RV-7, No. 71721 has taken 3.5 years of pleasure to build. VH-OHS took to the air on 13 April 2008, Bankstown Airport, Sydney Australia.

WOW!  This bird just wanted to getup and fly. Straight and level with minimal trim adjustment. 2 hours on the tacho, temps &pressures good for a new engine. FADEC TMXOF-360 with constant speed Hartzell, Blue Mts EFIS, Garmin 430W with other steam gauges makes for easy flying.

Special thanks to all those that helped with the riveting and especially my wife Meg for her patience whilst I fulfilled my dream.

Thanks to Vans for a great design and excellent service. Now to fly those hours off and get a coat of paint!

                 

        Glenn Hughes
        VH-OHS
        Sydney Australia
        [ hughes_ohs at bigpond.com ]

Hi all - here is our updated information....

RV-9A, N979AM (kit 90782) made its first flight April, 2008 from the Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Michigan after a little over four years of construction time. The aircraft is powered by a Lycoming O-320, has a Sensenich fixed pitch prop, a Garmin radio stack and steam gauges.

A special thanks to my bride and co-builder, Molly, Doug Reeves' website, Ken Scott who was so patient with us during the builders' class in October, 2002; T/C Donald Peltier and T/C, DAR Dave VanDenburg. Thanks also to fellow members of EAA Chapter 439 who did everything from provide encouragement to chopping ice away from the hangar door to make this flight possible. Soon enough all the grandchildren will be able to ride in "Grumpy's Airplane."

         

          Andrew W. Waidner
          Gladstone, MI
          [ awaidner at chartermi.net ]

After 4 1/2 years of building, we received our airworthiness certificate for RV-7A N12KE #71452). I did the first flights the next day, 4/19/08. The plane flew like a dream, with only a slightly heavy right wing that easily trimmed out. With a 180HP Superior IO-360 and Hartzell blended airfoil constant speed prop, it just shot off the ground.

We give many thanks to the patient tech support folks at Van's, the gang at Superior for their great Build Program and support, Jason and Jeff at Aerotronics for the fantastic panel, our Tech Counselor Bill Stewart, and Vern Darley and Ben Johnson who gave me the practical transition training needed to fly a wonderfully uneventful first flight and smooth landing.

And naturally, I thank my co-builder and wife Kathy - Queen of Riveters - for not bashing me over the head with my bucking bar during one of our many "discussions" about riveting technique.

Ed Pettiss
Malvern, PA
[ pettisse at hotmail.com ]

Add another RV-7 to your list; 72922 turned into N925EG on 04/19/08 with first flight occuring on the same day. Powered by a Superior O-360, Sensenich prop, dual Dynon Efis's and interior by Flightline Interiors. Fifteen months on slow build kit with 951 actual working hours. 1108 empty weight. This is my second RV, the first was a RV-9A built in 2006. Thanks for providing great kits.

               

        Robert Ostendorf
        [ r2r1984 at aol.com ]

My RV-8, serial number 80226, flew for the first time yesterday April 17, 2008. We had no issues and it has hands-off handling. I will now be starting my 25 hour test period and collect the numbers.

I purchased the kit from the original builder and it was about equivalent to a quick build, maybe a little less. It took me 15 months to finish it. It has a Lycoming 0-360 with Hartzell constant speed prop, Dynon 180, Garming 430, Garimin 327 and TruTrak autopilot.

       Tom Gregorski
       Kenly, NC
       [ tom.gregorski at juno.com ]

RV10 serial 40065 N110DV was successfully flown for the first time today. No problems were noted. A picture and more data after the test period and a trip to the paint shop.

Thanks for a great airplane.

Dick Sipp
[ rsipp at earthlink.net ]

Serial number 72284 RV-7 flew for the first time 24th Feb. Plane has Hartzell VP prop. IO 360 MIB Lycoming.

Flies beautifully - congrats on an exceptional design.

             

       Regards,
       Mike Miller
       [ Mike@miglio.co.za ]

I have just completed the 40 hour test period including aero's in my RV-7. She flies beautifully. The forty hours instead of 25 was because I used a Mazda RX8 rotary engine. Weight is 1080 lbs. Speed at 10,000' IAS 145knots. At 2000' IAS 175knots. I am hoping to improve on this as she is over propped at the moment.

The Vans grin is from ear to ear.

Ian Beadle
Perth, Western Australia.
[ iwbeadle at bigpond.com ]

I did my first flight last night. I took transition training with Mike Seager and Pierre Smith in a RV-6A. My impression of the 9A is FANTASTIC!!!

It is as advertised, as being easier to fly than the 6A. I am looking forward to many years of having fun flying it!

Thank you guys for answering all my questions even though I am sure they are repeats to you and may seem silly.

Alex Woolman
[ AlexW at drawform.com ]