Smitty's RV-9A - Experimental Aircraft from Van's Aircraft The RV-9A from Van's Aircraft Howdeeeeee! I'm building an RV-9A from Van's Aircraft. Take your shoes off and sit a spell.
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!
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Do what yer' Momma said...
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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)
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Fuselage
- Fuselage Parts List
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- 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)
Finish Kit
- Electrical (57:30)
- Electrical Part 2 (24:0)
- Canopy (22:30)
- Landing Gear (18:35)
How I Did Stuff
Pop-Rivet Dimpler 101
My Wing Jig
My Wing Cradle
Wing Cradle Mod
Tilting Tank Jig
Delrin Aileron Stops
Nutplate Preparation
Fiberglass 101
Save Your Skin!
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Paint Possibilities
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RV-8 Military Style RV-8 Military Style
What a cool paint job!
Petit Jean State Park Arkansas Milky Way Petit Jean State Park Arkansas Milky Way
This Photo was uploaded to the sister Website of Smittysrv.com: FunPlacesToFly.com, by Gary McDaniel, MO. Gary said "Taken during the RV fly in at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas." Beautiful!
Gary Holemon's RV-8 Gary Holemon's RV-8
Reserve Champion, EAA Southeast Regional Fly-in 2008. Powered by ECI 180 hp O-360 with a Hartzell constant speed blended airfoil.
Gary Holemon's RV-8 Gary Holemon's RV-8
Reserve Champion, EAA Southeast Regional Fly-in 2008. Powered by ECI 180 hp O-360 with a Hartzell constant speed blended airfoil.
Tod Watkins Tod Watkins
RV-9A
Tony Kirks RV-6A Tony Kirks RV-6A
Here's Tony's beautiful RV-6. Tony is the webmaster of EAA Chapter 582.
Bill Repucci's RV-9 Bill Repucci's RV-9
It is a -9, FP prop driven by an O-290. This picture is of the plane right before touch down at Goose Creek Airport in North Carolina.
Nigel Campbell's RV4 Nigel Campbell's RV4
G-INTS - First Flight July 2007
Great photo from Pete Howell Great photo from Pete Howell
Tom Berge's yellowbird -7A in the background. Photo by -7 builder Peter Fruehling, Mike Behnke cameraship pilot.
Run Cary! Run Cary!
Oh Judy, Judy, Judy! There's an RV on my butt!
Van's Tail Dragger Version of the RV-9 Van's Tail Dragger Version of the RV-9
I really like the paint job on this puppy.
Don Lymbery's RV-9A Don Lymbery's RV-9A
Don sent me a shot of his RV-9A. Don said "I'm in the Air Force Reserve, so that explains the color scheme."
Ron Drakes RV-9A Ron Drakes RV-9A
Ron sent me this shot of his beautiful RV-9A. He currently has over 260 hours on it says "It still amazes me every time I fly it." Thanks Ron!
Another shot of Kelly Dunn's RV-6 Another shot of Kelly Dunn's RV-6
Great paint job Kelly!
Kelly and son Gary Dunn's RV-6 Kelly and son Gary Dunn's RV-6
Here's a great shot of a beautiful bird sent to me by Kelly Dunn. I love the "Bottoms Up" logo on the fuselage. Kelly writes: "Emron base coat clear coat. No easy job with that paint. Wet sanded 1500 grit then 3000 grit followed with 2 stages of buffing. It is like glass. The engine (O 360) started from a basket case and was converted to fuel injection with high compression pistons, one electronic and on slick mag. Cruise @ 8000 ft is average of 194 mph on 9.9 gph.
RV-9A on take off RV-9A on take off
Caught this shot of brand-spanking new RV-9A taking off at a fly-in I went to.
The RV Family The RV Family
This photo is courtesy of Ed Hicks. Here they are, the RV-7A, RV-8A, RV-9A and the RV-10, flying in formation. Van's Aircraft is without a doubt the finest aircraft designer in the world. I am proud to be a part of it. Where else can you can great aircraft that is affordable, easy to build and fast?
The RV-9A Kit - piece of cake! The RV-9A Kit - piece of cake!
This photo courtesy of Ed Hicks. Wow, that's a whole lot of aircraft parts! But look what it turns into to, the fast and affordable RV-9A! There are a lot avid aviation fans of the RV-9A out there (I am finding out). I am really enjoying the whole aircraft building process.
The RV-9A in the air The RV-9A in the air
This photo is courtesy of Ed Hicks. This is my favorite shot of the RV-9A. You'll see a lot on various websites on the internet. I think it has great lines. We got a chance to see it up close at Oshkosh 2005, parked right in front of Van's Aircraft tent display.
White paint with a decal White paint with a decal
This is neat. I sent an email to owner of this beautiful RV-9A and asked him about his decision to use a decal. He answered back saying "What decal? I hand painted that design on the there!". Then he told me that it was indeed a car decal that he got from an auto parts place. I LIKE IT!
Ron Dunn's RV-8 Ron Dunn's RV-8
Proof positive that you can indeed paint your own airplane and have it turn out plum georgous! I ran into Ron at a fly-in in Texas and he gave me a lot of good tips on how painted his RV-8. This convinced me that I was going to paint my own RV-9A. So I ordered a video called Aircraft Painting 101 from Builders Bookstore. This is not a professional video, but it covers everything you need to know on painting your own aircraft.
Bryan & Sherri Wood's RV-9A Bryan & Sherri Wood's RV-9A
Wow, what a paint job! Makes me want to salute. I read on another website that has a list of completed RV-9As that this aircraft was painted by GLO Custom in Roanoke, TX. I emailed Bryan and told him that I hung a picture of his RV-9A in my office at work as inspiration to finish this fine aircraft.
Wayne Ray's Cowbird Wayne Ray's Cowbird
Now here's a man after my own heart. I hear that he even has a cow bell that he rings in the back ground while he's talking on the radio. Yeah, I know it's not an RV-9A, but it is still a cool airplane and unique paint job.
HELP FOR THE HOMEBUILDER

A website designed for Van's Aircraft Homebuilders, helping them find the information they need to build the most dynamic aircraft in the world.
The "cover your butt" section
This website was built to document the construction of an RV-9A in compliance with the FAA requirements needed to certify the aircraft. Any experiences and/or comments are by no means to be considered as instructions on how to build an RV-9A or any other aircraft. Please read our Disclosure for details.
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