Kathleen's RV-7a builder's site
N74HE  
 

Vans RV7 Experimental Homebuilt Aircraft are easy to build according to the folks at Vans Aircraft.

 Contact Me.....






 or - Search this site

  

The Challenge to Van's:   You say your airplanes are easy to build - can a woman who has no mechanical experience build an RV-7 in less than a lifetime?   I am setting out to test the promise.   This will not be a, "How to do it site." I also don't know anything about web sites, so this won't be fancy.  It will be a, "How I am doing site." where you can follow along and watch some of my mistakes and successes.
 

NEWS: The prop is hung and the radios have been tested.  

     
                                       
                                       

So, why should it be so hard?   Well, it shouldn't be; a little fitting and drilling, a few rivets here and there, a couple cans of spray paint...

After all, I only have to get from

here
to
here  
   
 
 
 

 

 

    
      Note: Days worked now in reverse order   JOIN the EAA!
  To start at the beginning, click here
 
 
    April 2010  Total: 9.5 hrs     (696.0 hrs to date)
04/02/2010

9.5 hrs - Wheel pants and exhaust cowl
 
    March 2010  Total: 42.0 hrs     (686.5 hrs to date)
03/28/2010
03/25/2010
03/21/2010
03/15/2010
03/05/2010
03/01/2010

7.0 hrs - Lower cowling louvers
9.5 hrs - Intake lower cowl
11.5 hrs - (3 days) Begin building intake system
7.0 hrs - Cutting the cowl
7.5 hrs - Fitting the cowl - again
5.5 hrs - Wheel pants and cowl
    February 2010  Total: 20.5 hrs     (642.5 hrs to date)
02/20/2010
02/13/2010
02/10/2010

7.0 hrs - Fitting the cowl
6.5 hrs - Top skins & cowl
7.0 hrs - Top skin & wiring
 
    January 2010  Total: 36.5 hrs     (622.0 hrs to date)
01/20/2010
01/17/2010
01/16/2010
01/13/2010
01/03/2010

9.5 hrs - Top skin, roll bar, cowling mount
4.5 hrs - Test panel and finish up panel wiring
9.0 hrs - Baffling, install prop and test radios
4.5 hrs - Baffling & oil cooler
9.0 hrs - Baffling

 
    April 2009  Total:  24.0 hrs     (585.5 hrs to date)
04/22/2009
04/20/2009
04/15/2009
04/10/2009
04/01/2009

6.0 hrs - Heat muff and engine work
3.5 hrs - Install alternator and exhaust
5.0 hrs - Work on FADEC and exhaust
4.5 hrs - Work on FADEC FFW install
5.0 hrs - Injectors and prop extension

 
    March 2009  Total:  31.5 hrs     (561.5 hrs to date)
03/25/2009
03/18/2009
03/13/2009
03/11/2009
03/09/2009
03/02/2009

3.5 hrs - FADEC control units
4.0 hrs - Panel, exhaust and wire headphone jacks
7.0 hrs - Firewall forward work & rework
6.0 hrs - Panel work & HANG ENGINE!
4.5 hrs - Wirning and antenna work
6.5 hrs - Wiring

 
    February 2009  Total:  15.0 hrs     (530.0 hrs to date)
02/27/2009
02/25/2009
02/21/2009

6.0 hrs - Wiring and wiring and wiring
9.5 hrs - Wiring, antennas, elevator tube and troubleshooting (isn't that enough?)
5.5 hrs - Nose wheel & wiring
 
    December 2008 Total:  25.5 hrs     (515.0 hrs to date)
12/20/2008
12/07/2008

11.5 hrs - Panel wiring (accumulated over several days)
14.0 hrs - Panel wiring (accumulated over several days)
    September 2008 Total:  9.2 hrs     (489.5 hrs to date)
09/20/2008
09/05/2008

5.2 hrs - Panel work and wiring
4.0 hrs - Panel work and wiring

    August 2008 Total:  14.3 hrs     (480.3 hrs to date)
08/22/2008
08/15/2008
08/01/2008

5.0 hrs - Wiring
4.2 hrs - Panel work
5.1 hrs - Fuel system and firewall recess

    March 2008 Total:  21.5 hrs     (466.0 hrs to date)
03/18/2008
03/15/2008
03/04/2008
03/02/2008
 3.5 hrs - Radio stack and fuel pump test
5.0 hrs - Fitted roll bar and some wiring
7.0 hrs - Cut holes in panel for guages and switches
6.0 hrs - Cut holes in battery box and panel
  
    February 2008 Total:  23.0 hrs     (444.5 hrs to date)
02/16/2008
02/13/2008
02/08/2008
02/02/2008
 6.0 hrs - Electrical wiring begins
6.5 hrs - Panel support and aileron trim servo
4.5 hrs - Panel support and controls
6.0 hrs - Forward cockpit infrastructure and brakes 		 
    January 2008 Total:  41.0 hrs     (421.5 hrs to date)
01/30/2008 01/29/2008 01/21/2008 01/15/2008 01/13/2008 01/09/2008 01/08/2008 01/05/2008 01/03/2008 01/01/2008
4.5 hrs - Second static system and more brake work
4.0 hrs - Brake system and 2nd static system
5.5 hrs - Battery box and cabin heat
6.0 hrs - Nose gear yoke, armrest support, cabin fuel plumbing
5.0 hrs - Brake flange, ECU mounting, cabin brake lines
2.0 hrs - Install cabin heat box and fire test 3M fireblock
2.5 hrs - Blue Mountain EFIS set up and bench test
3.5 hrs - Gascolator and magnetometers
4.0 hrs - Fire test, parking brake and engine mount
4.0 hrs - Gascolator bracket and fuel flow sensor		  
    December 2007 Total:  17.0 hrs     (380 hrs to date)
12/06/2007-9 12/06/2007-8 12/06/2007-7 12/06/2007-6 12/06/2007-5 12/06/2007-4 12/06/2007-3 12/06/2007-2 12/06/2007-1 12/04/2007 12/01/2007
preliminery - 1.0 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 1.0 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 1.0 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 1.5 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 2.0 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 1.5 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 1.5 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 1.5 hrs - Engine build
preliminery - 0.0 hrs - Engine build - NOT UPDATED
2.0 hrs - Fuel meter and odds & ends
4.0 hrs - Brake fluid reservoir and gascolator placement 		 
    November 2007 Total:  4.5 hrs     (363 hrs to date)
11/25/2007 4.5 hrs - Brake bracket, pump cover and firewall recess  
    September 2007 Total:  6.0 hrs     (358.5 hrs to date)
09/19/2007 5.0 hrs - Aux fuel pump, static ports and misc  
    August 2007 Total:  6.0 hrs     (352.5 hrs to date)
08/01/2007 6.0 hrs - Cabin paint and began plumbing  
    May 2007 Total:  2.5 hrs     (346.5 hrs to date)
05/06/2007 2.5 hrs - Work on odd parts just to be doing something  
    November 2006 Total:  8.5 hrs     (344.0 hrs to date)
11/19/2006
11/17/2006
 3.5 hrs - Drilled and installed the right landing gear bracket & began gear work
5.0 hrs - Inspecting prior work and safety wire fuel pickups		  
 
    October 2006 Total:  0 hrs     (335.5 hrs to date)            
10/23/2006
10/08/2006
10/07/2006
09/05/2006
 0.0 hrs - More hanger setup - no building yet
0.0 hrs - A little hangar work - but mostly young eagles
0.0 hrs - Continued work on setting up the hangar to begin building
0.0 hrs - Rented Hangar at Benton		  
04/01/2005 0.0 hrs - Work offically stops on N74HE - But not forever!
    January 2005 Total:    51.5 hrs    (335.5 hrs to date) 
01/27/2005
01/25/2005
01/23/2005
01/22/2005
01/21/2005
01/19/2005
01/13/2005
01/11/2005
01/10/2005
01/09/2005
01/08/2005
01/07/2005
01/05/2005
01/04/2005
 3.0 hrs - Worked on landing gear mounts.
3.0 hrs - Installed the rudder peddles and drilled the cernter brace.
3.5 hrs - Built the cabin heat duct.
4.0 hrs - Began installation of the gear leg mounts.
2.0 hrs - Organized parts and set up new band saw - maybe not really airplane work!
6.0 hrs - Finished drilling out baggage rivets and started installing steps.
4.5 hrs - Completed the rudder peddle assembly including the brake cylinders.
4.0 hrs - Worked on flap actuator cover panels.
3.0 hrs - Installed flap actuator assembly.
4.5 hrs - Installed baggage compartment floors & brake peddle work.
2.5 hrs - Continued work on the flap actuator system.
4.5 hrs - Finished work on the flap actuator channel and installed flap motor.
3.5 hrs - Finished seat back adjustment and support system.
3.5 hrs - Began fabrication of new seat back adjustment design.
   December 2004 Total:    32.0 hrs    (284.0 hrs to date)    (284.0 in 2004)
12/29/2004
12/28/2004
12/27/2004
12/23/2004
12/21/2004
12/17/2004
12/13/2004
12/11/2004
12/08/2004
12/05/2004
12/01/2004

3.0 hrs - Built the forward tunnel cover.
2.5 hrs - Continued work on seat backs.
3.0 hrs - Began construction of the seat backs.
3.0 hrs - Installed the TruTrak pitch servo.
2.5 hrs - Began work on the seat back adjustment supports.
4.0 hrs - Fabricated access doors for the baggage compartment floor.
2.5 hrs - Fabricated and installed the center elevator bellcrank.
3.0 hrs - Continued work on the wingtip and VOR antenna.
3.0 hrs - Fitting wingtips and antenna installation.
3.0 hrs - Final closure of right wing and remade spacers and brackets.
2.5 hrs - Installed the Angle of Attack sensors and tubing.

 
 
    November 2004 Total:    21.0 hrs    (252.0 hrs to date)
11/27/2004
11/19/2004
11/15/2004
11/12/2004
11/09/2004
11/05/2004
11/01/2004
 2.0 hrs - Built the mounting brackets for the front fuel tank supports.
2.5 hrs - Finish kit arrives - inventory time!
5.0 hrs - Final preparations for closing right wing.
4.5 hrs - Fuel sender + odds & ends.
2.5 hrs - Beginning the wing closing process.
4.5 hrs - Preparing to close wings with final wiring details.
                More time spent working on paint booth and selecting paint.
    October 2004 Total:    14.5 hrs    (231.0 hrs to date)  

10/22/2004
10/20/2004
10/15/2004
10/09/2004
10/07/2004

4.0 hrs - Setting up the paint booth - is this really plane building?
                Just to show I have been doing something - the link to paint schemes.
2.0 hrs - Mostly wiring work.
4.0 hrs - Installed TruTrak roll servo in right wing.
4.5 hrs - Nav lights and pitot tubes.
     September 2004 Total:    38.5 hrs    (226.5 hrs to date)  

09/30/2004
09/29/2004
09/12/2004
09/10/2004
09/08/2004
09/06/2004
09/04/2004
09/02/2004

2.0 hrs - Converted PC power supply to serve as 12v bench power.
4.0 hrs - Made new set of wing tip lighting reflectors and some wiring.
5.5 hrs - Mounted strobes and worked on landing lights.
6.0 hrs - Pitot tubing and work on the strobes.
4.5 hrs - Worked on heated pitot, wiring and mounting strobe power.
4.5 hrs - Wiring and flap hinge rework.
7.0 hrs - Attached left aileron and flap hinge and drilled wing.
5.0 hrs - Riveted flap braces and other work on the wings.
 
    August 2004 Total:    36 hrs    (188 hrs to date)            

08/31/2004
08/27/2004
08/25/2004
08/18/2004
08/16/2004
08/14/2004
08/12/2004
08/09/2004
08/07/2004
08/05/2004
08/02/2004

 3.0 hrs - Mostly work on the position lights.
2.5 hrs - One aileron bracket & began work on the position lights.
3.0 hrs - Fitting aileron brackets.
1.0 hrs - Making bracket to hold a timer & 1 hr cleaning shop (I'm not counting that)
2.0 hrs - Wingtip lens fitting.
4.0 hrs - Completed the fuel tank end plates.
3.5 hrs - Successful work on the aileron rods.
2.0 hrs - Unsuccessful work on the aileron rods.
6.5 hrs - Worked on aileron push tube ends and installed one bellcrank.
4.5 hrs - Installed the lower rudder tip and cut the aileron push tubes.
4.0 hrs - Rework! Fitting the tail light and struggling with fiberglass.

  
 
     July 2004 Total:     28.5 hrs    (152 hrs to date)            
07/31/2004
07/29/2004
07/28/2004
07/25/2004
07/23/2004
07/14/2004
07/09/2004
07/07/2004
07/05/2004
07/02/2004

 3.0 hrs - Some riveting and fitting the Whelen Comet flash.
1.5 hrs - Fitting the bottom rudder tip.
5.0 hrs - More installing the HS and VS and fixing a few mistakes.
4.5 hrs - Continued installing the HS and VS.
3.5 hrs - Began installing the horizontal stabilizer.
2.0 hrs - Odds and ends and the VS tip.
4.0 hrs - Attached VS tip and rudder top tip and found a potential problem.
1.0 hrs - Made solid spacers for elevator horns/elevator tube bearing.
  .5 hrs - Replacement parts arrive - wrong stuff - Ugh!  Ugh!
3.5 hrs - Aligned and drilled the elevator horns.

  
 
     June 2004 Total:    16.5 hrs    (123.5 hrs to date)            
06/26/2004
06/22/2004
06/18/2004
06/17/2004
06/14/2004
06/02/2004

 7.0 hrs - Fit and finish work on the HS & elevator fiberglass tips - Ugh!
3.0 hrs - Installed last HS tip and drilled elevator horns.
2.0 hrs - Worked on right elevator fit and mounting.
2.0 hrs - Installed the left elevator tip.
1.0 hrs - Glued reinforcing to elevator fiberglass tip.
1.5 hrs - Notched flange for clearance of aileron horns and installed counterweight.		    
 
     May 2004 Total:      12 hrs    (107 hrs to date)            
05/22/2004
05/16/2004
05/15/2004
05/14/2004
05/09/2004

 1.5 hrs - Inventory and selecting the final color.
2.5 hrs - Found a defect and painted samples.
3.5 hrs - Inventory the big box.
3.0 hrs - BIG boxes arrive!
1.5 hrs - Installed the trim servo brackets and servo.		    
 
     April 2004 Total:       5 hrs    (95 hrs to date)            
04/13/2004
04/11/2004

 4.0 hrs - Hung the left elevator on the HS.
1.0 hrs - Rough fit elevator counterweight.		    
 
     March 2004 Total:    90 hrs    (90 hrs to date)            
03/26/2004  
03/25/2004
03/24/2004
03/23/2004
03/22/2004

 14 hrs - Finishing the horizontal stab.
19 hrs - Attaching the trim tab and bending the elevator leading edge & more...
18 hrs - It's hard to say if empennage is 20% done or 80% done???
20 hrs - Second (of building) and already there are recognizable parts!
19 hrs - The first rivet! Day one at SynergyAir. (count helper husband time too.)		    
 
   Start Here ^ by clicking 03/22/2004            

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
 
   
     
     
   
   
       
   
   
   
   
       
                               
   
   
     
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Visit The Conservative Politics at JennyJerrome.us

 

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Women building airplanes and a woman building an experimental airplane or homebuilt experimental airplanes. 

working from Redding CA eaa chapter 157.  EAA Redding CA California.  Join the Experimental Aircraft Association.

  
This is Kathleens airplane site. I am Kathleen Evans. More than 10 years ago, I decided I wanted to build a homebuilt aircraft -- an experimental kitplane or experimental homebuilt airplane. I didn't know what, but a homebuilt airplane was on my mind and I know I would be working on a homebuilt plane. When I decided it was time, it didn't take me long to decide on the vans rv-7 rv7 homebuilt kit. I had looked at every experimental kit plane around before I decided on a Van's Aircraft kit plane. So, I ordered my homebuilt aircraft kit. Vans aircraft was the first homebuilt airplane kit I had ever seen. Suddenly I had a homebuilt plane kit, homebuilt project like no other I had undertaken. I was mumbling in my sleep, "airplane experimental homebuilt, aircraft experimental homebuilt, kit plane van." It made no sense. I'm not sure it does today, but I do have a homebuilt kit sitting in my garage. I'm building an rv7, building an experimental, experimental aircraft, building a homebuilt, a builder, kitplane builders. Now I'm at Redding CA EAA Chapter 157...  eaa redding california.  Join the Experimental Aircraft Association.        
             

It is a vans rv7 rv-7. It is a vans homebuilt airplane kits and a vans experimental and an experimental homebuilt.  Redding CA EAA Chapter 157 or eaa157.

How many homebuilts are there? I don't know. Homebuilts, vans homebuilt, vans experimental homebuilt and rv homebuilts are all homebuilts eaa Redding CA.  Join the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Homebuilt aircraft include vans aircraft, vans rv7, van's rv, van's rv7, vans rv, vans rv7a, van's rv7a, van's rv-7a, vans rv-7a and RV-7.

 

It's an experimental homebuilt aircraft. It's a homebuilt experimental airplane. It's a homebuilt experimental aircraft.

A homebuilt aircraft kit and a homebuilt airplane kit and an experimental kit plane and a vans experimental kitbuilt and kits and homebuilt kits and experimental kits and experimental kitplane and other kitplanes.

Kathleens.