Yeah, baby!!! After nearly 10 years to the day since ordering my tail kit (80792), I gave N898W her first taste of bug juice today, Sunday, June 1st, with a 45-minute first flight that still seems like a dream to me. What an incredible, awesome experience!! The only squawks were a leaky fuel cap on the right tank and having my aileron trim indicator sensor wires reversed. Otherwise, she flew in cruise hands off with the ball centered and gave me the most rewarding experience of my life. I was fortunate enough to have a crosswind for her first landing, but she handles like a dream both in the air and on the ground. With my family watching, I taxied up to my hangar where my mother emerged with tears of joy flowing down her cheeks. Needless to say, she got me crying too. Words cannot express the joy of the moment. Aircraft is equipped with day/night VFR Dynon D-10A, AF2500 Engine Monitor, Garmin SL-30, Aerosport Power IO-360-A1A and an MT constant speed prop. Special thanks go to my mother and father for bearing with me these many years, my neighbor, Bruce Hoagland who helped me countless times throughout the project, and my dog, Cleco, who kept me company through many, many lonely hours of building.

               

        Scott Chastain
        [ carbheat at sbcglobal.net ]

First flight of RV-9A N762BG

RV-9A 762BG flew for the first time from the Skyranch Airport (TN 98) on April 7, 2008. Total building time for the quick-build kit was 1033 logged hours over 30 months. Power is provided by a factory new Lycoming 0-320 turning a Sensenich fixed-pitch prop. The panel includes an Advanced Flight Systems AF 3500 EFIS, Dynon D10A backup AI, Garmin 430 Nav/Com/GPS, Garmin 496 backup GPS, King KY 97 second com, TruTrak DFC 250 do everything autopilot and a PS Engineering audio panel. The aircraft is dressed in the colors of my Air National Guard unit the 134th ARW. First flight was uneventful and she has been a joy to fly during the phase I trials. I would like to thank my wife Kathy for enduring two and a half years without a garage and a great rivet bucker. We look forward to many fun cross-country flights.

       

        Joe Simpson
        Knoxville, TN
        [ josnooze at bellsouth.net ]

VH-VAF, RV-7A had it first flight on 25 April 2008 after three and a half years of building by Lisa and Peter Trotter. The aircraft is equiped with GRT glass instruments, Aerosport Power IO360 Lycoming engine and a Hartzell blended airfoil constant speed propeller, cruises at 160kts and flys just like an RV- beautiful.

Thanks for your support.

       Cheers,
       Peter and Lisa Trotter
       Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
      [ gliderpilots at bigpond.com ]

On May 23, 2008 RV-6 22636 transitioned from a slow build kit into a fast flying airplane. It is powered by a Superior XPIO360 and swings a Catto 3 blade prop. The airplane flies perfectly and performs as well as you advertise. It is IFR equipped with an AFS3500EE, and Tru-Trak autopilot. Empty weight is 1035#. Thanks to Andre' Olivier, Jim Shaw, Brian Ard, and Steve Raddatz for all advice and help. Thanks also to Doug Reeves his fantastic VAF site.

        

         Dale Lambert
         [ Dale.Lambert at iongeo.com ]

I am very pleased to report that kit 71011 took to the skies over Mittagong in New South Wales Australia on Thursday the 21st of May. It flies wonderfully & I am enjoying it immensely. VH–VSR has an IO360 from Aerosport Power, Hartzell Blended Airfoil Prop & a James cowl & plenum. Empty weight came in at 1168 lbs. The 7 is fitted with a full IFR suite, dual Advanced Flight Systems glass screens & Classic Aero interior. Special thanks go to Doug Murray in Alberta, Wally & Neda Anderson, Eric, Phil & Rob at Synergy Air in Oregon. Karl Arhamer & Ken Bailey here in Mittagong.

Also thanks to all the folk at Vans who proved such a pleasure to deal with & especially Barb who went out of her way to help in moving the kit around 3 countries & 2 continents. Special thanks also to Jack Wigmore for letting me bounce his beautiful 6 around half the airports in Oregon.

         Stephen Reynolds
         [ stephen.j.reyn at gmail.com ]

I would like to report that on 1-26-2008 another RV-7A, N3938C, powered by a Lycoming O-320 and a Hartzell CS prop, left the runway for it’s first flight at Melbourne International Airport (KMLB). The flight lasted 30 minutes and very went well. Thanks to Randy for flying the chase in his RV-6 N3XS, and Rob for the air to air photos. To date, I have flown a total of 40 hours.

        Phil Hale
        [ Phil_101_99 at yahoo.com ]

VH -OCE passed C of A 1/4/08 after 27 months build time. Aerosport IO 360 M1 [195hp]with Whirl Wind rv 200 C/S prop. panel includes Dynon flight deck 180/garmin 296,SL 40 and GTx 320A transponder, trutrak pictorial pilot and sigtronic intercom with i pod input. Completed 14 hrs to date-initial trimming done and fly’s great. Empty wt 1125lbs.an absolute joy to fly and so much faster/more powerful than the previous 6A with 0320/ Sensenich combination. The paint scheme is a blatant copy seen on the vansairforce site.

Thanks to all involved in this wonderful creation.

      

       Paul Foster
       [ annie.obrien5 at bigpond.com ]

Bob MacIntyre
[ rj at execpc.com ]