Scroll

RV-8 Build Photos

Home > RV-8 Build Photos

RV-8 Build Photo Gallery

The Big Box

September the 4th, 2003 was a very special day. Finally my k...

<h5>The Big Box</h5><p>September the 4th, 2003 was a very special day. Finally my kit arrived home.
Many years dreaming of it, and there it was. </p>

Unloading the big box

<h5>Unloading the big box</h5>

Unloading the big box

My Son Carlos (left) and my friend Miguel (blue clothes) (pi...

<h5>Unloading the big box</h5><p>My Son Carlos (left) and my friend Miguel (blue clothes) (picture RV llegada 2) were there to help. Miguel flew year 1998 with me in is ultralight aircraft from Madrid to Milan, on my way to Oshkosh with my Kitfox IV. Miguel´s RV4 crashed some time later and Miguel was killed. What a hard moment !</p>

My Shop

My shop was ready and waiting for the RV kit to arrive to it...

<h5>My Shop</h5><p>My shop was ready and waiting for the RV kit to arrive to its new home.</p>

Bending sheet aluminum

<h5>Bending sheet aluminum</h5>

Bending the elevator leading edge

<h5>Bending the elevator leading edge</h5>

Gluing the Canopy

The canopy was glued instead of riveted. I used Loctite epox...

<h5>Gluing the Canopy</h5><p>The canopy was glued instead of riveted. I used Loctite epoxy. It was a messy work </p>

Gluing the canopy

<h5>Gluing the canopy</h5>

Engine is a Superior XP IO 360

<h5>Engine is a Superior XP IO 360</h5>

Mounting the prop spinner

There are many way to find the propeller section at the spin...

<h5>Mounting the prop spinner</h5><p>There are many way to find the propeller section at the spinner, but I think the tape system one is a good choice</p>

Mounting the Prop Spinner

My friend and tools expert Fernando, adjusting the spinner p...

<h5>Mounting the Prop Spinner</h5><p>My friend and tools expert Fernando, adjusting the spinner position for a perfect track</p>

Air Intake modification

The provided engine air intake didn´t fit well around the e...

<h5>Air Intake modification</h5><p>The provided engine air intake didn´t fit well around the engine starter I have on the engine. I had to cut it and adapt it.</p>

Air Intake modification

<h5>Air Intake modification</h5>

Air Intake modification

<h5>Air Intake modification</h5>

Pitot Tube Install

Installing the pitot tube...into the wrong wing. Yes, that h...

<h5>Pitot Tube Install</h5><p>Installing the pitot tube...into the wrong wing. Yes, that happens !
</p>

The picture is just after the first wings installation and i...

<p>The picture is just after the first wings installation and incidence adjustment. From left to right, Fernando, Javier and Andrés (Javier´s son). The settings proved to be right and the airplane flew straight since the first flight.
</p>

Building the Flaps

I build a flaps fake to find the right cutting and flaps to ...

<h5>Building the Flaps</h5><p>I build a flaps fake to find the right cutting and flaps to fuselage adjustments </p>

Designing a custom power plug

that is the external power plugging compartment, just behind...

<h5>Designing a custom power plug</h5><p>that is the external power plugging compartment, just behind the wing, and very close to the battery. It is not unfrequent and mainly in very cold conditions, that a battery can be short of energy. It happened to me during the 1998 and 2001 flights.
The best place to have it is next to the engine, but not many ground people like to unplug the external power, standing between the wing and the prop
</p>

Power plug parts

<h5>Power plug parts</h5>

Power Plug installation

<h5>Power Plug installation</h5>

Belly Tank Release

Once the hooks were removed, I cut and milled them, then epo...

<h5>Belly Tank Release</h5><p>Once the hooks were removed, I cut and milled them, then epoxy primed.</p>

Belley Tank Release

The front one is designed to be hanged from the lower fusel...

<h5>Belley Tank Release</h5><p>The front one is designed to be hanged from the lower fuselage wing carry-through spars. The belly fuel tank center of gravity is almost a that point.
The rear hook is attached to the rear wing incidence anchoring point. The load there will be light.
</p>

Wing tank selector

The system was designed to include tubular fuel tanks at the...

<h5>Wing tank selector</h5><p>The system was designed to include tubular fuel tanks at the ribs lightening holes</p>

Adjusting the fit of the wheel pants

<h5>Adjusting the fit of the wheel pants</h5>

Alexander, the Russian navigator who was valiant to fly with...

<p>Alexander, the Russian navigator who was valiant to fly with me across Siberia in 1998, came to Spain and we were happy to meet again more than 10 years after the flight. His wife was with him and we enjoyed a beautiful day in Barcelona</p>

Wing Leading Edge

The wing leading edge external fuel tank. Sorry about the pi...

<h5>Wing Leading Edge</h5><p>The wing leading edge external fuel tank. Sorry about the picture quality. </p>

Cool Tool

I designed a tool for drilling the new holes at the wing spa...

<h5>Cool Tool</h5><p>I designed a tool for drilling the new holes at the wing spars and fuel tank skins.
I had to adapt the original 3/32 holes to the bolt size used for the tank to attach the spars
</p>

You can see the new holes versus the 3/32 original ones and ...

<p>You can see the new holes versus the 3/32 original ones and check how they are positioned</p>

Using the cool Tool

Drilling using the tool and a view of the fuel tanks joining...

<h5>Using the cool Tool</h5><p>Drilling using the tool and a view of the fuel tanks joining ribs. There is almost no room between the fuel tanks (as in other installations that I have seen) and no pump either.</p>

Landing Light fabrication

The outer or external wing tanks did´t allow for the origin...

<h5>Landing Light fabrication</h5><p>The outer or external wing tanks did´t allow for the original landing light position (some installations kept that original position) , so I decided to move it into the wingtip. I had to build a new lens, using a ¨special dedicated oven at pizza temperatures!
</p>

Baking the landing light lens

<h5>Baking the landing light lens</h5>

The lens fits!

<h5>The lens fits!</h5>

Wing tank plumbing

Outer or external wing tanks details (check valve was instal...

<h5>Wing tank plumbing</h5><p>Outer or external wing tanks details (check valve was installed because I planned to have also fuel inside the wing tips). Fuel venting is visible. </p>

Wing Tank Plumbing

The system was designed to include tubular fuel tanks at the...

<h5>Wing Tank Plumbing</h5><p>The system was designed to include tubular fuel tanks at the ribs lightening holes</p>

Tubular fuel tanks

The plane is ready to receive three tubular fuel tanks at th...

<h5>Tubular fuel tanks</h5><p>The plane is ready to receive three tubular fuel tanks at the rib lightening holes. Initially I will not install those tanks, but it is always an option. Those tank drain at the same point that the wing tanks do.</p>

Preparing for the tube tanks

<h5>Preparing for the tube tanks</h5>

Time to Paint!

Painting the airplane in the garage. I built a boot using ga...

<h5>Time to Paint!</h5><p>Painting the airplane in the garage. I built a boot using garden plastic tubes, air conditioning filter and Low pressure high volume gun. All the paint job and priming was done that way. The epoxy primer was Titan Yate, a really good one.
Paint was two components used for cars.
My paint job is right but far from the ones I love.
</p>

More Painting

<h5>More Painting</h5>

2400 Year Old Tatoo

That tail painted deer, is from a tattoo found in a women so...

My daughter Anaelle is inserting the nuts for the horizontal stabilizer . No much room is left for that purpose and it was hard to me to feel the bolts

<h5>My daughter Anaelle is inserting the nuts for the horizontal stabilizer . No much room is left for that purpose and it was hard to me to feel the bolts</h5>

Panel Lighting

The instrument panel is working. Lighting is good enough

<h5>Panel Lighting</h5><p>The instrument panel is working. Lighting is good enough</p>

Finally leaving the shop

Loading the plane at home for the trip to the airport

<h5>Finally leaving the shop</h5><p>Loading the plane at home for the trip to the airport</p>

Unloading at the airport

and unloading it from the truck at Robledillo airdrome, some...

<h5>Unloading at the airport</h5><p>and unloading it from the truck at Robledillo airdrome, some 60 NM northeast of Madrid, a very beautiful place, close to the mountains. The day was rainy, and a lot of care was necessary for the driver to have the plane safely into the airfield</p>

Cool Tool

This is the system I designed to be able to remove the wheel...

<h5>Cool Tool</h5><p>This is the system I designed to be able to remove the wheel from the landing gear. It is very simple and locks by itself. It takes no room at the tool kit and can be very handy. Of course, somebody has to provide a hydraulic lifter</p>

Working on the flight at home

Working on the flight at home

<h5>Working on the flight at home</h5><p>Working on the flight at home</p>

Printing the mask for the logos and registration numbers

<h5>Printing the mask for the logos and registration numbers</h5>

First Flight!

What a nice experience. The take off and landing were a litt...

<h5>First Flight!</h5><p>What a nice experience. The take off and landing were a little bit squirry but as you can imagine,the RV grin was there, even before taking off.
Most of my family was there and also friends.
</p>

First Flight

<h5>First Flight</h5>

Oxygen System

Oxygen system bottle and helmet for the attempt to reach low...

<h5>Oxygen System</h5><p>Oxygen system bottle and helmet for the attempt to reach low temperatures. I was able to climb at 24000 ft. </p>

First step to 24,000'

Next picture is just before the flight, with a cold protecti...

<h5>First step to 24,000'</h5><p>Next picture is just before the flight, with a cold protection suit fitted for the flight.
</p>

My older son, Miguel Angel, is finally flying the RV

<h5>My older son, Miguel Angel, is finally flying the RV</h5>

Black Carbon Experts

Lucas Alados and Gloria Titos from CEAMA , who lead the blac...

<h5>Black Carbon Experts</h5><p>Lucas Alados and Gloria Titos from CEAMA , who lead the black carbon project, are meeting the RV8 at Granada airport. They are the key of this scientific study</p>

The Earthrounders Convention

Matevz and his wife, at last Earthrounders meeting. Matevz i...

<h5>The Earthrounders Convention</h5><p>Matevz and his wife, at last Earthrounders meeting. Matevz is not only a good pilot, nice person, but also a very good photographer, biologist and mountains climber. Only problem is that he is always pulling my legs!</p>

With Matevz at Slovenia. I was returning his visit into Spain. Beautiful country, indeed

<h5>With Matevz at Slovenia. I was returning his visit into Spain. Beautiful country, indeed</h5>

Lorena

Lorena is working on the structural maths for the rear fuel ...

<h5>Lorena</h5><p>Lorena is working on the structural maths for the rear fuel tank</p>

Anaelle

Anaelle is working with Solid Edge software, to make the dra...

<h5>Anaelle</h5><p>Anaelle is working with Solid Edge software, to make the drawings for the laser cutting machine</p>

US food survival kits.

I will be having them for 7 days survival. I hope to it the...

<h5>US food survival kits.</h5><p> I will be having them for 7 days survival. I hope to it them after the round the world flight</p>

Marta's flight

my three daughters preparing Marta´s flight. Marta is alway...

<h5>Marta's flight</h5><p>my three daughters preparing Marta´s flight. Marta is always wanting to fly. All three love light aerobatics

</p>

Martas Flight

<h5>Martas Flight</h5>

Rear Fuel Tank

<h5>Rear Fuel Tank</h5>

The rear fuel tank looks impressive and somehow fearful.

<p>The rear fuel tank looks impressive and somehow fearful.</p>

Last Earthrounders meeting at St Petersburg. It was very nice to be there

<h5>Last Earthrounders meeting at St Petersburg. It was very nice to be there</h5>

23,000 and still climbing

Still climbing to 24,000 ft search for cold temperatures. Th...

<h5>23,000 and still climbing</h5><p>Still climbing to 24,000 ft search for cold temperatures. The last 4000 ft were long to reach</p>

Carlos' Flight

My son Carlos also flew the RV. He enjoyed the flight and th...

<h5>Carlos' Flight</h5><p>My son Carlos also flew the RV. He enjoyed the flight and the roll.</p>

Rear Fuel tank

This is a picture of the inside of the fuel tank, with the b...

<h5>Rear Fuel tank </h5><p>This is a picture of the inside of the fuel tank, with the baffles in position. I think that I will open some more lightening holes in those bafles, as the fuel tank is somehow heavy</p>