Smitty's RV-9A - Experimental Aircraft from Van's Aircraft The RV-9A from Van's Aircraft Monday, September 06, 2010 -
Howdeeeeee! I'm building an RV-9A from Van's Aircraft. Take your shoes off and sit a spell. Give me a holler if ya' got questions or ya' just wanna chew the fat about RV's.
 
Howdy Ya'll!
Howdy! I building an RV-9A! I'm an aviation nut and am excited about building my RV-9A from Van's Aircraft. Have a look around!
Do what yer' Momma said...
Go Play!
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Construction Log
Preparation
Empennage
- Horizontal Stabilizer (49:40)
- Vertical Stabilizer (21:15)
- Rudder (32:15)
- Right Elevator (35:45)
- Left Elevator (30:50)
Wings
- Inventory & Setup (9:30)
- Left Wing Prep (54:30)
- Left Fuel Tank (45:20)
- Left Wing Skins (46:10)
- Right Wing Prep (34:15)
- Right Fuel Tank (47:50)
- Right Wing Skins (40:15)
- Ailerons (54:30)
- Flaps (40:30)
- Rods and ends (18:45)
Fuselage
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- Inventory and Setup (7:15)
- FireWall (14:30)
- F-704 Bulkhead (13:25)
- F-705 Bulkhead (14:20)
- Other Bulkheads
   and Longerons
(17:30)

- Tailcone (29:30)
- Center Section (35:15)
- Forward Section (52:40)
- Forward Assembly (24:30)
- Skins/Baggage Area (46:30)
- Seats & Seat Floors (30:15)
- Flaps & Gear Mounts (18:15)
- Fuselage Plumbing (14:0)
- Tail Feathers (16:35)
- Front Deck/Firewall (58:50)
- Electrical
Finish Kit
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Rod's and ends - 1/22/2008
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Cut the spacers for the aileron attach bracket boltsCut the spacers for the aileron attach bracket bolts
These parts are pretty small. I had to be really careful while using the bandsaw and the bench sander.
Deviating from the plansDeviating from the plans
I've read on some of the email groups about some builders that are opting to use Delrin rods as control stops rather than the aluminum control stops as called for in the plans. This seemed to me to be an elegant solution to this application. The rod I chose is 7/8 inches in diameter as is about the same size as the washer that goes next to it. From what I understand the RV-7 and the RV-8 uses a small diameter delrin rod. I got the idea for using a delrin rod from Mickey's RV8 website and purchased mine from Aircraft Spruce.
Cutting the Delrin rodCutting the Delrin rod
I marked 3/8 of an inch on the rod.
The cutThe cut
I wanted a true 90 degree angle cut on the rod, so I opted to use my power miter saw to make the cut. The combination blade had no trouble cutting this hard plastic.
There they are! There they are!
Very nice!
Try to drill holes in the Delrin spacer stopsTry to drill holes in the Delrin spacer stops
Since the washer that goes next to the spacer stop is almost the same size, I decided to use the washer as a pattern to mark the hole to be drilled.
Choosing the bitChoosing the bit
I measured the outer diameter of the previously cut metal spacers and came up with a bit size of 21/64". I had to go to Lowes and get a special bit. I will use this bit to drill the holes in the Delrin spacers. Home Depot doesn't carry special size bits. Go figure...
Drilled the spacersDrilled the spacers
This was pretty easy to do. I used very little pressure in the drill press as I drilled these holes.
Finished!Finished!
I placed the previously cut metal spacers into the holes in the Delrin spacers. A perfect fit!
Temporarily attached the ailerons to the wingsTemporarily attached the ailerons to the wings
I know that these guys will need to come for wing attachment and painting. So I didn't tighten the bolts all the way. Starting to look like an airplane!
Adjusted the aileron guide angleAdjusted the aileron guide angle
At the beginning of the whole wing thing, the instructions called for an aluminum angle piece to be made with guide holes in it to use now for adjusting the angle of the aileron. I used some washers to get the right distance from the edge of the aileron so it could move without scraping.
My homemade aileron holder thingyMy homemade aileron holder thingy
I got a scap piece of plywood and put a notch in it to hold the aileron in its proper position.
Set up the temporary bell crank guideSet up the temporary bell crank guide
There is an odd shape piece of aluminum that it use as a guide to set the incidence of the aileron. Now to tighten lock nuts!
Looking good!Looking good!
Here's a (blurred) shot showing the delrin rod in place.
Houston, we have a problem!Houston, we have a problem!
I've heard about this problem. The hole that was originally made in the rear spar for this pushrod is not big enough. I used a hand mirror to make this shot from the underside of the rear spar. You can see that the aileron pushrod rubs against the edge of the rear spar hole. I will need to do a little trimming here.
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This website was built to document my work on my RV-9A in compliance with the FAA requirements needed to certify my aircraft. My experiences and comments are by no means to be considered as instructions on how to build an RV-9A or any other aircraft.
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