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Welcome to my builders log for the very popular Van’s Aircraft RV-9. In fact I am planning to build an RV-9A, which means that it will have a nose wheel unlike the RV-9. I hope the photos posted here will help to document my journey through the process of building an RV-9A.
Commentary on my daily work activities will be posted via blog entries. You can subscribe to the blog via an RSS feed for automatic updates. I will also take lots of photos which will be posted to “slide shows”. Visit any page on my site, click on an image and it will provide a detailed view of the photo in a slide show format. Click here for the most recent photos!
Van’s Aircraft RV9A*
*All photos of completed planes on this site are displayed with permission of owner.
Key Terms (Glossary)
- De-burr (edges)
De-burring refers to smoothing out the edges on aluminum parts. As each part is stamped or cut, it tends to leave machine marking on the edges of the metal. If any of these markings causes a ‘riser’, it is natural spot where fatigue could cause a stress fault in the future. Many techniques are used to smooth out the burr’s in the metal. My method of choice is very manual. I start with a vixen file to remove any large bumps or burrs. From there I sand the edge using 280 grit sand paper. The last step is to run a scotch bright pad over the edge. When completed the edge should be smooth to the touch, and not catch a fingernail.
- Cleco
A cleco refers to a small clamp that can be actuated within a drill hole. They are used to hold two or more parts together, by clamping them through the drilled hole. A special set of pliers is used to squeeze the cleco into a thin straight position. From there you can place the cleco into a drill hole, release the pliers and the cleco camp will squeeze the metal parts together.
- De-burr (drill holes)
De-burring also refers to smoothing out the edges of drilled holes. As each part is drilled, small metal fragments may be left on the edges of the hole. These small specs of metal could cause a rivet to rise above the hole, instead of sitting flush with the surface. This potential gap could cause the rivet to loose strength. Special tools are used to quickly remove any burrs, by spinning a cutting bit in each side of the hole.
RV-9A
Project hours to date
1918
Current
Done*
- RV9 vs RV9A
Vans offers many alternatives for building your plane, Tip Up Canopy vs Slider, Tail dragger vs Tricycle wheel. I learned to fly in a Cessna Tricycle gear plane, so building that seemed natural.
Van’s Aircraft RV9A
Van’s Aircraft RV9
Test fitting completed panel
Saturday, March 6, 2010
They say the “RV Grin” comes after you first flight. Well I am sure that is true, you also have many milestone days during your build. Today was one of those days that really put a builders Grin on my face. As you can see in this shot, all the elements on the panel are in place and fitted to the plane. The GPS is live, the two EFIS screens have paper
*Fuselage top skins off for access
It’s starting to look
like a plane. One day
it will take to the skies
