Background

I'm building a Van's RV-8A two-place, high-performance, single-engine aircraft. This portion of the web site is to chronicle my construction process and progress. There may or may not be interesting bits for folks building planes of their own. I am not a master craftsman by any means. Most of my tricks and techniques have been stolen liberally from others.

Perhaps of most benefit are the problems encountered and how I get around them. One of the most helpful things about the websites of others is looking at photos of particularly tricky bits that required innovation to surmount. More than likely others encounter the same sort of challenge that I face and reading their methods has been the key to solving my own issue du jour.

Before starting a new major sub assembly I'll do two things; First, clean the workshop. Second, check the web to see how others handled what I am about to tackle. This is one of the unspoken benefits of the Van's designs. They are extremely numerous, and probably the best web-documented planes on the market. This web site is my way of contributing to that community from which I have benefited so greatly.

It was natural to blend my flying interest with my desire to build things in the form of my RV project.   I should note that this is my second attempt at starting a major homebuilding project.   The first was also a Van's RV-8A, but I ended up selling the project shortly after I acquired the kit, since after starting up my third startup company I had almost no time to work on the project. I sold it to Ulf Peterson in Peachtree City, GA, and I understand that he has completed it. Ulf, if you ever read this, I sure would like to see that bird.