Yesterday, I went to an EAA chapter meeeting in Millard Airport as the theme of this months meeting was RV's.  My favorite subject!!! 

It was a pretty nice turn out in that they had a RV-6, 7A, 8, and 9A there to look at.  I spent a fair amount of time looking at the recently finished RV-7A.  The 7A was from a quick build kit.  One of the things that I noticed on the quick build kit was that the inboard skin overlapped the outboard skin.  This is exactly the opposite of Van's instructions for us SLOW BUILDERS.  When I came home I had to double check to make sure I didn't miss anything in the instructions.  NOPE>>>  Outboard skin overlaps inboard skin.

After the EAA Meeting I went over to Kevin Faris's house to check out how his RV-7 project is coming along.  Kevin is currently working on his fuselage, engine, and FWF.  I enjoy the opportunity to talk with him as he is very meticulous and has great workmanship.  Just listening to how he has worked through the project so far is very valuable.   There is a ton of information another builder can offer that you can't get from reading Van's instructions or most builders web sites.  Kevin took the time to break out his Grand Rapids Technologies, Dual EFIS displays.  After a short demo of some of the features, I was extremely impressed with this system.  Big, gorgeous displays and a TON of capability.

I highly recommend checking out this system if you haven't bought all of your instruments yet.  I was leaning towards a Dynon and the ACS2002 engine monitor.  However, after Kevin's demonstration, I am seriously re-thinking that configuration.  The Grand Rapids dual displays can display flight instruments and/or engine parameters on either display screen.  COOL!!!  Especially if the right seat passenger wants to take over the controls for a while.

Their website:  Grand Rapids Technologies, Inc.

After what felt like only an hour of playing with airplane parts and checking out Kevins project, it was 1:30 AM.  We had been discussing planes for 4 hrs.  The clock must speed up when talking about RV's!!!  This happened the last time Kevin and I got together and we said we wouldn't stay out so late this time.  Okay Kevin, maybe next time :^).  Thanks again for all of your insight.  Hopefully I can remember just a 10th of what you told me.

After coming home from work with a whopping 3 hrs of sleep, Tami and I headed out to the garage to match drill all the left wing skin holes.  I did the right wing all by myself and it took me over 6 hrs to drill all these holes and move cleco's around and drill some more.  I was hoping for something a little faster this time around.

How I did this wing differently is that as I drilled the hole, I took a sharpie marker and marked the hole.

When I was done with the bottom side of the wing, Tami moved all the cleco's to holes with the red sharpie marker and then got a PROMOTION to DRILL OPERATOR.  She drilled all the second half of the holes (holes without the sharpie markings) while I fabricated the wing walk doubler.

Tami has progressed well as the junior plane builder.  She has held many positions so far including:

• Cleco plier operator
• Deburring tool technician
• Alumiprep and Alodine applicator
• Master bucker
• River Hammer specialist
• Proseal cleaner-upper  (her favorite job to date)
• Motivation Superintendent (usually using motivational tools as: Get out in the garage and finish that plane.  I want to go out to Washington and see my friend Jan)
• AND NOW>>>  Drill Operator

I had to sneak this picture of her going to town drilling the holes on the upper skin.  You don't want to overtly upset the help you know.

In just a little over 2.5 hours (5 man/person-hours), we were able to get all the wing skins drilled.  Way better than spending a whole day doing it by yourself.

A side bar picture.  This week our house is getting a new roof.  The house is a little over 10 years old and needed a new roof.  DAG NABBIT!!!  The guy that built the house stuffed the soffit area with insulation so the roof was unable to breath which caused my shingles to curl.

The new roof is looking great, BUT can you say "There lies my constant speed prop?"  Oohh well, you can't live in a plane...  Or can you???  My attention is split this week so I am not getting regular nightly progress on the wings.