Practice Kit Work...

I worked on the Practice Kit some more from Van's and have made some good progress now that I have some the proper tools required.

I had a hard time with the countersinking on the spar and later discovered the thickness wasn't enough to use the Machined Tool for it. Too late for the one side. So I made them 4 size and continued on. On the other side of the spar i used the hand dimpling tool and then manually used the speed deburring bit to take just a little more out...testing with a 3 size as I went. It didn't need too much more after dimpling it.

So now i have the skins dimpled and 3 of the 4 skin stiffeners riveted on. It's coming together!!

I also drilled the trailing edge at the required angle of 84 degrees. Still need to counter sink the trailing edge stiffener.

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

Kit Progress

it's been a bit since i last posted. basically i haven't done too much on the practice kits since i'm waiting for a few more tools to arrive. a dimpler for one so i can get the skins done.

in the mean time i've built another bench for the grinder and drill press. the grinder works very well for the deburring. needed to remove all the covers on it so i can debur long pieces a little easier.

i've worked about 4hrs. so far on deburring the tail kit... mainly the HS spars and all the ribs. match drilled the spar doubler plates as well. i've probably spent more time just reading the notes and studying the drawings to try to get a good understanding of the process. it's been a slow start but once the rest of the tools arrive, then tad and i will probably spend a few good hours working on it.

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

Did a XC solo flight to Fairmont... a pic of the Rocky Mountains off my right wing...

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

Projects

so i have been working away on the practice kits supplied from Van's. they have been great in helping me understand the process of aircraft construction.
like others have wrote, the toolkit was pretty basic and more a matter of getting used to all the tools involved. riveting, dimpling, de-burring, etc.
with the second kit underway, i've had a chance at some countersinking in a piece of angle aluminum. flush riveted and universal rivets were used to secure it.

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

i discovered i will be needing a c-frame or DRDT-2 to get the skins dimpled in the next project and a pull riverter. also need to acquire a bench grinder to mount on the 3M scotchbrite wheel for deburring. a vixen file would be handy too!

i will post up some photos of the kits so far!

From Pete and Tad's RV-9a Build

Van's Test Flight

OK... the weather was somewhat rainy and cool but Tad and I managed to get down to Aurora to visit Vans Aircraft. We went on the little tour they give and talked airplanes for the entire morning. Joe was able to give us both a ride in the 9a and Tad and I were completely amazed by just about everything that plane has to offer. We did some slow flight, simulated go-arounds with full flaps(amazing climb out) , a couple of wing overs and a real nice short field landing! i was blown away by the range this plane has. How about the feet on the floor stalls, turns....hahaa amazing really!
As you can see by the smile on our faces!

Needless to say we came home with each a share in the tail-kit!