Complete Service Bulletin 12-11-09 (Main Landing Gear Upgrade)

I completed SB 12-11-09 today.

Service Bulletin 12-11-09 (Main Landing Gear Upgrade)

Vans sent out a service bulletin requesting that everyone upgrade there landing gear.  They sent all of the people flying their RV-12 a kit free of charge.  It is a pretty involved upgrade.  I started it over the weekend

I had to take the wings off and put the fuselage on a pair of saw horses.

Then I had to drain the brakes and remove the landing gear

The first part of the fix required me to drill out a bunch of rivets so that I could add a doubling plate.  I drilled out the rivets and matched up the plate. Then I matched drilled the extra holes required.  This is as far as I have finished so far.

Minor upgrades

I have been flying the plan a lot lately and have finished with phase one testing. 

I did a few small modifications to the plane.  First I added a strap to hold my headsets

Then I put some knobs on my vent handles

Finally, I put in a stop for my flap handle

Fuel Pressure Gauge Works

Thanks to advice from the Van's Airforce web page, and specifically the post from Dave Gamble, I was able to configure my Fuel Pressure Gauge.  It now works as it should

Fuel Pressure issue

I currently do not read any Fuel Pressure.  The gauge on the Skyview page has a big X in it.  It appears to be an issue with the software.  This is what I see when I look down in the setup menu.

I'll post the question on Van's Airforce.

Phase One Testing

I have been working on my phase one testing.  Here are some pictures from the weekend.

First Flight

I completed my first Flight today.  I asked Gary to be the test pilot.  He took it for a high speed taxi.  Then he came back on completed 3 full stop landings.  After that, he flew it out over the ocean and did some flight testing.
After he returned, I hopped in and took it out for a spin.  Everything went great.  I'm looking forward to getting through my phase one flight testing so that I can take it on my first long distance cruise.

Received My Airworthiness Certificate

It's official.  I now own an Airplane.  My DAR and the FAA came out to inspect my plane and ruled that it was legal to fly it.

Still waiting on my inspection

I'm still waiting on my inspection.  I expect to have it scheduled in the next two weeks.

I got the data plate mounted and the numbers on the tail

Taxi around the airport

Today I did a few minor adjustments to the plane and then I practiced using the differential brake steering.

Finishing up on the loose ends

For the last couple of week I have been going through the Vans checklist

I started the engine and Synced up the carbs
Did a test taxi around the airport
Calibrated the gas tank
Calibrated the Pitot system
Calibrated the Static system
Weighed the plane and calibrated the center of gravity
Applied for and received my registration (N476VT)
Contacted a DAR and sent in all the FAA Forms

At this point I am ready for my inspection.  I'm waiting on the DAR

Started My Engine for the First Time Today

Planning to Start the Motor

The plan today was to start the motor.  The first thing I had to do was purge the oil system.  I removed and caped the oil inlet.

Hooked up a drain hose.

Set up my compressor.  

Spun the prop about 75 times and out came the oil

Next I put in about one gallon of gasoline.
And there it is.  Into the gas tank and onto the floor.

I guess I forgot to tighten the fuel line onto the fuel pump.  

Since I had fuel all over the inside of the fuselage, I decided to wait until next weekend to try again.

I'm off for a much needed vacation

I'll be gone for the next two weekend.  No updates until I return

Little Details

Now it is all about finishing up the many details.  I got the stickers on today.  I adjusted the trim and connected it with the Skyview.  I calibrated the Autopilot and confirmed the prop pitch