ARIZONA DAKOTA HAWK
MY FIRST PROJECT WAS an RV-6A and was a
pleasure to build. However, because I’ve
decided to fly as a sport pilot, and since I’ve
been a carpenter, I chose a Dakota Hawk as
my next project. I designed my own center
stick so I could get my size 14 shoes in the
plane easier. I covered the plane with Stewart
System products. A Continental O-200 drives
an Ivoprop, and the plane will fly hands-off.
Special thanks go to Gerald Breeyear, president of EAA Chapter 1144 and very capable
mechanic, for teaching me the skill of rib
stitching. I must also express thanks for great
engine help from George Hana and neighbor
Barry Mockabee. Also, a very special appreciation is due to my wife, Betty, for her constant
support and willingness to drop whatever she
was doing to lend me a hand.
Wade Kincaid, EAA 377389; Salome, Arizona;
E-mail: flight544@tds.net; Technical Counselor: Fergus Fay
MICHIGAN RV-9A
I PURCHASED THIS RV-9A project from Fred
Ekornaas of Bristol, Wisconsin, at about 50
percent complete. I’m an A&P mechanic and
tech counselor for EAA Chapter 704 in
Sparta, Michigan, so I didn’t receive any outside inspections for the project. However, I
did benefit from the input of six local builders whose RV projects I inspect. I rebuilt the
Lycoming IO-320 160-hp engine from a runout Decathlon using a new crankshaft and
new Titan cylinder assemblies. The prop is a
three-bladed Catto. The instrumental panel
is all old-style gauges except for the Garmin
GPS, and the leather interior is by Classic
Aero. I painted the airplane myself, and the
entire scheme stemmed from the U.S. flag on
the tail. The first flight was on July 10, 2010.
Daniel Bauman, EAA Lifetime Member 60094;
Kent City, Michigan; E-mail: dan@baumanaviation.com
ARIZONA RANS S- 19
AFTER TWO YEARS AND six months, N619RS
was signed off and made its first flight. With
a Rotax 912S engine and a Sensenich 68-inch
ground-adjustable prop, it cruises at 128
mph at 5500 rpm burning 5 gph. With a VFR
panel, analog flight instruments, Dynon
EMS-D120, Garmin 296 GPS, Becker transponder, and Flight Line Radio, it weighed in
at 838 pounds. The biggest challenge in
building the RANS S- 19 was fitting the sliding canopy and getting it to fit up against the
windshield correctly. But it was no more
challenging than the three RVs I’ve previously built. I created my own instrument
panel layout using analog flight instruments
and glass panel engine instruments. Then I
used a wood laminate over the panel for a
wood look. The plane was fun to build and is
a blast to fly. Thanks to all my friends who
helped with the project.
Ron Smith, EAA 54877; Goodyear, Arizona;
E-mail: ronrvflyer@cox.net; Tech. Counselor: Richard Dewitt
FLORIDA ZENITH 601
AFTER ABOUT FOUR AND a half years, 1,200
hours of building, and some of the best time
of my life, my Zenith 601 XL-B took to the sky
on December 24, 2010. What a Christmas
present! It has the William Wynne Corvair
engine and all the options except wheelpants.
The biggest challenge in building the plane
was time. If you don’t make a habit of doing
something every day, the daily demands of
family and friendships tend to entice an attitude of procrastination. Balancing these
demands against this kind of hobby is necessary. Many thanks to my wife, Debbie;
William Wynne for such a great engine; EAA
for its help and advice; and especially the
great folks at Zenith, who had all the answers.
Kelly Wright, EAA 551814; Port St. Lucie, Florida;
E-mail: kellydwright@comcast.net;
Technical Counselor: Rob Kermanj
INDIANA RV- 7
MY RV- 7 RECEIVED ITS “wings” in July 2010
after nine-plus years in the making. It was a
great learning curve for me, and I loved
every minute of it. My RV flies like a dream.
A Superior Engine XP-10-360-BIAC2 with a
Hartzell prop powers the plane. It has a
Grand Rapids panel along with an Icom
IC-A210 and Garmin GTX 320A transponder. Backup instruments include a compass,
altimeter, and airspeed indicator. I had a
great support system, which included John
Crabtree, Steve Eberhart, Vince Frazier, Dan
Grimm, Larry Helming, Bob Schenk, Mike
Zeller, and most of all, my “chief financial
officer,” my wife, Tammy.
Eugene Fischer, EAA 439905; Mount Vernon, Indiana;
E-mail: gtfischer@sbcglobal.net;
Technical Counselor: Larry Hulme
OREGON TERMITE’S DELIGHT
THIS IS MY TERMITE’S Delight, an all-wood
biplane that is an enlargement of a Jungster 1
that I had previously built. The empty
weight came in at 834 pounds. A Lycoming
O-320-E3D powers the airplane with a
cruise speed of 110 mph and a top speed of
130 mph. The plane cost about $15,000 and
is hands down the best flying machine I have
ever built.
