Intro

My name is Taran I’m based in Sydney Australia and this is the build log for my Van’s Aircraft RV-7

The Van’s RV-7 is a 2 seater side by side all aluminium kit aircraft capable of high cruise speeds of up to 180 knots & economic cruise speed of approx 160 knots coupled with a low stall speed of about 50 knots.

The RV-7 is also fully aerobatic to the FAA aerobatic category standard of +6/-3G

For more info see the Van’s Aircraft website https://www.vansaircraft.com/rv-7/

Contact

Finishing Firewall

-Continued firewall riveting -Riveted all brackets on -Tidied up some bucking bar damage on 601j brackets and touched up with alodine pen -Apart from rivets for cutout to be done later the firewall is done     Manual Reference: 7-11 Installed Removed…

Firewall RHS Riveting

-Built a quick cradle to hold the firewall and make it easier to work on -Riveted Right hand side of firewall together Manual Reference: 7-11 Installed Removed Rivets Today 70 2 Wing Rivets 3387 73 Fuse Rivets 94 2 Empennage Rivets…

Right Flap Completion

-Riveted bottom skin-spar-hinge -Right Flap Complete Manual Reference: 7-11 Installed Removed Rivets Today 57 0 Wing Rivets 3387 73 Fuse Rivets 24 0 Empennage Rivets 2215 49 Total Project Rivets 5632 121 Hours 1 Total Hours 519 Statistics

Right Flap Closing up

-Finished riveting flap skins to each other -Clecoed 706B to inboard rib, drilled to platenut, countersunk and riveted together -Riveted both end ribs to assembly -Slid spar in and pop riveted spar to ribs -Drove top row of skin-spar rivets…

Riveting Right Flap

-Riveted another bay and a half completing internal ribs Manual Reference: 7-11 Installed Removed Rivets Today 34 1 Wing Rivets 3218 68 Fuse Rivets 24 0 Empennage Rivets 2215 49 Total Project Rivets 5463 116 Hours 1 Total Hours 515.5 Statistics

Right Flap Starting Assembly

-Riveted 706A to spar -Removed fwd rivet from inboard rib nutplate that i mistakenly fitted earlier -Found that although primer looks much better on this side its quite soft and scratches easily, doesn’t appear to have etched properly, my guess…

Left Flap Riveting

-Riveted all internal ribs to skins -Riveted skins together at rear spar-Found that some offcuts of kaizen foam from my toolbox made holding the bucking bar in place easier -Realised I was meant to leave one of the bearing attach…

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