Tom's RV7

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#0000FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="310a3640.gif" border=0 width="163" height="100" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></B></I><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Britannic Bold" ><I><B>Van's Air Force - Minnesota Wing</B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>The Twin Cities RV Builder's Group</B></I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=20% BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>*  *  *  *  *</B></div> <div> <A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>Home Page</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="About.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A><B> </B><A HREF="JoinEmail.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Email Group"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="1641f0c0.gif" border=0 width="31" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="RVator.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RVator Log"><U><B>The "RVator's Log"</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="MList.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Member List"><U><B>Member List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Member Project"><U><B>Member Projects</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Completed aircraft"><U><B>Completed Aircraft</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First flights"><U><B>1st</B></U></A><A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First flights"><U><B> Flights</B></U></A><A HREF="JoinEmail.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Email Group"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="1641f0c0.gif" border=0 width="31" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Techs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tech counselors"><U><B>Tech Counselors and DARs</B></U></A><B> </B><A HREF="JoinEmail.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Email Group"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="1641f0c0.gif" border=0 width="31" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Trans.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Transition training"><U><B>Transition Training</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Tips.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Builder Tips"><U><B>Building Tips</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> <A HREF="ForSale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Sale"><U><B>For Sale</B></U></A><B> </B><A HREF="JoinEmail.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Email Group"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="1641f0c0.gif" border=0 width="31" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rec Links"><U><B>Recommended Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Vendors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rec Vendors"><U><B>Recommended Vendors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Join.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Join Wing"><U><B>Join the MN Wing</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="JoinEmail.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Email Group"><U><B>Join MN Wing Email Group </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="Contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>*  *  *  *  *</B></div> <div> <A HREF="Homecoming.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vans Homecoming"><U><B>2003 Van's Homecoming</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="VansTrip.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trip to Vans"><U><I><B>A Trip to Van's </B></I></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Tom Berge</B></div> <div> Plymouth, MN</div> <bR> <div> <I>(Page down for the latest update!!)</I></div> <bR> <div> Tom is well underway on his second RV, a new high-tech RV-7A.  He has flown his well-proven RV-6 for the past 12 years and it has proven to be a reliable machine.  In July of 2001, Tom started his -7A (not a quick-build) and it is coming along nicely and likely will fly by summer of 2003.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="213902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Tom's RV-7A in his garage as of February 2003.  The wings, controls, and tail components are finished.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21b902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Tom has designed an all-electric airplane.  Two alternators, two batteries, and a 180 hp Aerosport engine with dual electronic ignition systems.  This is the main battery and it's rugged battery box mounted on the firewall with the master and start solenoids installed.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="21c902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> If you look carefully, here's the second standby red battery on the inside of the firewall.  It  is the redundant part of the electrical system</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="21d902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Two fuse blocks are installed:  a primary bus and auxiliary bus.  The aux buss is behind the primary.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21e902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> All of Tom's wiring ends in simple Radio Shack connectors for simple assembly</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21f902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Here's the pitch servo for his TruTrak 2-axis autopilot</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="220902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Strobe power supply is mounted at the tail</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="221902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Is this yellow or what???  A professional auto painter has completed the wings and tail.  Vinyl graphics will provide the accent color.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="222902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Another example of the use of electrical connectors</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="223902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The infamous empennage fairing.  Lots and lots of sanding.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="225902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This is going to be one clean machine.  Nothing is going to stick out in the breeze.  Here is a shot of the comm antenna mounted in the fiberglas wing tip.  The GPS antenna will be mounted under the engine cowling.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="226902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Tom's panel was professionally cut with help from Alex Peterson's Cad Cam program.  The panel will have a Garmin GNS 530 with ILS indicator, a Becker VHF comm backup, Garmin mode S transponder with traffic collision avoidance, an ACS multi-function engine monitoring system, audio panel, and TruTrak 2-axis autopilot.  Plus, all electric gyros.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="227902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Here's the world's simplest cabin heat "box".  Not a box at all but a lightweight stainless steel slide valve controlling two heat inlets to the cabin.  This is mounted on the firewall.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="228902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> And here's the slide valve dissembled.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="229902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Oh, almost forgot.  This is the power plant:  An Aerosport O-360 180 hp engine.  Carburated with dual Lightspeed electronic ignition systems.  Primary B&C Specialties alternator with a standby alternator mounted in the vacuum pump drive.  This will be spinning one of Hartzell's new scimitar props that has been recently approved for use with electronic ignition and does not have the RPM restriction (2000-2300 rpm) seen on all other Hartzell 180 hp props.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *  *  *  *</div> <bR> <div> <B>Update June 2003</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> As of the first of June, Tom is just about ready to fly his -7A.  Here's some of the latest photos:</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23b902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is "Plymouth School District Bus No. 25" yellow or is it "Yellow Cab" yellow?  Only Tom's painter knows for sure.  Here are all the pieces in close formation ready for the first engine start.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23c902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Ground crew:  Alex Peterson and Doug Weiler</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23d902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>It makes lots of noise and blows lots of air.  Power is a 180 hp Aerosport with dual electronic ignition.  It started instantly!!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23e902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Yep, he's a happy dude!  Let's call the Feds and get this baby in the air!!</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>