RV-7 serial no. 73055, reg VH-MZR, flew for the first time on 22 october, does everything as per the specs, very, very impressed.

Thanks to all involved in producing a fantastic product.

        

         Kind regards,
         Terry Edwards
         Queensland Australia
         [ edwardstk at bigpond.com ]

Hello folks, I got to take my first flight in N587RV on Saturday Oct. 15th. The first flight was a real joy since it was the first time I have ever been in a 7. The general handling was superb and exceeded my every expectation. It was a great surprise to find that the aircraft needed absolutely no trim adjustment from neutral to fly perfectly straight and level with a 220 LBS pilot and full fuel. There is no heavy wing or rudder trim required and I was pleased to see that the 7 has very nice control harmony.

General specifications for my bird are as follows:
Pre punched kit "no fast build" 10.5 months 1800 hours
Engine is Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200HP
Prop is Hartzell blended airfoil constant speed
Interior is full leather from Aero classics weight is 42Lbs / all the toys
Full cockpit sound proofing from A/C spruce WT. 9lbs
Instrumentation is full IFR using 2 Dynon SV1000 PFDs, Dynon mode S Xpndr, dual ADAHRS, EMS and 2 axis auto pilot plus 4 steam gages for backup. Garmin SL30, Garmin 396 and more.
Electrical power provided by B&C specialties / Gear driven alternator /Regulator
Empty weight 1154 lbs with 6 Qts oil and no fuel.
Empty CG. is at 78.41"
CG with 220 lbs pilot and full fuel is @ 81.84"
Crowd control was a problem after landing due to FBO personnel and other pilots crowding around bird. :):):)

To sum up my first flight impressions of the Vans RV-7 : This is the most enjoyable aircraft I have had the pleasure of flying.

Thanks go to my family and friends for putting up with my A.C.D. " Aircraft Compulsive Disorder" during the build and for the help when needed / solitude when desired.

Thank you Vans Aircraft for providing one of the best kits and designed aircraft I have ever flown. This is the 18th kit I have built over 28 years and the quality is un-equaled.

        Happy fly'n !!!!!!
        Mike Conry
        Builder # 73787
        [ N587RV at aol.com ]

This is a quick note to let you know that N458LB, RV-6 kit # 20695 flew for the first time on Saturday 10/22/2011. Empty weight came in at 983.8 lbs. The aircraft has an O320-D2J engine with Aymar-Demuth wood prop. The instrumentation is traditional Vans analog with the exception of a Dynon D6 EFIS, and AvMap EKP IV gps. Radios include, ICOM A200, Garmin GTX 327 transponder, ACK E04 406Mhz ELT, with an AV FC-403 Panel Mount Intercom. The interior is by Cleveland Tool.

The first flight went very well, many thanks to Vans Aircraft for an excellent aircraft design and support over the many years.

Lyle Beedy
Builder #20695
[ lyle.beedy at gmail.com ]

Where do I start...

RV-4 plans no 3187, N 727 MM, got signed off by the Friendly Aviation Association on 7-5-11 and made her maiden voyage on 7-9-11. She weighed in at 953 lbs, with and O-360, Sam James Cowl and plenum, and Catto Prop. Avionics are a Dynon FlightDek D-180, Icon A-200, Garmin GPSmap 296, and a Garmin GTX-327. Seats are Cleveland Aircraft by D.J. Lauritsen. She is polished with striping (not applied yet) by Scheme Designers.

She flew hands off on the first flight, but I had some CHT issues, which I am continuing to sort out. No pix as of yet, but trust me, the RV grin was in full display.

Thanks to Van's for all you do, Dave Ross and Paul Lutz who were my Technical Counselors, and all the gang at Vans Air Force, but especially I need to give a great big hug to my wife for her immeasurable patience and support and allowing me to indulge my "addiction".

All I can say is YAAAAHHHHHHOOOOO...

Thanx,
Merle L. Miller
[ mmiller at speermechanical.com ]

We did the first flight on N262WS on 10/24/11. Ball out 1/2 to the right & a little right wing heavy. 2nd flight yesterday with a trim wedge fixed the ball, & a little squeezing on the left flaperon improved the roll situation. Will give it a little more today. Rest all checking out fine.

Thanks for all the help along the way!

              

        Wes
        [ wess at premier1.net

My RV-7A N952J ser# 73186 was signed off on May 4,2011 and flew the next day May 5,2011 and provided a large RV grin.

Thanks for providing a great kit and the needed support to complete the project.

Jay Erickson
[ wolfandmouse at yahoo.com ]

Just letting you know that RV-7 #71099 is a flying airplane. N70AH has an IO-360 A1B6 and an AFS Advanced Deck setup. 17 hours as of this evening, first flight was 7OCT. Only took me 4.5 years!

Noah Forden
[ noahforden atcox.net ]

This morning at Whitianga airfield on the Coromandel, New Zealand I flew YRV my RV-12 for the first time. All went according to plan and another satisfied customer with the "RV Grin"

        Alan Coubray
        Bldr #120415
        [ glenmulcahy at xtra.co.nz ]

Hi folks,

N707PJ (Kit # 70700) made it's first flight(s) yesterday 10/20/11.

Powered by a Lycoming IO360M1B & Hartzell Constant Speed.

The panel is dual GRT Sport Screens and Garmin and it fly's wonderfully.

         

          Jim Rogers
          [ jmrogers at airmail.net ]

Just wanted you to know that RV-7A, N173MM, S/N 70363 made its first flight on 10/14/11.

Everything went as expected with no bad habits. Outside of dealing with some Nav/Com issues the last hurdle is getting fairings and paint on the plane.

Thanks to Van for a wonderful plane.

Mickey Duyck
[ mickeyduyck at yahoo.com ]

RV-7A, D-EMRV flew for the first time on Oct 15, 13:05, at EDFL/Germany, with Wilhelm Geradts at the controls. The Plane flew great with no Problems.

Our RV-7A comes with TMX IO 360, 2 PMags, MT 3-Blade CS-prop, AFS 3500/3400S, Funkwerk Com and XPDR, Garmin 496.

Great kit from Van's - thanks

               

       The Builders
       Christopher Knoblich
       Markus Geiss
       [ Mgeiss at gmx.de ]

Fist flight N448UV (120029) was on 10-15-11.

        Dick McEwen
        [ mcewendick at yahoo.com ]

Hi

RV-12, G-TWLV took to the skies over Buckinghamshire, England on 14 October 2011. Build took a little over 2 years and around 1000 hours including all the options and our own instrument panel sporting dual 10" Dynon SkyView, SL30 and analogue back up instruments (a UK requirement).

Over the weekend 5 hours of test flying was carried out in great weather with my two co-owner/builder/pilots carrying out the role of flight test observer (one at a time!). Once the test flying phase is complete it will be off to the paint shop.

What a wonderful aircraft to build and to fly! Many thanks to all at Van's for making it all possible.

        Jerry Parr
        RV-12, G-TWLV
        s/n 120234
        [ redkite22 at hotmail.com ]

Hi Barb

Just to let you know that RV-8 serial#82532 took to the air on Monday, October 10th, 2011. Initial flight lasted an hour and all went well.

It flies like all the other RV's - very well. Add another one to the long list of completed RV's.

My friend Jörg and I (Joachim Fröhlich, Builder # 82639) are proud to announce the birth of another RV 8. The first flight was July 30, 2010. It was a quickbuild. From the first hole to the completed aircraft it took 3 years. Engine: O 360 with fixed pitch Sensenich. The empty weight is 490 kg. There were no problems for the test pilot at the first flight. One of the pictures was taken 10 minutes after the first landing. As you see, we are happy!

It is a very brilliant aircraft and has many fans at the airfield here in Germany. Thank you for your assistance!

              

        Best regards
        Joachim & Jörg
        [ a.froe at gmx.de ]

RV-7, N797RB, SN 71347, lifted off on it's first flight March 23, 2011 at 3W7, Electric City, WA. The slow build, pay-as-you-go project was completed after 7 1/2 years and 3300 hours of work in my home garage, mainly in the winter months. It was 100% owner built, including the amateur paint job. It's powered by a Aerosport Power IO 375, 195 HP engine and Whirlwind 200 RV prop. Other features are inverted fuel and oil with smoke system. Custom instrument panel with D180, HS34, AP74, SL40, Garmin 327. Classic Aero Interior with heated seats. First 40 hours were completed in time to take it to the 2011 Arlington, WA Fly-In where it took Grand Champion, Custom Built Kit. Then off to Oshkosh in July where it received a Champion "Bronze Lindy" Award in the Kit Built Category.

Special thanks to my wife Diane for all her assistance pounding rivets and to Van's for designing a great plane and offering excellent customer support throughout the build. Also appreciate all the help received through VAF forum contributors.

       Bob Babler
       Builder #71347
       Grand Coulee, WA, USA
       [ bobndian at gmail.com ]

This is to inform you that RV-6 s/n 22110, N367TC made it's first flight
on 10/3/11.

Thanks for all your help.
Tommy Turner
[ tommyturner at mac.com ]

N4959S, kit number 40214, made its first flight on May 16, 2010. It flew straight and true with limited trim! The plane has an IO-540 and is equipped with a glass panel that includes OP Technologies dual screen EFIS, Dynon EFIS D-10A for backup, Trutrac VSVGV autopilot, Garmin SL30 and SL40 radios, Garmin GTX327 transponder, PS Engineering Audio Panel and Mountain High oxygen system. Plane in the background is Robin Marks!

Thanks to Ken Freitas for helping work the panel bugs out and Robin Marks for input and encouragement.

        L. Jearl Strickland
        [ LJS2 at pge.com ]

N797EJ flew 10-10-12 at Green landings,WV22. My 9-A was test flown by Craig Fuller, who had to be coaxed to land after the one hour ten minute flight. His grin was as big as mine. My 9-a is a slow build , five years, with no deviations to plans. Thanks to Jack Raun for all his help and encourement. Can’t wait to start my next RV project.

             

        Ed Schupp 90964
        [ ed.schupp at myactv.net ]

RV-7 N646RC (Builder # 71194) flew for the first time about 8:30am on Oct 4, 2011 with Jerry Ronk at the controls. All went well except for a yaw trim issue. The plane is equipped with a Mattituck/ECI

TMX O-360,WhirlWind RV-200 Prop, Dynon D-100/D120, Avmap EKP-IV GPS, Garmin SL-40 Com, Garmin GX-327 Transponder, Tru Trak Digiflight IIVS Autopilot. The empty weight came in at 1053lb. The plane will be painted when all of the issues are sorted out.

I would like to thank Jerry Ronk, Mike Howard,TW(Tom Wieduwilt),Ron Wood,Kevin Faris,Jerry Mason, Jim Gallamore, anyone else I forgot in EAA Chapter 80 and of course my wife Carolyn (she actually bucked a few rivets before she decided it was too hard) for support and advice for the last eight years.

        Bob Cartwright
        [ robertc at novia.net ]