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recent
e-mails received on
First
Flights
Submitting First Flight Reports
As of November 20,
2009
6,438
RV aircraft
have been
completed and flown!
Listed by Model
RV-3
266
RV-4 1307
RV-6/6A 2370
RV-7/7A 852
RV-8/8A 925
RV-9/9A 484
RV-10 221
RV-12 13
page 1 of 3
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From: Bob
Ferguson
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: First
flight report
The slow build kit was started in March of 2007 and the first
flight was November 11, 2009 at the
Sonoma County airport near Santa Rosa, CA. I have to give
credit to the members of EAA 124 who contributed to the success
of the project. Special thanks to my test pilot Steve Barnes,
who has helped with his advice and flying skills. Also to Kevin
Quirk, my Tech Advisor and flying coach, and to Mike Shook who
has taken me up in his RV-9A.
The 9A is powered by an Aero Sport Power assembled carbureted
ECi O-320 with dual Light speed Engineering ignition and an Ed
Sterba prop. Primary flight instrument is a Dynon D100 with back
up steam gauges. Navigation info supplied by an old, yet
reliable, Garmin 195. I also, have a Byonics APRS (automatic
position reporting system) transmitter.
Steve says the plane flies true to RV-9A form and trims
easily for straight and level flight. I'm looking forward to
getting in the cockpit myself.

Thanks Bob Ferguson
Santa Rosa, CA
[ catdream at pacbell.net ]
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Date sent: Tue, 17
Nov 2009
Subject: First
Flight RV-6 N616BJ
From: Bhrent
Waddell
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
The first flight of RV-6 N616BJ was on January 7, 2006 after
12 years of building. The 12 years also included 2 job changes,
2 moves and putting 2 daughters through college. As an
accountant, I had no experience in building a slow-build kit,
but I knew the numbers looked good, and I wanted one. The stalls
and flight characteristics on the first flight were very similar
to the RV-6 in which I had had my tail wheel and transition
training. The biggest problem on the first flight was resisting
doing an aileron roll. I resisted and saved them until later.
Although this was my first experience with a tail wheel, I found
the RV-6 very easy to land. Initially, I over controlled on
take-off but learned to take it easier on the rudder.
N616BJ has a 160-hp Lycoming O-320 with a Hendrickson Rowbar
wooden prop. It is VFR GPS equipped with 2 ICOM a-200 radios and
a Garmin GTX 320A transponder. Gross weight was 1004 pounds
before painting. The baggage area is large enough that my
Montague folding bike with its 26-inch wheels fits very nicely
behind the seats. I have flown the plane almost 200 hours, and
it's a joy to fly.
I thank Van's, EAA Chapter 10, and my wife for their help
during the construction.

Bhrent Waddell
[ bwaddell2 at
dishmail.net ]
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Even though Bhrent had his first flight on January 7,
2006 and
currently has close to 200 hours in his plane it had not been
recorded in our database.
Thanks Bhrent for taking the time to send in your information.
One more RV-6 has been recorded as having been completed
and flown.
webmaster@vansaircraft.com
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Subject: first
flight
From: Dr.
Theodore Lockard
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
RV-10 40-370 received her airworthiness certificate on
11-04-2009 and took to the air 11-7-09. The first flight went
well, flying hands off and very smooth behind a standard
Lycoming IO-540 and Hartzell prop. The panel has Garmin’s
G-900 system, but I spent most of the time enjoying the view
outside. The landing was very smooth and the RV grin hasn’t
stopped yet!
I’d like to thank all the guys who supported me through the 4
½ years of building and provided tips, advice, encouragement
and frequently tools to use. Most especially, I need to thank my
special wife for learning riveting at Oshkosh and then dropping
everything to come to the garage and drive rivets on a moments
notice. We’re both looking forward to traveling the country in
our new RV.

Ted and Lisa Lockard
[ tlockardjr at msn.com ]
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From: Jim Frisbie
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: Great
Flight!
Date sent: Mon, 16
Nov 2009
RV-9A N571DF flew for the first time on Sat. Nov. 14th, 2009
from Lenhardt's AirHaven, Hubbard OR. Some engine roughness, but
it flew fast and true, stalling at 40 kts & indicating 150
kts at 23 in.Hg.
Many thanks to the crew at Van's, especially Joe Blank. I
received lots of help and good advice from Jerry VanGrunsven,
Stan VanGrunsven, Tom Hinkley, Larry Beck, our friends at
Lenhardts, and in EAA chapters 902 and 105. Also a note of
appreciation to my wife and partner Rinya in this amazing
process.
N571DF is equipped with an 0-320 from Aero Sport Power,
Hartzell C/S prop. Dual AFS 3500/3400 EFIS/engine monitor,
TruTrak AP & Garmin Radios. Paint by Metal Inovations of
Aurora, OR.

Jim Frisbie
[ jamesfrisbie at
comcast.net ]
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Subject: Repeat
offender
Date sent: Thu,
12 Nov 2009
From: Gord
and Donna Baxter
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
RV-7 C-FDGB, serial #71985 took to the air on September 9,
2009. It now has 31 hours on it and is a delight to fly. I built
this one as a light, basic VFR airplane. It has a 0-320-B2C 160
HP with a Sensenich Metal prop, Icom A210 radio, Garmin 296, UMA
steam gauges, no vacuum system, no interior except for Classic
Aero seats. This kept it inexpensive and light. It came in at
1003 LBS on certified scales. Also in the photo is my first
RV-6, C-FMEV now owned by Scott Robinson. First flight for C-FMEV
was September 22, 1992, it now has 1,000 hours flight time. It
has a IO-360-B1A, 180 HP, Hartzel constant speed prop, full
interior and IFR panel with auto pilot. Empty weight is 1124
LBS.
The RV-6 is also a delight to fly but it has a much heavier
feel in the air and on the ground. The approach is steep and
deliberate, where as the light RV-7 is almost a
"floater" in comparison.
Special thanks to my building partner and wife, Donna who ran
the rivet gun while I bucked. Thanks to Tom Martin who helped
out at the end when it really mattered and Don Sinclair for his
wiring skills.

Still grinning,
Gord and Donna Baxter
Kitchener, Ontario
[ Gdbaxter at netrover.com ]
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From: Chris
and Kellie Hand
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: RV-6A
s/n 23559 flying
Date sent: Wed,
11 Nov 2009
In the middle of my first annual conditional inspection, I
thought I should finally get my RV-6A on the Van's Hobbs meter.
First flight was 25 October 2008 after about 12 and a half years
of construction that included 4 cross country moves, raising 3
kids, and many of the usual life surprises/obstacles along the
way. Phase I was completed in April 2009 and my son and I were
able to make our first CA to OSH RV-6A camping trek to Oshkosh
Airventure 2009. The hobbs reads 108 hrs now and this airplane
has been everything I had dreamed about.
Thanks to all at Van's for the great work you do.
Performance is as advertised. Some specifics:
AeroSport O-360, fp Sensenich, Dynon D-100 EFIS, Trio EZ-Pilot
and EZ-1 autopilot/alt-hold, Lowrance 2000C gps mounted in
panel, empty wt 1065 lbs (no paint yet).
Attached photo is of my son next to N731CK within an hour or
so of our first Oshkosh
Airventure arrival as we set up camp. I enjoyed the building
phase and now look forward to many more of these flying
adventures.

Chris Hand
RV-6A, N731CK
builder # 23559
[ chrisandkellie.hand at
comcast.net ]
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From: Tomasz
Danilewicz
Subject: RV-7
first flight
Date sent: Tue,
10 Nov 2009
Here is information about my first flight, which happened
today, 11/10/09.
Engine Mattituck Red / Gold O 360 180 hp, propeller Sensenich
wood,
cruise, 190 mph cruise, 60 mph take off and stall, though with
clear warning, straight on take off and flying, and one thing
that is hard to believe:
400 fpm sink while gliding!!
Absolutely wonderful airplane!! Thank you Vans.
My customer number is 72787, registration N386TD.

Tomasz Danilewicz
[ danilewicz at verizon.net
]
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From: Peter
Pendergast
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject; Another
7 flying in OZ
VH-VFS has just finished phase 1 and all is going just great.
Simple, light(1068 lbs) day VFR, Aerosport 180, blended airfoil,
load it anyway you like get around machine that still does loops
and rolls. Doesn't get any better.
Thanks to Van's for another fantastic building experience, the
grin is just as big second time round.

Regards
Peter Pendergast
YBRS Australia
[ ppen at live.com.au ]
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From: Dick
VanGrunsven
Subject: RV-12
Date sent: Mon,
09 Nov 2009
RV-12 N912DV, Serial # 120181, first flight on Friday
afternoon, Nov. 6th. To the best of my knowledge, this is the
13th RV-12 to fly. Thus, I get the benefit of whatever jinx
comes with that number, and no other builder gets stuck with it.
Now when someone finishes #666, I’ll test fly it for them!

Dick V.
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From: Peter
Anderson
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: First
flight
Date sent: Wed,
4 Nov 2009
N903RV became the 12th RV-12 to fly today, Wednesday at
3:30pm. It is the dream that everyone raves about and lives up
to all that's advertised.
Thank you! Couldn't have done it without helpers of course, the
Marty's, John's, Larry's and Brad's. And most of all my
wonderful neighbors, Martin and Claudia Sutter.

Pete Anderson
Pecan, Texas
[ peterk48 at msn.com ]
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Date sent: Wed,
4 Nov 2009
Subject: RV-12
First Flight - Davenport, IA
From: Marty
Santic
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
RV-12, N128MS made its maiden flight on the morning of
November 1, 2009 as the weather was favorable.
Larry Geiger flew from Lincoln, NE in his RV-10 and John
Bender from Jessup, IA. flew to Davenport in his RV-12. John
just completed his Phase I test program. Both assisted with the
final inspection and the first flight.
Larry flew my RV-12 first as he has over 2000 hours in all
types of RVs including 15 hours in his RV-12. Flew hands off,
the stall characteristics were normal at 38 mph (indicated).
Then it was my turn. Flew for about 30 minutes near the
airport. The RV-12 flies like a dream. Flew straight and level
with absolutely no left or right turning tendency. Responsive
yet gentle. This plane is most definitely the easiest plane to
land that I have ever flown.
Has been a satisfying day!
My thanks first to Larry Geiger and John Bender. The three of
us have been essentially building the RV-12 together. Talked via
the phone or via e-mail just about daily. Now Larry's, John's
and my RV-12 are now flying. Mine is not yet painted, most
likely late winter or early spring, but, it sure looks beautiful
to me.
Then my thanks to the great group of folks at Van's Aircraft
that made all of this possible.

Marty Santic ----- W9EAA
My RV-12
(Light Sport Aircraft) Build Log- http://www.martysrv12.blogspot.com/
[ marty.santic at gmail.com ]
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From: McIlrath
Subject: RV-9A is flying
Date sent: Mon, 2 Nov 2009
Attn: Ken Krueger
Builder #90159, RV9-A is flying. Hit 40 hours
today. Thank you to you and to all the rest of the staff at
Van's. It flies beautifully straight and is a fun
airplane.

Sincerely,
Jim McIlrath
[ jimmcilrath at
embarqmail.com ]
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From: dsyoder
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: First
Flight
Date sent: Mon,
26 Oct 2009
The big day for me was Oct.1 when all those hours of building
came together to put 171KT, an RV-7, into the air for the first
time. The first flight was worth every rivet. This is one great
flying, solid aircraft. I am very pleased with the
acceleration, climb, and cruise. Landing and ground handling is
great. It flies as advertised.
It is powered by a Lycoming O-360 with high compression pistons,
and a Hartzell B/A propeller.
Cockpit information comes from Dynon with an EFIS D100 and EMS
D120, Icom A200 com, Garmin 327 transponder, Garmin
496 GPS coupled to a Trutrak ADI pilot II, and a PM 3000 stereo
intercom.
Many thanks go to Craig and Justin Hilling and Ron Dively for
valuable RV tailwheel time, Dan Calderale for inspiration
and support, Butch Tompson and Tom Gehman for special tools and
technical assistance.
Thanks to my wife Sally for her unending support and belief in
me and what this project could become over the past
five years of building.
Thanks to Vans Aircraft for great support and a quality
aircraft.
Hey RV builders, keep bucking those rivets and torquing
those bolts, it is worth it. I'm off to the airport, I have an
RV to fly!
Dennis Yoder
[ dhyoder at embarqmail.com ]
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From: Trevor
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: First
flight of ZU-RVT
Date sent: Mon,
26 Oct 2009
RV-7 ZU-RVT built and test flown by Trevor Davis (my 3rd RV- one
-6 and two -7's) and assisted by Peter Redelinghuys, took to the
air on a beautiful summers day at Stellenbosch Airfield, near
Cape Town, South Africa on October 25.
Flight duration of 30 min overhead airfield. Aircraft flew
like a dream, in trim and well balanced. Aircraft has a base
coat done in a soft yellow - design to be added at a later
stage! Powered by Horizontal induction Superior XP IO-360 with
Hartzell C/S and Lasar ignition. Avionics are Two MGL
"Voyager" EFIS's (designed and built in S. Africa),
Icom ICA 200 radio, Garmin GTX 327 Transponder,Tru-Trak
Digiflight11 VS A/P, AVMAP 1V GPS (a bit of an overkill as the
EFIS both have built in GPS's- but I had already purchased and
cut my panel for the Avmap)
The smile is still on my dial and can't wait till tomorrow
when I'll put it through the next phase of testing. We have a
large contingent of RV builders in South Africa with hardly a
month going by without at least one launch!
Thank you guys for a great design!

Trevor Davis
[ davist at xsinet.co.za ]
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Date sent: Fri,
23 Oct 2009
From: Noel
Fallwell
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: First
Flight Report
Builder No.24916
RV-6A N6NF
First Flight
I just wanted to let you know that another RV-6A has had a
successful first flight. The flight occurred on 08/13/09 after
13 years and 5,000 documented construction hours. Details are
listed below:
Aircraft empty weight: 1105 lbs
Aircraft empty CG: 68.96 inches
Engine: Superior XP-O-360-A1AC2 w/ Carb
Prop: Sensenich 72FM8S9-1-85
Alternator: Van’s 60A
Vetterman crossover exhaust system
From the firewall aft, the aircraft is a faithful RV-6A. From
the firewall forward, the aircraft is more like a -7A, including
an Odyssey PC680 firewall mounted battery. I also fabricated a
full pressure "doghouse" plenum that fits under the
fiberglass cowling. Oil temps on a 95oF / 98% humidity North
Carolina day peaked at 192F in initial climb and new engine
high-power runs. The airplane flies GREAT!!
My thanks to Van and the team at Van’s Aircraft for
providing a great design and a great company that supports its
products and customers. CAVU

Noel Fallwell
[ nfallwell at nc.rr.com ]
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Date sent: Fri,
23 Oct 2009
Subject: First
flight
From: Richard
Gaines
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
RV-12 #0002 flew October 23. It was a beautiful day and all 4
partners were
in attendance. The photos are before the flight.

Richard Gaines
[ rngaines at comcast.net ]
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Date sent: Tue,
20 Oct 2009
From: Neal
Powell
Subject: First
Flight
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
On Friday, October 16, 2009, RV-9A N874NP took to the air for
the first time. She flew absolutely flawlessly; no heavy wing,
no quirks that I could identify. I now know what the RV grin is
all about. Lycoming 0320, Catto 3-blade prop, Dynon D-180, AvMap
moving map in panel, Garmin 300, KX-165, TruTrak ADI, electric
trim and flaps. All slow build except fuselage was QB. 2 1/2
years, 1835 hrs.
Thanks to my supportive wife, all of you at Van's, and to my
friends at Felts Field.

Neal Powell
Felts Field, Spokane, WA
[ roxandneal at yahoo.com ]
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From: John
Bender
Date sent: Mon,
19 Oct 2009
Subject: First
Flight Report - RV-12
I patiently waited for a smooth, low wind day. It
finally happened on 10-19-09. Wind early in the morning
initially was 210 at 8. 17/35 is our strip. Later in the day, it
was supposed to change and slow down. I called our AWOS about 4
PM, and it had shifted to 200 at 5. Time to go. I warmed it up
past the 120 degree oil temps, and taxied to 17. We have a brand
new 5500' X 100' concrete strip. I final checked all gauges and
was ready. My neighbor and fellow pilot had agreed to bring his
lower priced (but available ) small digital camera to the
airport after he closed his business. He videoed the first
flight. I started off slowly to get lined up with 17. About 20
knots control felt good, so I pushed in the throttle and in no
time was in the air. Nothing happened unusual at all. Flew
just great from the time I left the runway. Made two passes
around the strip, one lower, so it would show up half-way decent
on the video. Second round I radioed him I would be landing. I
landed pretty much on the numbers, and it was a long way from
where he was standing. Went back and took off again. After
a few trips around the strip, I radioed him I would be landing
again, and try to make it closer to him. That worked very well.
I kept a little power on and made a very slow final decent to
the concrete. Greased it on both times. The second landing, I
was close enough you can hear the tires squeak on the video as
it settled. Not even a slight bounce either time.
Thanks to a neighbor, and fellow pilot, on very short notice, he was able to bring his small video
camera to the strip and gave me this to share. Turn the sound up a bunch if you want to hear the
radio back and forth. Super first flight. The patience paid off.
The video is posted on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPLoTQEVZ3w
Next morning, it turned out to be overcast with a 4900'
ceiling. Perfect. I got in 2.3 hours of great flying. So far I
am very pleased with the RV-12.

Thanks,
John Bender
120036
[ JABGOOD at aol.com ]
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From: Nick
To: webmaster@vansaircraft.com
Subject: RV-9A
#91387
Date sent: Mon,
19 Oct 2009
After 3 years and 2500 man hours, on May 27, 2009, N908SA had
her first flight. The test pilot was Dan Vigesaa. Everything
went according to plan. The builders are Dave, Nick, and Dan
Matejcek of Wahpeton, North Dakota. We currently have 100 hours
on it and have made several cross country flights. It flies
great. The engine is an O-320 ECI Titan Kit Engine built by
Dave. The avionics include a Dynon DEK180, Garmin 396 with
weather, Icom IA210, and a GTX327 transponder with a backup ASI
and alt. We are set up nicely for day/night VFR. The interior is
classic aero Aviator leather side panels with leather seats and
carpet package. The wheel pants are not done yet because we are
having too much fun flying right now.
We would like to thank everyone who helped us along the way,
Tri-state Aviation, Rodney Erickson, Mark Tisler, Matejcek
Custom Combining, Matejcek Farms, Matejcek Machining, Speedshop
Aero, Vans Aircraft, and all the people who asked "Who is
going to Fly It." And "do you have to put a rivet in
every one of these holes?"

Thanks,
Dave, Nick, and Dan Matejcek
Builder ID #91387
RV-9A N908SA
[ ndmat at agwireless.net ]
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From: Robert
Henley
Subject: Jerry
Lynch's RV-12 First Flight
Date sent: Fri,
16 Oct 2009
Jerry Lynch told me he already informed you of his first
flight. Attached is an article I prepared to send out to our EAA
Chapter 810 membership. Thought the company might enjoy seeing
it.
Regards
Robert Henley
[ Robertat HenleyAviators.com ]
Jerry Lynch’s RV-12 First Flight
Payson, AZ – October 16, 2009

Jerry Lynch started his RV-12 project in May, 2008. Therefore
he was one of the first builders to start and was always pushing
the factory for information and parts. As a very experienced RV
builder, he was also able to provide Van’s with feedback
during the build process.
N35HL, serial number 19, is certified in the E-AB category,
probably the first RV-12 done that way. The airplane weighted in
at 730 pounds empty. Today’s first flight was just as it
should be, uneventful. Fluid temperatures were in the normal
range. Surface temp in Payson (5,000 ft) at 7 am was about 62º
F. The airplane exhibited left wing heaviness at cruise speeds.
With conservative power settings, Jerry saw about 120 (MPH)
indicated at about 7,500 ft. He expects that to improve as the
engine is broken in.
Post flight inspection didn’t uncover any fluid leaks and
very few bugs on the leading edge. Jerry will have to fly 40
hours in his test area before he can take his wife, Helen for a
flight. Casa Grande, AZ is not in his test flight area,
therefore we will not see his RV-12 at this year’s Copperstate
Fly-in. Congratulations Jerry! [ jhlync
at npgcable.com ]
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