Van's Aircraft RV-7a · Experimental Kitplane
A journey from kit to first flight — 2004 to 2012
View Builder's Log →N74HE was built between 2004 and 2012 with several major interruptions by me, Kathleen Evans. It was a long journey, but the final product has been a great pleasure to fly. It is a Van's Aircraft RV-7a kitplane. As of June 2015, 74HE has a little over 220 hours of flight time.
While this website was originally set up to track the progress of the build and serve as a builder's log, I am leaving it up in hopes that it might be of some help to anyone else building an RV.
Milestones and changes since the initial build completed.
I have a new motor! My husband decided not to finish building his Glastar project (he is upgrading his flying Glastar). He had purchased a new ECI IO-370 at 205 hp. I decided to put that engine in the 7 since I was installing a new panel anyway.
I now have about 100 hours on the new motor. Mostly, I really like it — it's heavier, but very smooth running with a counterbalanced crank. On the downside, I really miss the FADEC with its added economy and effortless cold starts. And I now have a perfectly good 360 with only 220 hours to sell.
Browse the complete builder's log — hundreds of photos, detailed notes, and hard-won lessons from every stage of the build.