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My Vans RV7 Specification
Top Speed - 210mph
Cruise - 200mph Take off Distance - 275ft Landing Distance - 350ft Rate of Climb - 2'200fpm Ceiling 23'000ft Fuel Range - 775sm (950sm max echonomy cruise) Fuel Capacity - 42 US Gal / 80L Fuel Consumption 10/13 US Gal/hr. Powerplant/Systems
Engine - Superior IO-360-B1A2 (180hp@2700RPM)Propeller - Hertzell Constant Speed, HC-C2YR-1BFP/F7496-2 Dynon D100 EFIS (Electronic Flight Information System) Dynon AOA pitot head Advanced AF-2500 Engine Monitor (Fuel Flow, EGT, CHT, Fuel Press', Oil Temp/Press', Trim P', Flap P') Garmin 195 GPS EZ-Pilot - Auto-pilot coupled to GPS Odyssey PC680 battery, B&C Backup Alternator Backup instruments - Compass, Altimeter, Airspeed Indicator. ![]() ![]() |
Welcome to my Vans RV7 Quickbuild Project Site..
The Vans RV7 is a kit aircraft from Vans
Aircraft Inc in America. It is only available as a kit aircraft
because the certification requires that it is amateur built. In America
this is the experimental category, however, here in the UK we dont
have an experimental category we operate on a Permit to Fly
administered by The Light Aircraft Association.....[more]
Here on this site you will see all the details of how I built my Vans RV7 quick build kit, during the construction I took 2'719 photographs. I am in the process of updating the construction section to make use of all the pictures I have from my build diary (133 baffles, 386 canopy, 294 wings, 123 engine, 192 firewall plus other pictures). See the construction section below for what areas are covered. New project Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 bi-plane. See: www. GreatLakes2T .co.uk. August 2008: Thruxton to Muxamel (Spain) in my RV7. I have separated out 'My Flying' from this build site. New site: www.gapilot.co.uk RV7 painting has been completed 30-Jul-2007
My Vans RV7 has been to Mick Allens paint shop to have the exterior
painted. I took my RV7 in on 02-June and stripped the controls and
all exterior trim. Mick had to fit me in around some other jobs as
I had missed my slot due to weather - unable to fly in. It is now
complete, click picture left
to see the process and completed paintwork. Back now at Thruxton
completed (more pictures).Weight and Balance figures here. NEW video added 7-Nov-07 here. ![]() Thinking about building your own RV? - Visit my
Build Diary.
Here on this site you will see all the details of how I built my
Vans RV7 (quick build) kit, during the construction I took pictures
at every stage and posted a diary entry almost every day. I hope it
helps you plan your build and possible build options you may like
to take. You should find the area you are looking for!! Click for 2006 - 2005 - 2004 build diarys. Paint/Primer Information - RV Tools |
QUICK LINK
Links to parts of this site & others.
Paint Information
LAA RV6 Data Sheet TADS181 LAA RV7 Data Sheet TADS323 LAA RV6 & 7 Aerobatics application Hartzell F7496 Propeller PDF Document Hartzell F7496(Hartzell website) Precision SmartHawk Injection Servo The Light Aircraft Association (LAA) Vans Aircraft Flyer Magazine Jason's (Student PPL) Start-Flying Blog Airsports TV Links to support sites.
RV (UK) Bulletin BoardRV UK Squadron Advanced Flight Systems Support Dynon Support Garmin Aviation Updates Precision Technical Publications Supplier sites/links (opens new window).
Cambrai Aircarft
CoversClasic Aero Design Aircraft Oils (AM Oils) Aviation Oils - Airworld (UK) Ltd Air Gizmos ANR Headset Kits Aircraft Paint Design Software SafeAir1 Aircraft photo sites.
abpicAirplane Pictures Plane Pictures Airport/Aircraft Data/Pictures Flicker Aircraft Pictures Airlines Pictures ![]() |
News
News, events & now flying my RV7.
10-Nov-09 Construction - Electrical added.
08-Nov-08 Pricing a kit aircraft. 04-Nov-08 Construction Section - Building the Horizontal Stabilizer. 03-Nov-08 Construction Section - Cutting and fitting the canopy. 01-Nov-08 Pictures of my RV7 taken by Gary Ramage. 11-Oct-08 Formation flying in my RV7 at Northweald. 23-Aug-08 Retracing the trip I made to Valencia in C150, but in my RV7 this time - Thruxton-Muxamel. 27-Aug-07 Bank Holiday weekend Jo and I go to Isle of Wight Sandown. 05-Aug-07 Made a little video of me flying the RV out of Thruxton round Isle of Wight. 04-Aug-07 RV is back from the painter. 02-Jun-07 RV goes to the painter & I find a problem with the starter motor I take David, Robert & Aleix flying in the RV. Fuel Caps Engraved I found somewhere local able to engrave my fuel caps.. Easter Weekend 2007 A full weekend flying the RV (Popham, Bembridge, Perranporth, Wycombe, Blackbushe). 03-Mar-07 John comes over from America to visit. 02-Mar-07 Went flying with Bob Cole this afternoon, now OK to go out on my own. 23-Feb-07 Permit to Fly arrives, I am now in the air. 18/19-Nov-06, G-OVII takes to the sky.After 20 months of building at 13:40 my RV takes off for the first time with Bob Cole. 10/11-June-06 I moved the RV to the hanger. |
![]() What will it cost to build an RV? ![]() Vans Builders France -
LaBaule Fly-in 2006 - Colmar
Fly-in 2005
Every year the French Vans RV builders have a fly-in, last year it
was at LaBaule. Robert and I went over in my Cessna 150. The 2005 location
was Colmar.Bad weather again this year reduced the numbers attending and the event has subsequently been scraped. |
Building RV7 Time Line
A quick breakdown of significant events on the project.
25-Sep-04 The kit arrives in my workshop.
12-Oct-04 Tool kit arrives. 30-Oct-04 Rivet lesson with John Mitche. 6-Nov-04 Inspector Miles visits & clears to start building. 27-Jan-05 Started work on wings. 28-Mar-05 Inspector visits signes off empannage & wings to close off. Also inspects QB fuse. 4-Apr-05 Jo helps close right wing. 1-May-05 Tony helps close left wing. 9-May-05 John Mitche helps fit & align wings. 10-July-05 Cut canopy perspex. 15-Aug-05 Ordered Dynon D100. 1-Sep-05 Started instrument panel. 4-Sep-05 Fitted engine frame. 30-Sep-05 Collected Dynon D100 while in America. 4-Oct-05 Ordered Superior IO-360 engine from Jade Air. 9-Nov-05 Ordered firewall forward kit from Vans Aircraft. 29-Nov-05 Jade Air delivered engine. 6-Dec-05 Ordered Hartzell propeller from Vans Aircraft. 23-Feb-06 Powered up electrical system for first time (testing). 10-Mar-06 Propellar delivered. 11-Jul-06 Moved to hanger, wings fitted. 23-Jul-06 Started up engine. 4-Aug-06 Final inspection a few things to sort out. 29-Aug-06 Weight & balance. Passed final inspection. 13-Sep-06 PFA have paperwork for test flight. 18-Nov-06 Paperwork back from PFA. First test flight. 13-Jan-07 Finally completed test flying after bad weather. 15-Jan-07 Paperwork posted to PFA. 23-Feb-07 Permit to Fly received from CAA. |
Airfield & Flight Planning Sites
(A NEW BROWSER WINDOW WILL OPEN)
UK Flight planning & weather data. NEW SITE National
Air Traffic (NATS)
National
Air Traffic (NATS)
Met Office Weather - login Metcheck (not aviation weather) UK Airfield websites.
Popham
Airfield (EGHP)Thruxton (EGHO) Thruxton Airfield - Closed Dates 2007 Peterborough Sibson (EGSP) - NSOF Northweald - Area 51(Jets) Andrewsfield WhiteWaltham French Planning & Airfield Data.
French
AIPAerodrome Chateau la Chassagne Spanish Planning & Airfield Data.
Requena AerodromeOther Planning & Airfield Data.
Europe Flight Planning Nav2000Dutch AIS Italian AIP(req FREE) Airfields in Portugal |
Taking on a project like this will involve other
people - My project helpers.
In the main, I worked on the project totally on my own, but from
time to time I needed some help. Mostly Jo was the first person to come
to my rescue, but as the project progressed I found more people wanted
to get involved and be part of what was being built in my garage. Next project?
I have spent the last three years restoring a Great Lakes bi-plane. Feb'11 and I will soon be moving it to a hanger to fit the wings. |
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Copyright © 2011 GAPilot All rights reserved. All pictures are property of Go-7.co.uk (unless noted) please do not reproduce. For more information contact webmaster [at] gapilot .co.uk This site is NOT the official Vans Aircraft Inc site. The contents of this site are the opinion of the author, not Vans, LAA, FAA or CAA. Please check all information is correct before you act upon it. | ![]() |
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