trips South as well as for formation flying with his buddies at Spruce Creek.

"Experimental 4TM enter right downwind for runway 19er", the tower called, "Traffic is a pair of F-16s in the pattern for 15, they'll pass below you." Dick advised 80 kts for the downwind and I began to slow. Passing abeam the numbers at pattern altitude the tower cleared us to land "short approach" so we wouldn't interfere with the Air Guard when they came back around for their landings. "I guess we won't need this anymore", I suggested as I pulled off the power. I reached for the flaps and Dick reminded me to "be careful about the flap speed". Shoot! We were still going over 100 knots. Once we were in the white arc I dropped all of the flaps as I rounded base to final. I danced on the controls a bit as I lined up with the centerline. I am not used to flying with a stick, sorry Dick! I could tell he was ready to take over if I were to completely flub the landing but he graciously let me feel my way down and we made it without bending any metal. Whew! I guess I was nervous. We were down, I'd had my flight and I was thrilled! It's hard for me to believe that I'll be doing this in my own airplane some day. Until then, for us slow builders let's hope that people like Dick can keep us going through his great aviation writings and the generosity with his airplane.

Good luck in Spain on your bike ride, Dick! I owe you a lunch when you return!

Related Link(s):
Living La Vida Chapter [EAA Sport Aviation]
Flying With Passion [AOPA Pilot]


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