Sep 01, 2024     GOAL - ready to fly grandkids!       Category: Milestones

My goal is to finish inspections, transition training and flight testing before 9/1/2024. I want to fly to visit the grandkids and start taking them on flights as soon as they are ready. The plane has to be safe and I have to be current. It is okay if the RV isn't painted.

I started the project in 2001 and made fairly good progress on the slow build empennage and wings. I started on the slow build fuselage in July 2005. I got stuck several times after that. Sometimes for valid reasons (Ellicia's health, 11 months of contract work in Washington state at Boeing, my health), but most of the time for no good reason at all. I always enjoyed it when I started working on the RV again and was always surprised that the short break turned out to be so long.

Project Restart Phase 1:
To get back into the routine, I have to work on it daily from 4/15/2022 to 7/22/2022. Even when I am traveling I have to do something such as research to support the project. The consequence for missing a day of work on it from 4/15 to 7/22/2022 is to send my daughter $50. And the reward for missing 5 or fewer days of work between 4/15 and 6/15 is I get to go to AirVenture 2022.

I only missed one day in phase 1, 7/22 when I was traveling to Oshkosh. I had a great time and learned a lot at Oshkosh this year. I bought some parts, finalized my decision to use a full Garmin panel, started thinking about a different IFR navigator, and found new options for engine suppliers. I plan to purchase avionics in August and an engine in the next month or two.

Project Restart Phase 2:
Continue trying to work on the project every day and increase the hours per week to at least 21 from August 7 to December 31, 2022.
I'll be ordering Avionics and the engine this phase. I don't have to work on it during days I am traveling (to visit the grandkids for example!!). The consequence for missing my weekly goal of 21 hours except on travel weeks is to send my daughter $50. I missed my weekly commitment 2 times this phase.

Project Restart Phase 3:
Continue to try to work on the project every day and increase the hours per week to at least 31.5 (average of 4.5 hours a day) for 1/8/2023 through 4/29/2023. I don't have to work on it during days I am traveling (to visit the grandkids for example!!) or when they are in town visiting me or we have other out of town guests. The consequence for missing my weekly goal of 31.5 hours except on travel weeks is to send my daughter $50. The reward is to get closer to flying. I completed phase 3 without missing any weekly commitments.

Project Restart Phase 4:
Took a break the week of 4/30 which included two days for contract work to help pay for some airplane parts. I did work on the project some days.
Starting Phase 4 on Sunday, May 7. Continue to try to work on the project every day and continue with the hours per week of at least 31.5 (average of 4.5 hours a day) for 5/7/2023 through 9/30/2023. I don't have to work on it during days I am traveling (to visit the grandkids for example!!) or when they are in town visiting me or we have other out of town guests. The consequence for missing my weekly goal of 31.5 hours except on travel or visit weeks is to send my daughter $50. The reward is to get closer to flying. I missed 4 out of 22 weekly goals.

Project Restart Phase 5:
Starting the week of 10/1/2023 and ending 12/30/2023. Continue with the hours per week of at least 31.5 (average of 4.5 hours a day). I don't have to work on it during days I am traveling (to visit the grandkids for example!!) or when they are in town visiting me or we have other out of town guests. I also get two full days off when we return from Hawaii trips to recover from the travel and time change. The consequence for missing my weekly goal of 31.5 hours except on travel or visit weeks is to send my daughter $50. The reward is to get closer to flying.

Project Restart Phase 6:
It was hard to get this phase started. Two weeks in Hawaii with the kids in December and February didn't help, but I sure enjoyed it.

Starting the week of 3/3/2024 and ending 6/29/2024. Same rules as phase 5 except I get the day off when I am working full time on contract work or I am sick or need to take it easy such as three days when I have oral surgery in March. I also plan to include time for documentation and for fiberglass training this phase. I doubt if it will be a problem, but I can change the phase 6 rules if the situation changes dramatically (such as I move the project to the airport or start working with fiberglass that limits when I can work).

Project Restart Phase 7:
I'll review progress at the end of Phase 6 and define Phase 7 goals, consequences and rewards.

  Aug 03, 2022     Oshkosh 2022       Category: Milestones

I just returned from Oshkosh 2022. Started my journey by train to Denton on 7/21, then drove to Fond du Lac with a good friend with stops in Kansas City, MO (Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum!) and Plattville, WI. Had a great time talking to vendors, buying parts and tools, looking at airplanes and watching the airshow. The Saturday night airshow was amazing. Then drove back to Denton with stops in Madison, WI and Kansas City. The final leg on 8/3 to Austin was by Greyhound bus since the train was full by the time I decided to buy tickets.

I confirmed my decision to go all Garmin on the avionics was a good one for me after getting some hands on time in the Garmin booth and talking to Stein. I also am rethinking my decision on which IFR navigator to use.

I made decisions on what accessories to use on the engine and then complicated my engine decisions by considering Aerosport Power and Barrett Precision as potential suppliers along with my original choice of Lycoming.

I purchased FlyLEDs strobe, position and landing light DIY kits.

I purchased a panel planner software license for my panel design.

I learned a lot about engines from attending 3 of the 13 different sessions presented by Mike Busch. Then I bought his "Engines" book and have started reading it. I also bought an inspection camera and later learned that Mike recommends using one anytime a spark plug is removed from the engine.

I bought an Aerocreeper that should come in handy during the build.

  May 03, 2022     Still working on left gear leg mount weldment... - (.9 hour) Category: Milestones

Light day today. Continued install, inspect, file and repeat. One mounting hole out of the 15 that attache the weldment to the spar carry through needs a tiny bit of work.

  Apr 15, 2022     The Big Project Restart - (1.5 hours)       Category: Milestones

I've been storing my project RV-7A too long!!! I remember sage advice from Deene Ogden, something like "get building, you don't have that many more years left to fly". And I want to be able to fly my grandkids while they are young and they are growing up fast. So I am finally taking steps to restart and, this time, keep going until I finish the project.

I made a contract with my grandkids to work on it every day between 4/15 and 7/22. And there will be consequences when I miss. I will send their mom $50 every day I don't complete work as defined in the contract. And rewards if I miss less than 5 times between now and 6/15! My rewards are: 1) Progress on a goal that is important to me. 2) I get to buy an air cooler for the hangar or garage. 3) I get to attend Airventure 2022 (and hopefully place orders for some final big expensive parts).

Thank you Austin, Sarah, Lily and Mae for the encouragement and motivation to finish this project!

Day one of "building" is to start cleaning out the garage so I have space to work on the RV.

Created plan and agreement. Touched airplane. Cleaned up garage for 1.5 hours - sorted and recycled boxes, started putting up tools, gathered hazardous waste to take to recycle place.