EAA Sport Aviation - February 2010

LOUISIANA RV-7A

MY RV-7A WAS FIRST flown on August 1, 2009. A standard build that took four years and three months to complete, N615B is equipped with a Superior IO-360 fuel-injected 180-hp engine with a Hartzell constant-speed prop. The inside features a Garmin radio stack. Special thanks to my buddy, Ray Fleming, for getting me started and keeping me going to the finish line, which when finished, ain’t ever really finished, right? Obviously, if you manage to stay happily married while building a plane, you’ve got to thank your spouse. Thank you, Susan!

John Burgin, EAA 697071; Crowley, Louisiana E-mail: johnburgin@bellsouth.net

WISCONSIN BLERIOT XI

BECAUSE OF THE GENEROUS support from volunteers across the country, EAA’s Bleriot XI is moving closer to completion since the project began in 2006. John Hopkins, EAA manager of aircraft maintenance, reports that the team is ready to begin designing an engine mount to secure the 25-hp Anzani engine built in 1910 to the delicate wood airframe. Design and castings for the throttle and elevator trim systems are underway. The wings have been fitted to the airframe, and the cabling system is complete. The pilot’s seat has been given its final touches and is now covered in leather upholstery. John says the wings are ready for covering, and he expects that process to take place this spring. The final work will include tweaking the flight controls, designing the unique rudder “bar” mechanism, painting the upper wing support structure and landing gear parts, and then installing a shock absorption bungee cord system to ensure smooth landings. It’s hoped the Bleriot XI replica will fly during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010 100th anniversary of air shows celebration.

NEW JERSEY CUB

MY 1944 PIPER CUB was severely damaged in a windstorm in 1971. During repairs we discovered the Cub was actually an L- 4. The “birdcage” was reconstructed with new channel steel. The engine was overhauled and pickled. A set of Cub wings was bought in Ohio. We replaced the leading and trailing edges, installed new drag wires, trammeled the wings, and re-covered them after they were inspected by the A&P/IA.

The fuselage was inspected and also covered in Poly-Fiber.
New sealed struts were installed. All instruments were sent to
Keystone Instruments in Lock Haven to be refurbished. First
flight took place in May of 2008.

Frank Fine, EAA 133756; Wall, New Jersey; E-mail: thefines@juno.com

VIRGINIA LIGHTNING

AFTER A 15-MONTH LONG-DISTANCE relationship (150 miles one way) spent building, flight testing, and flying off 40 hours, on November 30, 2007, I finally brought N-741AW home to its own hangar and 1 ,700-foot grass runway. This is a fast little plane. It cruises at 165 mph with a 3300 Jabiru engine and burns 6 gallons per hour. It is equipped with a Dynon 180 flight deck, transponder, and radio. Analog altimeter and airspeed are for backup. Thanks to Ryan, Walter, Mike, and Jimmy at Green Landings Flight Center near Martinsburg, West Virginia.