Gregory Lombard’s RV-8 | Nashua, NH RV-8 #80528

Gregory had the whole family help with this build, even his pregnant wife was alongside him setting rivets. Lombard tells the rest of the story:

I started building in January of 1998, three months after getting married, and not coincidentally four months after getting a ride in an F-104 Starfighter. I’ve raised 2 kids and lived at seven different addresses over the years. When I finally moved it to KLWM a few years ago, I swore it wouldn’t leave that airport except by air.

On November 20, we make good on that promise. Lots of people helped along the way. My wife was very supportive. She bucked rivets inside the upside down fuselage when she was nine months pregnant. My kids helped with various parts along the way, including cleaning parts after they’d been sitting untouched for years. I’ve thrown away obsolete avionics with no flint time on them and changed the tires with no landings on them.

Thanks to Ed for helping build, Aaron for helping move the plane and put the wings on, Mark for helping move the plane Jim for preparation and ground support on the first flight, Bob Dimeo for technical counseling and flight advising and Bryan Jones for transition training.