RV Flying
Home boys to Chino
Having first flown my new RV-3B last August I was too late in the season to make any of the traditional fly-in events. By the time I finished my Phase 1 testing and addressed the inevitable tweaks, such as relocating the battery, it was fall. Anxious to get back into formation flying I did manage to get the rust knocked off flying with the local formation home boys before winter set in however. (EAA 105 June newsletter)

World War II vet flies into writing world
Emery Tuttle, an RV-6A pilot first dreamed of owning his own plane when based in Louisiana in 1941. He and two other soldiers learned they could buy an aircraft for about $900. The three started pooling their money with thoughts of buying a plane, but it never happened. Now he's written a book about his flying experiences. (Athens Review)

The 180 Degree Turn
Every year we hear of serious accidents when pilots attempt to turn back to the runway after engine failure, with too little altitude. How much altitude is enough and how do we make the most of we have when the engine dies? On our RV-9A, our flight test for "best glide speed" turned out to be 80.5 KIAS, and our altitude loss for each minute at that airspeed was 520 feet. These are important numbers to remember. (Jack Dueck in EAA Chapter 1410 Newsletter)

Plans for Oshkosh
You've heard, no doubt, that EAA is planning a major upgrade of facilities for AirVenture. This TV report in the Fox River Valley this week, perhaps, provides a little more information. BTW, be sure to stop by the tent (same place as where the RV BBQ has been held) for a beer/pop/brat while you're at Osh. (WLUK TV)

What is this?
If you've never seen the RV Builder's Hotline before, I published it every Saturday morning for a year or so before Rob Riggen picked it up. He ended publication last December. Keeping up with the basic information in a capsule form has become very difficult because so many sites are so big and serve so many purposes besides just building an RV. The Hotline doesn't compete with them; it merely points out some of the things on Planet RV I find interesting. Will this be an every-Saturday publication as it used to be? Maybe. It depends on whether folks pass along interesting items they -you -- find on the varius RV sites. IN the meantime, it's still free. So pass it on. And if you want to announce its return -- such as it is -- on your favorite bulletin board, well I guess that would be OK, too.

A different way to cut your canopy
Here's an idea that makes so much sense that it virtually demands we collectively slap ourselves in the forehead. Rather than use the die grinder and cutting wheel that comes with the kit, get yourself a cast cutter, which health care professionals use to cut casts. "I tried it and was amazed......no dust at all....no need for a mask.....no hot chips....no melting plastic......thin circular blade appears to be rotating but it's not, it's oscillating.....very fine control....does not want to climb if going in the wrong direction........ you can put it on your hand and it will not cut you.....and it's quiet, no compressor or high speed angle grinder noise," reported "HelioJoe on VAF. (VAF) .

"A" nose gear bolt confusion
On the 7A kit plans, DWG 46A shows the need to drill a 1" hole in the firewall to accomodate insertion of the nose gear access hole. It also notes that you should consult DWG 19 for the particulars. DWG 19, however, notes that this hole should be 3/4". Which is it? I didn't get a reply from Van's on the question this week, but William Weesner on Rivetbangers reports, "I have enlarged mine to 1 inch. If i was doing it again i would move the center location up a touch. maybe an 1/8. The bolt goes in a such a steep angle that mine caught the top going in. YMMV." (Rivetbangers)

Jacking up an RV-4
I simply wrapped a bit of old car inner tube around the leg to protect it, and tightened a jubilee clip around that. It could not have been cheaper or simpler. There is no risk of an accident because the wheel is only just off the ground. (G-IKON blog)

Flush Riveting Video
Flush riveting is more an art than a science, says an EAA volunteer who hosts the latest in a series of homebuilding tips from EAA. Old-timers may find little of use here but these videos are great for those of you considering building an RV. Good tip: Practice 20 rivets a day for 10 days. (More)

ARCHIVES See a list of previous RV Builder Hotlines organized by date and subject. (Go)

PICTURE OF THE WEEK Oh sure, I could've put a picture of an RV here, but sometimes yo can learn a lot about RV builders just by looking at the panel -- and I don't mean all those fancy gizmos. This is one of many pictures that Smitty(of SmitysRV.com fame) took at the Texas RV fly-in a few weeks ago. Find more here. There's even some pictures of RVs.