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
- Fuselage Parts List
- 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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Preparation
 
Bought Sears Compressor 4/19/2004 - Bought Sears Compressor
Got this 30 gal. Air Compressor, 6 hp, Vertical Tank, Oil Free Pump (Sears # 16731) on sale at ... read more
Bought pneumatic drill from Home Depot 4/26/2004 - Bought pneumatic drill from Home Depot
I got this drill from Home Depot for less than $50, BUT the instructions recommended that I have an in-line filter to catch dust particles and drain water, an in-line oil lubricator and a regulator. I ... read more
Bought a rivet gun and drill on Ebay. 5/27/2004 - Bought a rivet gun and drill on Ebay.
I won the bid on this rivet gun and drill on Ebay from a gentlemen who was a retired aerospace worker. ... read more
Bought a new Delta Bench Grinder 9/2/2004 - Bought a new Delta Bench Grinder
I found this bench grinder at Sam's Club and only paid $34.95 for it. 5 bucks cheaper than Lowes and Home Depot. ... read more
Bought Orndorff Videos from RV7 Yahoo group member. 10/21/2004 - Bought Orndorff Videos from RV7 Yahoo group member.
These videos are great! I have my small version of the RV-9A plans in my lap and watch these videos and wonder how anyone could build an empennage without this wonderful source of information. I have ... read more
Bought a deburring tool on Ebay 10/25/2004 - Bought a deburring tool on Ebay
This tool came with three bits in excellent condition. Cost me 8 bucks. One more tool that I don't have to pay top dollar for. ... read more
RV Buddies come in handy! 12/1/2004 - RV Buddies come in handy!
Over the weekend, I visited my friend Jerry who is finishing up his RV-6. When he found out that I was going to build an RV, he took me around his hangar and kept saying, "here, take this, oh, and you ... read more
Bought new rivet squeezer, squeezer set and bucking bar. 12/3/2004 - Bought new rivet squeezer, squeezer set and bucking bar.
I was cruising Ebay looking for tools today. I found a rivet squeezer someone had listed. When I checked ... read more
Bought Clecos, Pliers, Drill Bits and Drill Stops on Christmas Sale. 12/9/2004 - Bought Clecos, Pliers, Drill Bits and Drill Stops on Christmas Sale.
Found these bargains on ATS. ... read more
Gettin' there.... 12/11/2004 - Gettin' there....
Arranging my new tools as I get them. Drilled holes in the work bench and attached some cool special nuts to the underside of the work bench allowing me to remove the vise easily. These nuts have an o ... read more
Bought a 3M Cut & Polish Wheel 12/19/2004 - Bought a 3M Cut & Polish Wheel
Found a local dealer who runs a Machinist Tool shop who sold this wheel to me for $22! He said, "We bought these things several years ago but couldn't sell the damn things! Glad you're taking one." ... read more
Created a board for back riveting 12/21/2004 - Created a board for back riveting
I found a 1/4" steel plate at Home Depot in a big rack containing all different sizes of aluminum and steel. ... read more
Got a new Delta Benchtop Band Saw for Christmas! 12/28/2004 - Got a new Delta Benchtop Band Saw for Christmas!
My sweet wife bought this for me. ... read more
Bought some insulation for the garage. 2/28/2005 - Bought some insulation for the garage.
I installed some R-19 insulation. The sheetrock in the garage is 5/8" thick, that ought to help also. ... read more
Bought more tools 4/10/2005 - Bought more tools
Van's website has a list of ... read more
Ordered my Preview Plans for the RV-9A 6/28/2005 - Ordered my Preview Plans for the RV-9A
Time for dreamin' and schemin'. ... read more
Bought a new pneumatic squeezer from Avery's Tools 7/20/2005 - Bought a new pneumatic squeezer from Avery's Tools
I called Averys Tools today and ordered their ... read more
The "cover your butt" section
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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