Graham Murphy’s RV-6 | Blenheim, New Zealand RV-6 #25495

Graham Murphy’s RV-6 flew for the first time. Here’s more:

I have gotten to the age where I do not fly solo anymore, so I have engaged a much younger (and much better) test pilot by the name of Dan Coleman. He reported that the aircraft flew very well on its first flight, apart from multiple warning messages from the Dynon EFIS and EMS, caused by my poor setup.

After running the engine in for me, Dan ended up taking a job in Papua New Guinea, so I have also employed  Ryan Southam as a second test pilot. Ryan is well known in New Zealand for his test and aerobatic flying, particularly of restored warbirds.

We have now flown 28 hours and completed the flight test program. The only snags we encountered were a failed battery, two failed exhaust gas temperature probes, and relatively high cylinder head temperature levels. The failed items were replaced, and the high CHTs vastly improved by installing the Van’s lower cowl louvers. The first 12 hours were spent at high power settings “boring holes in the sky” to run the engine in. This appears to have been successful as oil consumption is way down and nil oil leaks have been found.

The test Program was delayed by a combination of a very wet winter, test pilot non-availability, and my age.
We have now submitted our Flight Test Report to the Civil Authority Aviation of New Zealand, including a “flight manual” to meet their requirements.

Being a retired aero engineer, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of acting as the “Flight Test Observer”, post processing data, and compiling report/manual. Thanks to Dan and Ryan for putting up with me.

Also, a special shout out to Jay McIntyre, my LAME (A & P to you, Yanks), of JEM Aviation, who has supported me during the final assembly & testing etc. His painter, Marty Nicholl, deserves special mention also.

The project would never have come to fruition without the support of repeat offender Rex Newman who has built three superb RV-7s in New Zealand. His workmanship puts my qualities to shame. God bless you, Rex and Ruth.

The final photo is of the ” three stooges” whom the registration is named after, being “L” for Lucy, “C” for Caitlyn, and “M” for Maxwell, our three superb grandkids, plus me. We might be slightly biased on that.