----This
page is designed to keep our family and friends updated on our wild and
crazy project of building an RV-8 airplane in our basement. (Sept.
2000)
This journey began with a J-3 Cub ride 50 years ago with my father in
East Alabama, progressed to Air Force pilot training in T-37's, T-38's,
then F-4's until beginning a 32 year career at Delta Air Lines.
The light aircraft adventure included our first airplane, a
Cherokee 140, then a Beech Sierra, 2 Barons, and a 172. Judy, my
wife and building partner, has her multi-engine instrument rating via
the Auburn University School of Aviation in their Duchess.
(retired from
airline 26Jan,2002 see family link)
I flew N165JM "Judy
Judy Judy" on 28 May 2003 after 2 1/2 years of construction.
I flew N713MB
"Judy Judy Judy 2" in June 06 after 15 months
of construction.
Mike and Judy Ballard
more to story here:
http://www.alabamaaviator.com/isaa.asp?id=74803
even more here:
http://www.alabamaaviator.com/index.asp?record_no=7196
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Click on links
below for latest updates)
May 08-Lanett Flyin, VHF Squadron flying
Link to Alabama Aviator 25 March 08 about Veterans Squadron:
http://www.alabamaaviator.com/index.asp?record_no=12761
March 08- Gulf Shores Flyin
March 08- Auburn Flyin
Feb 08- Smokers Flying
Jan08-Smoke system
DEC 07-VHF Squadron flying
More photos at blog site below:
http://vhfsquadron.wordpress.com/
Oct 06- SERFI flying
10 July 06-Instrument panel
26 June 06-RV8 #2 FLIES
11 May 06-Assembly of RV8#2-fuselage
01 May 06-Painted fuselage
01 April 06-First engine start
29 Jan06-Family photo
21Jan 06- Cowl installed
20 Dec05-Panel, It's alive!
25 Nov 05 - Panel progress on
#2
Nov 05- Engine and prop on- Engine
Aug 05-Interior paint
June 05- 4 months of work on number 2-Fuselage
March 05- 2 RV8 Kits Arrive -Fuselage
Feb 05-Made cover of EAA 2005 Feb Issue-Check Flying
link.
Dec 04-Granchildren photo-Family
Nov04- New (2nd RV8) Vert. Stab.
Oct 04- Fall Flying
27 Mar 04-Mallard Landing Fly In -
Flying
13Mar04-P51 Flying
Escort
17 Feb 04- Flying- 100 dollar
hamburger
Dec 11 03- Flying
December 2003-Finished or 99.9% complete. See Painting
.
18 Sep 03 - 50 hours
on tach-New Cowl Paint fuselage
15 June 03-Wheel Pants on-Fuselage
28 May 03-Airworthiness Inspection and FIRST
FLIGHT
15 May 03-Weigh Plane-fuselage
19 April 03- Taxi Test, soon to Fly?
04 Apr03-Flaps attached-Wings
26Mar 03-Grin ride-air show
09 Mar 03- Both wings
08 Mar 03- Right Wing
25 Feb 03- Move to Airport (7A3)-fuselage
19 Feb 03-Canopy skirt attached-Canopy
18 Feb-First Engine Start-engine
01Feb-Wheelpants-fuselage
17 Jan 03-Battery Installed-Battery
7 Jan 03-Seat Construction-interior
27 Dec 02- Filter Air & Carb Heat- Engine
10 Dec 02-Brother'sRV 6A progress
5Dec02-Wingtip Painting-Painting
12 Nov02-Vetterman Exhaust bolted on-Engine
05 Nov-Oil Cooler attached-Engine
03 Nov-Baffle progress-Engine
01 Oct-Brothers in race to who flies first-fuselage
27Sep-Cowl fitting-fuselage
04Sep- First layer of fiberglass-Canopy
02 Sep-Prop & Spinner added-fuselage
28Aug- Fuselage
28 Aug- Wiring
29 July-Oshkosh 2002
20 June02-Wiring
22May- Panel
7 May 02-Wing
Apr02-Sun N Fun-Airshow
22 Apr-FWF
21 Mar-Switch panel-wiring
20 Mar-Fuel Pump
20 Mar-Fuselage Fuel Selector
20 Mar- Electrical
11 Mar-Grin Ride -airshow
02 Mar- More Baggage Door. fuselage
21 Feb- Fwd Bag door
progress-fuselage
4 Feb Engine
mounted- engine
1 Feb-Canopy update-
canopy
26 Jan 2002-Delta
retirement- family
More instrument panel-30 Nov. panel
Nov 01-Instrument
Panel cut-panel
26 Nov 01-Motivation
grin ride in RV8-airshow
30 Oct- Horiz and
Vert Tail attached-fuselage
28 Oct 01-Panel
12 Oct- Canopy
mounted on frame
11 Oct Canopy cut- Canopy
9 Aug 01-Stainless
scuff plate under rudders-fuselage
1 Aug 01-Front and
Rear Throttles & Ail Trim-fuselage
31 July 01-Canopy
frame- canopy
7 July 01-Painting
Interior-painting
6 June 01-Fuselage
on gear-fuselage
4/20/01-Top skin
clecoed-fuselage
4/19/01-Battery Box-battery
3/10/2001-Side panels-fuselage
3/5/2001 - New pictures
in the fuselage page
2 Feb- RV8QB arrives,
see workshop
1 Feb 2001-- Left
elevator under construction - elevator link
27 Jan 2001-3 RV's
visit 7A3- see airshow link
28 Nov-Right
Elevator-Primed with stiffeners
18 Nov Right
Elevator- cleco jungle
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