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posted 04/30/03
RV-10 PROGRESS
Ken Scott
In mid April we received the first cabin tops from our
fiberglass supplier. After a careful inspection, Scott McDaniels
began fitting one to the prototype RV-10 ( yes, it’s an RV-10. We’d vacillated for some time whether to call it an
RV-10 or RV-10A – after all, it does have a nosewheel – Van
expressed his preference for the simpler designation. That
settled the matter, and from now on and forevermore, it’s an
RV-10 ). It was exciting, seeing the "line" of the
airplane for the first time.
Click on any
photo to view a larger image.
As you can see from the photos, the "lid", as we
call it around here, has recesses molded in for the windows,
windshield and doors. The bottom door sill is molded into the
lid, too, so fiberglass surrounds the entire door opening and
gives the gullwing door a place for a positive seal. The door
sills will be backed up by wood or plastic blocking to protect
them from people climbing in and out. After initial fitting,
Scott removed the lid and took it to our paint booth for
filling, sanding and finishing. The materials are identical to
the cowlings we’ve used for several years, so these processes
were familiar…. tedious, but familiar. The lid was ready for
permanent installation in about two days. Once the finishing
work was complete, the lid was bonded and riveted to the metal
cabin – about a four or five hour task. 
Molded plexiglass blanks for the windshield, door windows and
cabin windows will be provided in the kits. Although that big
windshield looks intimidating, Scott had it measured, trimmed to
fit with the edges finished and partially installed in a day. 
Based on this experience, we expect that installing the windows
in the lid will be considerably quicker and easier than fitting
a canopy on the two-seat airplanes.
Today, as 
Scott works on the fairing around the front of the
windshield, Miles is starting to fit the doors, with their
hinging and latching mechanisms. This will be more involved than
simply bonding in windows, and we anticipate some fit-and-try
work on the prototypes. Of course, the more we learn on the
prototype, the better the kit components will fit
Click on any
photo to view a larger image.
Engine installation is complete, the cowling is finished and
installed and a Hartzell prop is waiting patiently for the day
when it will grace the nose. Plugs and molds for the gear leg and
wheel fairings are well along.
photos below
posted 05/09/03
Putting on the Tail
You know it's a different type of RV when you need to use a step
ladder to work on the tail. Proto shop lights are reflecting off
of the painted fuselage.
Click on any
photo to view a larger image.
Above: Scott (blue coveralls), and Mike (green shirt)
installing the elevators.
Below: Phil working on the engine.
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photo to view a larger image.
photos below
posted 05/14/03
Wings, Vertical Stabilizer, and
Rudder
photos below
posted 05/16/03
N410RV
The doors should be placed on soon.
photos below
posted 05/28/03
Doors on and outside
Click on any
photo to view a larger image.
posted
05/29/03
First Flight
Ken
Scott
ALL
GOES WELL ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE RV-10
If you called Van’s about 8:30 in the morning on May 29,
and the phone rang and range…well, we have the best possible
excuse. Most of the company was standing along the taxiway
watching Van taxi the new RV-10 to runway 35. At about 8:40 the
big six cylinder spooled up (quietly, with that big muffler) and
the airplane was in the air in about 450 feet. Takeoff and climb
out certainly looked like an RV!
With Ken Krueger and Scott Risan in the RV-8A flying chase,
Van circled the airport for about half an hour, monitoring
engine temperatures and feeling out the controls. They were just
small dots at 5000’, but those of us on the ground could all
agree on one thing: it sure climbs well! Over the radio, we
could hear Van describe the ailerons as feeling very good –
not much different than the RV-9, which is a good thing. Pitch
control was positive. He didn’t exercise the rudder
extensively, but initial impressions were very good. It was
powerful, but not twitchy. Approaches to stall, at least at the
weights and CG positions of this first flight, resulted in a
descending mush without a definite break. Van says that he didn’t
really work the ailerons hard in this condition, but always felt
he had positive aileron control, even when the wing was mushing.
Low speed handling was reassuringly solid.
The RV-10 has a trim tab on both elevators. The one on the
right elevator is linked with the flaps in an effort to minimize
trim requirements as the big flaps go up and down. The ratios
were well chosen, and the system will require only minor
tweaking.
The only squawk on the whole flight was a vibration in the
left gear leg at fast taxi speeds. The shop guys are
investigating the brake disc and wheel balance.
As he climbed out, Van described the RV-10 as a very pleasant
airplane to fly We tried to get him to show the RV Grin….the
photos are being developed this afternoon (check back this
evening or tomorrow morning) so we will see if we captured it on
film.
We will have more performance data and flight impressions as
flight testing continues, but right now nobody here really cares
about the absolute numbers. The RV-10 flies and flies well, and
there are a lot of people who have spent a good chunk of their
recent lives involved in this project. They’re all smiling
this morning.
Click on any
photo to view a larger image.
On the
ramp starting the
engine.
Taxi testing.
Employees watching the takeoff.
First flight 05/29/03
Click on any
photo to view a larger image.
Taxiing
in from the first
flight. Van with the
RV grin after the flight.
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