Test Flight 1: First Flight!

 

Test Flight: 1
Date: Sunday January 10th
Description: First flight of the aircraft
Objectives: Extensive preflight and run-up of the aircraft, high speed taxi / aborted takeoff, normal take off, initial systems checkout while in the pattern, depart the pattern for engine break in, return to base, normal landing.

Airplane Condition: 40 gallons of fuel, 9.5qts of oil as read on the dip stick, 50lbs of ballast in the baggage compartment, single pilot (150lbs)

Test Flight Track Log:

Test Flight Report:

 

 

March Status Photos

I have spent a good amount of time getting my panel console fitted. Everything for the most part goes right in, but there are minor cosmetic tweaks and fitting that does need to happen. It is good to see the panel looking like a panel!


As of now, I have the VPX, GTR-20, GSU primary and backup, GEA24 and the AUX fuse block mounted.


Looking back I have a mess!


The engine is coming together nicely. I got my exhaust from Vetterman and they did a wonderful job.


I have the doors complete, but I am waiting on the weather to warm up a bit before I finish cutting my plexi-glass.


Side view






I did notice that the desiccant on a couple of cylinders was starting to go clear. I replaced all of the desiccant in the plug adapters just to get ahead of that.



I have Beringer nosewheel and mains. I am waiting on the weather to warm to finishing dura-coating some of the wheel components.




I have spent a lot of time going through this door. My neighbor caught me the other day in the tail of the plane and I told them that I would be out in a minute because I was a little stuck at that point in time. They responded with "Looks like you should have built it a little bigger." If only it was that easy.

Beringer brake assembly

Today was a cold rainy day, so Mackenzie and I sat by the fire and assembled the Beringer brakes.



Everything went together as expected with the exception of a part number labeled AV-VANS-016. This appears to be a wheel fairing bracket spacer, but it was neither in the install instructions nor does it appear to fit anywhere logical. It is the same height as the standard spacers but the spacers do not step down in hole size in order to accept the caliper assembly the way that the AV-VANS-013A spacers do (leaving a lot of play in the caliper to AN-4 bolt).

*Edit: There are new assembly instructions on the web, which call out the usage of AV-VANS-016 rather than AV-VANS-013A. I have to give them a call on this one. The AV-VANS-016 look good, and are I am guessing the preferred install as they give more support to the wheel fairing (a known problem). However, the AV-VANS-013 have a turn down on them adapt the caliper hole size to the AN-4 hardware. 

Beringer Brake Kit Arrival

A couple of months back I started looking at items that I wanted to delete out of my finishing kit in order to purchase upgraded parts. The wheels, tires, and brakes were on the cut list. I was
planning on purchasing the Matco main wheel kit for the RV10 and probably putting the Beringer nose wheel on.

In early February I came across the following flyer:


I realize that the full Beringer main and nose wheel kits are probably a little over the top for my build, but after speaking to a few people who recently upgraded from the Matco wheel kit to the Beringer, the special offer savings started to look a little more attractive. In late February I bit the bullet, emailed EAA 186 to see if anyone else was planning on using the offer, and when I heard that nobody was I purchased the kit. Beringer US initially quoted that the wheels would come in late March. In early March I received an email that the wheels were going to ship!

The fit and finish on all of the parts looks amazing. This is a really nice setup! The one thing I did not order was the Beringer parking brake. I already had the Matco PVPV-D, and additionally I had already milled a bracket for that parking brake.