Elevators

THE RV-7 AIRCRAFT

THE QUICKBUILD KIT

BUILDING THE KIT
THE EMPENNAGE

THE WINGS

THE FUSELAGE

THE CANOPY

THE ENGINE

PAINT

AVIONICS

THE OTHER 90%

e-mail: robert@protekperformance.com

OTHER USEFUL SITES
Experimental Aircraft Assoc.
Vans Aircraft Home Page
Van's Air Force - World Wing
Kitplanes Magazine
Avery Tools
Some nice RV pics

LOCAL WEATHER
LOCAL SATELLITE LOOP

Project started 8/15/01
First flight 7/02/03
Flight hours to date - 395
Last updated 8/28/08

Elevators

9-11-01
It has been a tough day in the shop. Not because of the airplane parts sitting on the table. But because of the terrible events in New York and Washington D.C. After watching CNN for about three hours this morning I couldn't watch anymore and forced myself into the garage to work on the plane. Feeling a little numb, I got a little work done. But I can't stop thinking about the fact that the World Trade Center doesn't exist anymore. It doesn't seem possible that a group could so easily erase the lives of thousands of people with so little effort. This is a very sad day in history. I could say a lot more, but writing about it is just making me feel worse - so I'll leave it at that.

I did get a little bit done on the right elevator.

9-12-01
The right elevator stiffeners have been fabricated and riveted to the skin. The right elevator spar has been fabricated. The next steps are to debur, prime and rivet the spar, then finish the trailing edge of the elevator and assemble the skin to the spar.

9-13-01
The right elevator is fabricated. The skin is ready to be riveted to the spar and the leading edge needs to be formed.

9-15-01
The right elevator is finished - one more elevator to go and the empennage is complete!

9-26-01
The left elevator has stiffeners riveted in and the trailing edge finished. The next tasks will be to build the spar and the elevator trim tab.

9-27-01
Once again, a test fit in the jig proves the jig to be unnecessary for elevator assembly. The left elevator is straight as an arrow due to the accurately located prepunched holes. The spars have been drilled to the skin. It's time to close the left elevator.

10-2-01
Yeah!! - Where is the champagne! (I found a Coors Light - I guess it will have to do)
The empennage is finished. Here is the completed left elevator and trim tab assembly. It has been a fair amount of work to get to this point (about 200 hours). But, it's nice to be here. I know 100 times more about (metal) plane construction than I did a few weeks ago and the major non-quickbuild part of the project is done. The project has been straight forward, the kit has been well designed and did I mention THE EMPENNAGE IS DONE! (sorry, but I think I'll say it a few more times out loud)