Wesley VanDyke’s RV-8 | Cal-Nev-Ari, NV RV-8 #83541

Cheers to Wesley on the completion and first flight of his RV-8! He reports:

Southern Nevada
Van’s Aircraft RV-8

The plane is titled “A Brother’s Love,” and she flew for the first time on March 24th, 2024. The first-flight was a bit of a rodeo, not perfect, but testing and tweaking has provided the promised RV-Grin. I owe a great deal to the EAA Builder Workshops, friends in aviation, and a supportive wife. I didn’t grow up around aviation; I’m a first-generation pilot, but with supportive parents who bought me my first fly-by-control-wire Testor model, I finally built the plane of my dreams.

Van’s Aircraft has refined an amazing kit with detailed plans and supportive advisors. Ken Kruegar at Sky Designs Engineering outfitted me with aluminum gear legs and a set of 6.00-6 wheels, pants, and Matco brakes to ride a little higher and roll a little better on the Kidwell dirt airstrip that we call home.

I can’t say enough positive things about Midwest Panel. Steve and Adam were incredible to work with, and they supported me through the entire panel build, twin Garmin G3x screens, and all of the components and wire runs, tying everything to a Vertical Power VPX pro fusing system. Jeff at Thunderbolt helped supply me with the YAEIO-390 215 HP motor, which turns a constant-speed Hartzell Raptor prop. Tom at Emag helped get me started with the twin electronic ignition system. The Interior and exterior finish is 3m vinyl vehicle wrap, which reflects a touch of Dutch and pays tribute to my brother, who passed away during the build. It has been a seven-and-a-half-year labor of love.