Demo flight at Van's taken today!

Slats Extend · Post by **Slats Extend** » Tue May 29, 2007 10:48 pm

Yep! What an impressive airplane and company! I was fortunate to be in PDX with my job and rented a car and drove down to Aurora and took a demo flight in a RV-7a. It had a 200 hp lycoming in it and man did it move!

I was impressed with every aspect of the airplane. The lightness on the controls was amazing, the visibility out of the tip-up was incredible and as I said, the performance and acceleration was equally incredible.

I have my pre-view plans, been to school with Dan Checkoway in SOCAL and will be ordering my tools and empennage kit next week.

I can hardly stop from grinning!

A big thanks goes to everyone at Van's Aircraft for their hospitality!

Bill Benson
LAS.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Tue May 29, 2007 10:52 pm

Bill!

Welcome to the League of the Perpetually Broke.

These RV's are REALLY nice airplanes aren't they? Looking forward to reading about your progress.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Tue May 29, 2007 11:08 pm

Bill, welcome ot Rivetbangers and the journey! Am I correct in guessing you are building a 7 or 7A?

Keep us informed and take lots of pictures!

painless · Post by **painless** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:54 am

Another member of "AA" (Aluminum Anonymous)

Welcome to the insane asylum!

All kidding aside, you are going to love the "journey" of building and flying this airplane. Welcome!

Post by **Spike** » Wed May 30, 2007 10:13 am

Welcome dude.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:20 am

That's great Bill!! Welcome to Rivetbangers, and the world of RV crazed people!

Enjoy the journey, and remember, we LOVE pictures here!!!

dons · Post by **dons** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:24 am

Welcome to a new part of your life Bill, and that is what it will become, just that, in a good way of course

.

1:1_Scale · Post by **1:1_Scale** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:59 pm

I'm going to be heading over there on Friday

Did you have to make an appt. or anything, or were you able to just show up and go for the ride?

Mark Browning · Post by **Mark Browning** » Wed May 30, 2007 7:57 pm

Hi Bill

Know exactly what you mean, I went for a ride in G-KELS
the first RV-7 to be completed here in England by John Kelsal.
John installed a 200hp Lycoming and went on to win the
Schneider Trophy air race in it.
Any ways that was three and half years ago and im now
at the finishing kit stage and loving every minute of it !
Vans should place a warning on the emp, kit
This project will take over your life

Any ways welcome to our world

Mark

Slats Extend · Post by **Slats Extend** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:22 am

Thanks much gents! The great network of builders and forums such as this are what originally drew me to the world of RV's

I do realize that this is going to be one hell of a ride and with other builders willing to share their experiences and frustrations that I will not be alone!

So, I have decided that I am building a RV 7-A. I was going to be dead set on a slider since I live in the desert, but the demo flight pretty much convinced me to go with a tip up

As far as demo flights at Vans, you just drive up and if the wx is good enough they will take you up. It is a good idea to call ahead to make sure that the plane you want to fly is there and not in maintenance or at an airshow..

Cheers, Bill

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:48 am

Where do you live Bill??

allbee · Post by **allbee** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:47 am

I did the RV7A ride last year the day before the van's fly in, I have to say that is one nice airplane. I loved the fact that you can put 20percent flaps on and slow down to 65kts, it flew just like my fox, way cool. I ordered the wing kit right after that. Now I just put in the order for the finish kit, maybe I'll be done next summer, hope so.

Slats Extend · Post by **Slats Extend** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:37 pm

cjensen wrote:Where do you live Bill??

Chad, Las Vegas.

Slats Extend · Post by **Slats Extend** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:39 pm

[quote="allbee"]I did the RV7A ride last year the day before the van's fly in, I have to say that is one nice airplane. I loved the fact that you can put 20percent flaps on and slow down to 65kts, it flew just like my fox, way cool. I ordered the wing kit right after that. Now I just put in the order for the finish kit, maybe I'll be done next summer, hope so.[/quote

Sounds like you are making great progress!

I look forward to reading about your first flight.

Cheers, Bill

allbee · Post by **allbee** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:01 pm

Does this one count for a first flight.

then again for looks, I thought this one gives an appearance of flying

the big thing now is all the systems that I need to put in, I'm installing all wiring to the rear, the steps are on, the pedals are in and I decided to cancel all brake systems and ordered Grove brakes and wheels, even the wheel in the front will be Grove. Like everything in the project, I'm going way ahead and trying to plan a lot of things ahead of time so I don't have to take a panel off later or get frustrated because it would have been easier if this or that was off. Got to get the seats in and get the engine figured as far as how to afford, have that picked out as well. The finish kit is due to be shipped on the 23 of July.

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:58 am

Steve,

it only counts as a first flight if you say 'NYEERRMMMMMMMMMMMMMM'

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:38 pm

Steve, looks GREAT!

Keep it up! I need to get back in the stick!

I have been cutting holes in my baggage floor for the storage bins ala Dan Checkoway.

CJ

allbee · Post by **allbee** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 4:33 pm

CJ,
I'm going to do the same. By the way the left over pieces that where cut when we did the wing walk doubler is perfect for the extra for doing the floor.

RivetBangers.com

Demo flight at Van's taken today!

Demo flight at Van's taken today!

Thanks Guys!