Pete Howell, St. Paul, MN
RV-9A, N789PH, First flight October 2006
N789PH started life as an RV-9AQB kit in the fall of 2003. Almost
3
years to the day later, she was signed off by Tim Mahoney and
became
the magic carpet of the Howell family. Doug Weiler shook out
any
initial squawks and then handed her over to me. She is propelled
by
an 160HP ECI kit engine I helped build in Tulsa and a Hartzell
CS
prop. Ignition is by Emag and Pmag and fuel is supplied by
old
fashioned Marvel tractor carb. Lots of experimentation taught me
how
to run LOP and fuel mileage is exceptional. I rolled my own
nav
lights from high intensity LEDs and the landing light is an HID
unit
of my own design using Audi headlight parts. I made my own
plenum
for about $60 by scrounging for materials and copying designs
from
others. The world (mostly my wife) tracks me via an APRS radio
unit
in the wingtip.
9er-Pop-Hotel has taken us on many trips, including visits to
Big
Sky, Steamboat, Milwaukee, South Bend and Kansas City. We
have
visited relatives all over Iowa as well. The pilgrimage to
Oshkosh
was done in the summer of 2008. She flies great, fast or slow,
and
lands like a dream.
Here's some links to more photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/fly.rv9A/RV9A02#5084895328420078802
http://picasaweb.google.com/fly.rv9A/RV9A02#5084895319830144178
http://picasaweb.google.com/fly.rv9A/SunriseOverMinnesota#512607209610
4827170
http://picasaweb.google.com/fly.rv9A/Plenum2#5260585085890188850
http://picasaweb.google.com/fly.rv9A/SBJuly4#5219361372881891714
http://picasaweb.google.com/trackker.ant/RVKids#5281556298696633346
http://picasaweb.google.com/trackker.ant/RVKids#5281556301268753858