Welcome!
If you are in a hurry, use the links in the upper right to read about our flying adventures, see the places we've landed and look at the pictures we've taken.
I am just a simple man... or at least that is what I tell myself. My wife Sandi tends to disagree. This website is designed to document the construction and FLYING of our Van’s Aircraft RV-9A amatuer-built airplane. The journey officially began on July 12, 2002 with the arrival of the empennage (tail) kit and construction finished on February 1st, 2006 when we took to the skies for the first time. We are looking forward to many years of enjoyment with our new airplane! You can follow our adventures in flying on this page.
The Airplane
The RV-9A aircraft is an 'amateur-built' airplane that is technically considered an experimental airplane. With over 4,000 RV's flying, I hardly consider them experimental and the number of flying RV-9A's is approaching 200. The RV-9A is a REAL airplane. It holds two people (side-by-side) and 75lbs of baggage. It's range is 750-1000 miles. It is low-wing. Top speed is in the 190mph range with cruise speeds in the 170-180's. It takes anywhere from 1,200-2,000+ hours to build depending on the experience level of the builder and how much you put into the plane. I would guess the average builder takes 3-4 years to complete the project. The airplane comes as a kit (Van’s Aircraft) which includes all of the required materials and hardware. The builder supplies the engine, instruments and radios. In order for the builder to register the airplane in the amatuer-built category, he/she must build at least 51% of the airplane.
Expore the building process using the links down the right side of the screen. Want more info? Drop me a line.. we builders love to talk about our airplanes! 0 comments
I am just a simple man... or at least that is what I tell myself. My wife Sandi tends to disagree. This website is designed to document the construction and FLYING of our Van’s Aircraft RV-9A amatuer-built airplane. The journey officially began on July 12, 2002 with the arrival of the empennage (tail) kit and construction finished on February 1st, 2006 when we took to the skies for the first time. We are looking forward to many years of enjoyment with our new airplane! You can follow our adventures in flying on this page.
The Airplane
The RV-9A aircraft is an 'amateur-built' airplane that is technically considered an experimental airplane. With over 4,000 RV's flying, I hardly consider them experimental and the number of flying RV-9A's is approaching 200. The RV-9A is a REAL airplane. It holds two people (side-by-side) and 75lbs of baggage. It's range is 750-1000 miles. It is low-wing. Top speed is in the 190mph range with cruise speeds in the 170-180's. It takes anywhere from 1,200-2,000+ hours to build depending on the experience level of the builder and how much you put into the plane. I would guess the average builder takes 3-4 years to complete the project. The airplane comes as a kit (Van’s Aircraft) which includes all of the required materials and hardware. The builder supplies the engine, instruments and radios. In order for the builder to register the airplane in the amatuer-built category, he/she must build at least 51% of the airplane.
Expore the building process using the links down the right side of the screen. Want more info? Drop me a line.. we builders love to talk about our airplanes! 0 comments
Words of Thanks
One of the unexpected benefits of building an RV, is the community surrounding RV's and all the people you will meet, many of which become close friends. In the 3 years of my building, I've meet many people and have made several close friendships in the process.
While I could have made it through the RV building process on my own, there is no doubt that I have a much better airplane due to several people. As I begin to see the light at the end of this airplane project, I feel compelled to offer a few words of thanks to those that played a role in our project. (Let it be known, that the most gratitude goes to my wife Sandi.)
Ray D. - Ray became my first RV-builder friend, was the first to come and visit my project and has continued to support me even after 3 years of building. We chat almost daily, updating each other on our progress. He built and flew an RV-9A and is now building an RV-10. Ray has provided all sorts of knowledge and suggestions, and has loaned me countless tools. (I still don't own an edge roller!) For a Canadian.. he ain't half bad. :-)
Bill G. - Bill is a local RV-7 builder who first found me on the web. He was one of the first project visitors I had who hadn't started a project. Along with his wife Patti, they came for a visit back when I was working on the wings I believe. I think I got a $100 check from Van's for him. Since that time he's become a very good friend and like Ray, we talk almost daily. I bounce ideas of him on occasion and he picks my brain constantly on things he's building. I have to temper his nature to be a perfectionist. Since he's an instructor, he's given me a BFR and we flew down to Texas together. I can see us spending lots of time in the air together when we are both done.
Dan C. - Every RV builder knows Dan Checkoway. His builders log on the internet is an invaluable resource to all of us. While I haven't met Dan yet, he's played a big role in my project. I drop him an IM every now and then with a question.
Mel A. - Mel is my RV Guardian Angel. Not sure how long he lurked around keeping an eye on my website. One day I snapped a bolt off when tightening it and he dropped me an email about proper torque techniques. Since then we've swapped some emails and I've visited him at his home in Texas when I went down for a fly-in. A great guy to have watching over you. He's received the Tony Bingelis award at Airventure 2005.
Nathan L. - Local RV-9A flyer who sold me my artifical horizon for a bargain price (in exchange for lots of rides in my plane) and I've borrowed his panel punch twice now. He also gave our EAA chapter a tour of the ARTCC facility in Kansas City and most recently allowed me to do some right seat flying of his RV-9A in preparation for my own first flight.
Our Kids - Louis, Emiel, and Jenny all spent hours with me helping to build the airplane. Emiel and I riveted almost the entire fuselage together in two days! Jenny is now working on an Aerospace Engineering degree in Colombia.
Builder Friends - All of these guys have become virtual internet friends, a few I've even met. They've all supported my build by answering questions, shooting holes in my idea's (or praising them!). A word of thanks goes out to Mike S., Paul E., Matt B. (first RV-9A ride), Scott D., Don, Clay R., Brian M., Paul S. (First RV ride ever.. RV-6), Dave P., Andy K. and probably a few more I can't remember right now.
Doug Reeves - Doug has brought together the RV community more than anyone with his Van's Airforce website. It is the first place I visit each morning and gets me my dose of RV news.
My Parents - My mom isn't too excited about our project but supports us and even bought us the airspeed indicator for Christmas! My dad.. well I think when I started this project he probably didn't think we'd see it through. Now that I'm getting closer to the end, he's much more interested in how I'm doing. Of course, I could probably blame all of this on him, since he's the one who introduced me to aviation.
(will add more as time goes on...) 0 comments
While I could have made it through the RV building process on my own, there is no doubt that I have a much better airplane due to several people. As I begin to see the light at the end of this airplane project, I feel compelled to offer a few words of thanks to those that played a role in our project. (Let it be known, that the most gratitude goes to my wife Sandi.)
Ray D. - Ray became my first RV-builder friend, was the first to come and visit my project and has continued to support me even after 3 years of building. We chat almost daily, updating each other on our progress. He built and flew an RV-9A and is now building an RV-10. Ray has provided all sorts of knowledge and suggestions, and has loaned me countless tools. (I still don't own an edge roller!) For a Canadian.. he ain't half bad. :-)
Bill G. - Bill is a local RV-7 builder who first found me on the web. He was one of the first project visitors I had who hadn't started a project. Along with his wife Patti, they came for a visit back when I was working on the wings I believe. I think I got a $100 check from Van's for him. Since that time he's become a very good friend and like Ray, we talk almost daily. I bounce ideas of him on occasion and he picks my brain constantly on things he's building. I have to temper his nature to be a perfectionist. Since he's an instructor, he's given me a BFR and we flew down to Texas together. I can see us spending lots of time in the air together when we are both done.
Dan C. - Every RV builder knows Dan Checkoway. His builders log on the internet is an invaluable resource to all of us. While I haven't met Dan yet, he's played a big role in my project. I drop him an IM every now and then with a question.
Mel A. - Mel is my RV Guardian Angel. Not sure how long he lurked around keeping an eye on my website. One day I snapped a bolt off when tightening it and he dropped me an email about proper torque techniques. Since then we've swapped some emails and I've visited him at his home in Texas when I went down for a fly-in. A great guy to have watching over you. He's received the Tony Bingelis award at Airventure 2005.
Nathan L. - Local RV-9A flyer who sold me my artifical horizon for a bargain price (in exchange for lots of rides in my plane) and I've borrowed his panel punch twice now. He also gave our EAA chapter a tour of the ARTCC facility in Kansas City and most recently allowed me to do some right seat flying of his RV-9A in preparation for my own first flight.
Our Kids - Louis, Emiel, and Jenny all spent hours with me helping to build the airplane. Emiel and I riveted almost the entire fuselage together in two days! Jenny is now working on an Aerospace Engineering degree in Colombia.
Builder Friends - All of these guys have become virtual internet friends, a few I've even met. They've all supported my build by answering questions, shooting holes in my idea's (or praising them!). A word of thanks goes out to Mike S., Paul E., Matt B. (first RV-9A ride), Scott D., Don, Clay R., Brian M., Paul S. (First RV ride ever.. RV-6), Dave P., Andy K. and probably a few more I can't remember right now.
Doug Reeves - Doug has brought together the RV community more than anyone with his Van's Airforce website. It is the first place I visit each morning and gets me my dose of RV news.
My Parents - My mom isn't too excited about our project but supports us and even bought us the airspeed indicator for Christmas! My dad.. well I think when I started this project he probably didn't think we'd see it through. Now that I'm getting closer to the end, he's much more interested in how I'm doing. Of course, I could probably blame all of this on him, since he's the one who introduced me to aviation.
(will add more as time goes on...) 0 comments