Make & Model - Van's Aircraft RV-6 (Tip-up Canopy)

Engine - Lycoming O-360-A1A - Slick LASAR magneto setup - Carburetor

Propeller - Hartzell HC2YK Constant Speed

Instruments & radios to support basic IFR

I started the project on April 23, 1996 by opening the crates containing the empennage, inventoried the contents, and noted the only damage from shipping was to the gel coating on the rudder tip fiberglass. May 1, 2001, Larry Jennison & I finished the weight and balance measuring at Cooper's, with an empty weight of 1097 lbs. and a center of gravity at 68.9 inches aft the datum. A tad on the heavy side, but it has a lot of paint and a constant speed prop. We finished(?) the project May 16, 2001, when Jim Pratt signed off the FAA documents, allowing flight testing to start.

Operating numbers:

• Stall @ 1800 lb. gross with full flaps 54 Knots (63 mph) Typical RV-6 stall as there is very little buffet, followed by sharp nose drop; it's either flying or falling. Power on gets to a really nose high attitude before the break.
• 75% power cruise @ 4000 ft. 163 Knots (188 mph) This setting will result in the Rocky Mountain u-encoder sounding the beeper warning you that you're cruising at or above the normal operation range. (Into the yellow arc on the air speed indicator)

• The most fun you can have with your clothes on.
• Visibility is spectacular during cruise, really a panoramic view with no obstructions forward, sideways, or up. Visibility down is a problem, until you drop a wing.

• Painting the aircraft navy blue does create problems with vapor lock. Sitting in the sunshine will result in surface temperatures of 165 degrees fahrenheidt, which conducts to the gasoline directly. May have to paint white invasion stripes on the wings to reduce the heating impact on fuel. Also planning to install vapor return line from carburetor to left main tank.
• Transponder has been erratic, even after being repaired by Narco.
• Wheel pants were installed using print specifications, however flying into grass strips dictates increasing the ground clearance to reduce damage to the wheel pants.