Making the Transition to an RV
Very Cool Link!
The RV Finder
Van's Air Force; World Wide Wing
Scott Millhouse's trip to Vans
Precision Airmotive carb information
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Downloads
W&B Program
must also install the
update
and here are
the instructions
AC 20-27E
(pdf, 2.3 meg)
This is the circular you need for info about registration and inspection
Do a Roll in Tracy Crook's Mazda powered RV-4
Engine Info
A great article with useful data about acquiring an engine
Article by Bob Archer about his internal wing-tip nav/com antennae
Product listing of Bob Archer's internal antennae
GIF of Archer type antenna (Bob Nuckoll's AeroElectric Connection)
Download the TVRVBG logo
(copyright 2002)
Editor's note; TVRVBG member and RV-9A builder Scott Millhouse recently agreed to a business trip to the Northwest after he realized his destination was only a short distance from the Vans factory (must be nice to have somebody pay your way to Vans.........). Scott generously supplied this account of his visit to the Mother Lode.
"Pilgrimage to Van’s Mecca (RV-9 Test flight)"
by Scott Millhouse
I was asked to speak at an environmental conference in Portland, Oregon. Before rashly turning down the opportunity, I remembered that Van’s was somewhere in Oregon. After a quick check I found it was only about 20 miles south of Portland. I accepted with the thought of working in a factory tour and perhaps a ride in the RV-9. As the date was approaching I spontaneously suffered a detached retina and had to have immediate eye surgery grounding me from everything. I got others to fill in for me for a few weeks on other travel obligations but I kept this engagement scheduled. Luckily I was released to travel a few days before the conference.
After arrival, we concluded the first morning of the conference with a few hours for lunch to mix and mingle and view exhibits. I looked outside and it appeared to be VFR weather so I called Vans. They said "come on down, we’ll show you around and yes, the RV-9 and new RV-7 is here so you should be able to go for a ride"! I arrived at their new facility and was immediately disappointed; no advertisements or static displays, just a modern two story office building off a typical two lane access road with a tasteful small Van’s Aircraft sign. What else should I have expected from Vans but modern, conservative and efficient, definitely not Disneyland style.
The office entry is like a typical parts counter and not a lounge. Typical Vans, purposeful. I told the greeter that I was a RV-9 builder from Alabama and I’m here to take the tour and a ride in the RV-9. She casually passed me over to the demo pilot and he walked me around the shop on our way to the hanger.
The expansive area had several gigantic computer driven punching machine dominating the space attended by a few workers with others working on bending sheet stock, fabricating small components and packaging kit parts.
They told me the punching machines are the current weak link in production with all the new match hole components. They are running these machines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide reasonable backlog for kit deliveries. Everything I saw was neat, clean, and efficient. I felt kind'a out of place, like an intruder disrupting all this order. We didn’t waste time there since I wanted to see the planes.
We walked into the hanger and on center stage was the RV-7 getting the bugs cleaned off from its return from Sun-N-Fun. Even though the RV-9 is my objective and just outside the hanger, I had to inspect this beauty first. It was perfect; a rightful replacement for the RV-6. I couldn’t wait any longer and had to go to the RV-9. It’s exactly as expected except perhaps a little too flamboyantly painted after comparison to the tasteful job on the RV-7. I feasted my good eye on as many little details as possible while it was being pre-flighted.
The day was blustery with a varying cross wind varying at probably 5-15 knots. Not the type of conditions I’d ever consider for flight with my Kitfox. We taxied with a short 400’ takeoff run and climbed at a solid 1300 fpm. After a few demonstration maneuvers, I was handed the stick. I did a few mild turns and remarked at the difference in control feel and the stability. Even in varying winds and choppy air this plane is smooth and solid. The control input is much greater than in a RV-6 or 8 and it does appear to be not as responsive. It appears forgiving of less then perfect piloting skills more akin to the average weekend pilot (me). The pilot then gave me a demonstration of close to 90 degree steep turns, slow flight and stalls. Slow flight is extremely stable. Once trimmed out we flew a few minutes in slow flight with a free stick in this choppy air. No wing levelers required on this plane! Stalls were a gentle mushing feeling with the expected loss in altitude but no sharp break. He then brought us in for a perfect main wheel landing about midfield and we fast taxied to Van’s end for a few thousand feet with the nose wheel suspended. Solid as a rock with the wind sock whipping all around in crosswind. As they said in the Independence Day movie, "I gotta get me one of these".
I asked a few questions, took a few pictures, and left to return in plenty of time for my next conference session. Now I’m thinking, my tail assembly is about done, when can I afford to get the wing kit? For you RV-9 builders, if your're weekend flyers like me you have made a good choice, it is still a nimble and responsive plane, just more forgiving. For you prospective RV-7 builders, you appear to get the best of all with more of everything except building time with the match hole technology. I love the prototype’s color scheme. My RV-9 will be painted similarly.
If you get an opportunity to visit Vans do it. They will not try to sell you anything. Their understated approach is to let their products continue to do that for themselves.