RvProject.com
Title
Dan Checkoway's RV-7 Project
Description
What is all of this? I built a Van's RV-7, a two-place side-by-side experimental kit plane manufactured by Van's Aircraft. Yep, I built it in my garage. My particular configuration is the "straight -7," which is a taildragger, and it has a tip-up canopy. Out front it has a 200+hp AeroSport Power IO-360-A1B6 (angle valve) upgraded with Airflow Performance FM-200 fuel injection with ram air and purge valve, as well as a single Lightspeed Plasma II electronic ignition and one Slick impulse-coupled magneto. It has a Sky-Tec flyweight starter and a B&C 40-amp alternator. It swings a Hartzell C2YK-1BF/7666A4 constant-speed propeller. This RV-7 is IFR equipped with all electric (no vacuum!) equipment, including the new Dynon EFIS-D10 with its optional battery backup and remote digital compass, and an approach-certified TSO C129a Class A1 GPS (stack has: GMA-340, GX60, SL30, GTX-320A). The panel also sports an AF-2500 Engine/Systems Monitor from Advanced Control Systems, and a Trutrak Pictorial Pilot autopilot. Unlike most side-by-side RVs, my RV-7 has a custom left-handed DJM Manufacturing throttle quadrant. Since this plane is a taildragger, I'm making use of the Rocket Steering Link.
It weighs 1113 pounds empty (re-weighed June 2005), and has a useful load of 837 pounds, and a full fuel payload of 585 pounds. In case you've been living in a cave and don't know the RV-7, it has two seats (side-by-side) and a bunch of baggage space.
How fast does it go?! If you're like me, performance is 99% of what it's all about. Well, the latest speed runs I've done, after getting all of the fairings installed, yielded an average max true airspeed of 188 KTAS at 8000' density altitude, full throttle and RPM, leaned to 80 ROP.
Additional Information
Related Domains
