EAA Sport Aviation

WASHINGTON HIGHLANDER N419BD IS A JUST AIRCRAFT Highlander that was completed after 10 months of construction in June 2010. This is the second Highlander I’ve built in the past 18 months. It’s powered by an UL350iS engine that weighs in at only 173 pounds ready-to-fly. I added cheeks to the cowl to fit the engine, as it was wider than expected. The installed instruments include two Dynon 10-inch SkyView glass panels, a Becker transponder, and an XCOM radio. I painted the Highlander base colors (brown and almond) with Stewart Systems Waterborne System, and the remaining trim colors are metallic vinyl. I’m looking forward to a lot of backcountry flying with friends.

Steve Dentz, EAA 765821; Carnation, Washington; E-mail: stede52@comcast.net

LOUISIANA MIDGET MUSTANG THE FIRST FLIGHT OF my Midget Mustang took place in June 2010, after five years of build time. A Lycoming O-235-C2C swinging a Prince prop provide power, with an E-MAG ignition on the right side and Bendix mag on the left. The paint job honors the 325th Fighter Group (World War II), the Checkertail Clan. The captain uniform I’m wearing in the picture is from the 15th Army Air Force. Modifications on the plane include electric flaps using a Cessna 150 flap motor, with an electric trim using a mac servo driving the cable. An electric ignition improves the engine starting and provides smooth operation, as well a few extra horsepower. The canopy is a P-51D-style canopy. The biggest challenge with this project was simply the size of the airplane; its compact size made it difficult at times to reach into tight spots.

Barry Tanner, EAA 771110; Lafayette, Louisiana; E-mail: barryair@cox.net

FLORIDA RV-8A

AFTER HAVING FLOWN 100 hours on my RV-8A, I am extremely happy with the airplane’s performance. It is equipped for day/night VFR and outfitted with wingtip tanks. It took 32 months of construction before the first flight and about 4 8 months before it was all done. The biggest challenge was completing the canopy, particularly after breaking one while building my first airplane, a Zodiac. However, the hardest thing to do was complete all the wiring, which I ran myself. A friend, Val Mathurine of the FAA, taught me how to solder, crimp, and read the electrical diagrams. I did add wingtip tanks, which were fabricated by Robert Reed of Deland, Florida. With this airplane, I learned to buck AN rivets, as opposed to all the blind rivets I pulled building the Zodiac. Special thanks to my wife, Binta, for motivating me along two kit planes while cheering and asking me, “When’s the next one?”