Scott & Tanya Card RV9A build log (N4822C)

We got back from flying with Alex in Dallas. A highly recommended educational experience indeed. We drove up Monday afternoon and had a flight scheduled at 5:30pm. When we got there Alex had the pre-flight done and the plane ready to go. We were flying within five minutes. Alex is a no nonsense instructor worth way more than he charges. He made very sure that I had consumed the flight characteristics that I should expect in my plane. We explored how the RV is different (better) than most other planes I’ve been flying. On Tuesday, we started at around 9:30am just as the local low clouds were starting to burn off. I lost count of how many approaches we did. We worked a lot on emergency procedures and approaches. It was a great tune up on my skills. I feel prepared for first flight.
We got back Tuesday evening and I worked on paperwork for inspection.

It seems to me that when the data plate goes on, it is done…

We got the weight and balance done today. Our local EAA chapter bought some nice scales a couple of years ago that are made available. Super easy. It weights 1109# empty. I’m cool with that, especially since Jim’s weighs the same :). This is fully a team operation of two RV-9A’s toward completion now.

The “short list” is just about complete. The only thing left is to calibrate the fuel level senders. Then it is just prep for airworthiness inspection. I’m off to Dallas tomorrow for transition training. My project is ready for “pre-inspection inspections” from the peanut gallery.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

Pitot/Static & Transponders tested.

First engine start. Ran totally perfect, no squawks. We have video (I think). More later.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

I got my P-mags back from being updated again. I started reinstalling them and was going to clear any saved timing data using the blow tube mechanism. To my surprise, the blow-in-the-tube operation didn’t produce any results. Nada, nothing happened. Hmm.. I double checked my wiring and method. Nope. After messing with this for a couple hours, I finally called Brad at Emag and got the skinny that they had “temporarily” disabled that feature while they worked through some bugs. Cool. That feature has gotten a lot of bad press and I’m perfectly happy to be without it. I happily proceeded to time them mechanically. This is software version 25.

I went and got some fuel to do a little testing:

calculated open fuel flow rate is 26.8gph which is pretty close to the indicated fuel flow sensor display of 27gph. Calculated unusable fuel is .04 gal (longeron level)! I have the Vans pre-fabricated fuel pickups in each tank.

Then on to pressurizing the closed system. No leaks so far except for a gusher at the fuel flow sensor. It has a crack in the housing at the output fitting. I must have over torqued that fitting and cracked the sensor body. Ouch, $200 to replace. A new one is on its way overnight.