RV Builder's Hotline
About the Hotline February 24, 2007 Subscribe free
Hot threads online
  		• Insurance premiums
    What's happening in the market? (rvsqn)
  		• RV heaters
    Coaxing more therms (VAF)
  		• EMag/Pmag failures
    In wake of recent power loss, is there a problem? (VAF)

  • How long does it take to sell an RV?
    And why would you want to? (Rv-List)

  		• Van's Lycoming IO-320A
    Differences in installation with injection. (rvsqn)
  		• 4 point vs. 5 point harness
    What preference? (VAF)
  		• Starters
    Sky-Tec vs. BNC (RV List)
  		• Canopy release mechanism
    Do you really need it? (Take survey)
  		• Wire length
    To main battery buss. (VAF)
  		• Flap trailing edge bend
    Oil canning. (Yahoogroup)
  		• Which lights, which wing?
    Landing light- taxi light convention. (VAF)
  		• Sliding canopy aft fairing
    Better fit by notching idea. (RV-List)

    WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING
    Oil separator
    Kevin Horton, RV-8. Installing inverted oil system tank. (More)

    Scott Will

    Scott Will, Atlanta, GA. Plane out of the paint show. (More on VAF)

    The emp arrives

    I don't know who the builder is but the Web site looks like it's going to be a good one. Oh, the emp has arrived, but check out the mock cockpit. ( Kitproject.com)

    TOP STORY
    Researching engine monitors
    Dynon engine monitor

    The March 2007 issue of Kitplanes piqued my interest about an engine monitor for my RV-7A project. I know they existed but since I'm just now getting to my subpanel assembly and haven't even purchased an engine yet, I haven't given them all that much attention.

    Cory Emberson provided a nice look at some of the bells and whistles of several possibilities, but left me wanting to know more. What features should I look for? How much does a total package cost? (A price comparison in KP was relatively useless since it compared products in which the price includes probes with products in which the price was without probes. What are the "got to haves"? What are the "nice to haves"? (More)


    Ken Beene's RV-4
    Ken Beene's RV-4 Pete Gavin, the editor of the award-winning EAA Chapter 25 newsletter, writes a few words about Ken Beene's new plane, which took 1,900 hours to build. It's his second RV. (EAA 25)
    Related links:
    Ken Beene's construction site

    Big Bend weekend
    Giddyup From Paul Dye, ""The Stars at Night, are Big and Bright...." y'all know the rest of the words! We had campfires both of the nights that I was there, and while standing around the fire, everyone would occasionally turn their backs to the fire, let their eyes adjust to the darkness and marvel at the incredible stellar canopy you can only get far away from city lights. There was no moon, and the stars were so vivid that they appeared to me to be three dimensional. Worth the trip all by itself! Of course, it's hard to beat just sitting around a great fire telling flying stories and listening to caving ballads....maybe you had to be there!" (More)
    Related Links:
    Larry Pardue's photos | Write-up
    Garrie Moore's Photos
    Paul Dye's pictures


    First flight: Bobby Hester
    Bobby HesterFrom the RV List. Bobby Hester flew his RV for the first time last Sunday afternoon. He reports all went well except for an oil temperature gauge that stopped working. (Thread)
    Related link:
    Bobby Hester's construction Web site
    Jim Jewell's first flight
    RV SPECIFIC SEARCH
    Learn more about this.

    CALENDAR

    COMING UP

    MN: Quarterly meeting of Minnesota Wing of Van's Air Force. March 24. Dick Nordquist's hangar and home. Lino Lakes, MN. (Web site)


    EDITOR'S PAGE
    There's a plane there somewhere
    "I am not a slob. I am not disorganized. I am somewhat methodical now. And yet, there are times when I've got stuff scattered all over the place. Is this indicative of the quality of my work?" (More)

    ACCIDENT REPORTS
    WA: Auburn. Wednesday. RV-6 lost power shortly after takeoff. (More)

    OTHER NEWS

    Back in the air!
    The annual turned out to be a rather long one when we discovered the #4 cylinder had really low compression (53). After a few failed minor attempts to fix it easily we pulled the cylinder and sent it back to BPE. (Tales of a Flying RV-9A)

    RV-12 visits Independence
    The story of the visit (EAA)

    Podcast: An interview with Van
    Aero News Network's Jim Campbell visits with the head of Van's Aircraft.     (ANN)

    San Francisco Bay Tour
    Not RV specific but good motivation. (Blog: Powered by Lycoming)

    Superior Air Parts AD
    Separated cylinder assemblies

    Van's service bulletin
    Secure the passenger stick. (Van's Aircraft)

    Best performance by a duo on a night flight
    A CFI and a student on a night IFR flight kept their cool, even when conditions in the cockpit heated up. (NASA safety reporting system newsletter)

    Medicals easier?
    Turbo Medical printouts now accepted. (AOPA)


    RESOURCES
    In the mags index
    RVator index

    BUILDER QUICK Q & A & TIPS

    Leading edge riveting
    Leading edgeI had my best luck standing the leading edge upright when riveting the skin to the ribs, and reaching around horizontally. I did make a new bucking bar, although I have not tried it yet. It is 1" hex 12" long with the last 2-3" bent at about a 30 degree angle. I kept the flats on the side to permit the head to be close to the rib. I used hex to allow me to feel the rotation index. I also bought a tungsten bucking bar with one end beveled from Cleaveland tools. If I can shake this cold I will try the tanks this weekend, and see what works best. Riveting the ribs to the spar I asked my - long - tall - fiancee. She reached in through the rib holes and we felt for each other. QA was with a telescoping mechanics mirror and flashlight.

    ARCHIVES
    See a list of previous RV Builder Hotlines organized by date and subject. (Go)
    		PICTURE OF THE WEEK
    Formation flyover

    RV-9A Builder Robert Scott posted on the So-Cal Yahoogroup, "Sunday, while I was working in the EAA hanger, a roar over head caught my attention. A formation of RVs were giving a good show of formation flying skills. Nice job guys!"
    The RV Builder's Newsletter is published every Saturday morning and is distributed to those interested in building and flying the RV aircraft featured by Van's Aircraft Inc. There is no cost to subscribe and the newsletter is delivered by e-mail in html format. ©2007 Bob Collins. This newsletter is not endorsed by, approved by, or affiliated with Van's Aircraft Inc.