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IIRC the internal BD4 structure is bolted or blind riveted while the skins are bonded on. However there’s plenty of aircraft kits out there that don’t use solid rivet construction so a potential builder has plenty of choices in that regard. That said, there’s reasons Vans has a huge E-AB...

I should have qualified my remark. I believe it’s pretty accurate with hobbyist/home level compressors typical of what you’d find at the big box stores.

Just remembered a few items: - vise - die grinder and some small 3M wheels - Dremel

So I’ve posted about a tungsten bucking bar. Some other thoughts to add to what others have posted in no particular order: - additional 3/32 (silver) clecos - side grip clecos - band saw (a bench top model will work just fine) - metal files of various sizes and shapes (flat, round, etc) - shop...

That’s because not all Experimentals are equal. Under the Special Airworthiness Certification Experimental category there are 8 sub-categories each with different operating limitations: - Research and Development - Showing compliance with regulations - Crew Training - Exhibition - Air Racing -...

There’s a number of tips when it comes to riveting. I had a little chart for gun pressures depending on rivet sizes (-3 [3/32] or -4 [1/8] and length); it also depends what type of gun you have: 2X vs 3X. I don’t know what tools you have but a swivel flush set will help prevent dings with the...

You don’t need to disassemble anything as far as the AWC is concerned. Ideally you received the previous owners build log with the kit to which you’d add your contribution. In the end whether the inspector, be it a DAR or a FSDO employee, wants to see the log is dependent on the individual...

I’ve flown into both DAB and EVB. Neither is an issue although DAB is way busier. Now we have timeshares in both Daytona and New Smyrna on the beach. Personally I’d fly into EVB if I were staying in NSB: 5-10 min drive from the air port vs 30-35ish minute drive from DAB.

My recommendation is you look at the avg build time for a given kit, and not the build times at either end of the spectrum. With the exception of the RV-12, anecdotally anything under 1500hrs is pretty darn fast for a first-time builder. Repeat offenders almost always build much faster even if...

That can be true but it's far from universal based upon my own building experience (and I have the Repairman's Cert for my RV-10) and 30+ plus years of observation across the E-AB community. Each builder has the weigh the pros and cons of the effort and decide if it's worth it and the...

I'm talking about the tasks not the time required to complete an RV. With an RV you aren't really building, you are assembling which is not synonymous. For example, on the 14, most of the rivet holes are pre-punched to final size. The amount or work required to rivet things together is...

Here's a recent thread over on VAF about the topic of using kit building experience towards an A & P certificate: https://vansairforce.net/threads/a-p-requirement.229669/#post-1794013 The thing of it is build a kit does get you some experience but it leaves a ton out as the later Van's kits, in...

Personally, I think the concern with the Prime jets out of LAL is unfounded. IMO PCM, LAL, BOW, and GIF are all reasonable choices. It boils down to what services on the field (availability and cost) and what kind of commute to and from the field do you want?

I’m certainly no expert but if I ever build the Piet I want to, it will be powered by a Wynne Corvair. As for my RV, I’d take a bullet to the head before replacing my Lycoming. Note both are air cooled, direct drive.

So this is an important distinction in the E-AB world. If you love to tinker and that’s your primary focus then your path as described is trailered made for you. If an auto or anything conversion is simply a perceived quicker or cheaper means to a flying end you will be better served buying an...

Better countermeasure suite on a 17 plus it can go non-stop with AR support if need be.

I’ll bet that although he used the term angle iron, most likely it was 2024 or 6061 extruded aluminum angle conforming to AND10133 specs that’s widely used in kits and general aircraft construction and not the stuff from your local big box hardware store, much less actual angle iron. If you...

The golf analogy is a good one. Even the top Pros have bad days or even bad spells. Same goes for flying at all levels from student pilot to ATP. As you gain experience, the bad days will become fewer and less frequent but they will always be there. Don't sweat it, just learn from the...

As an RV-10 builder and operator for more than 9 years and part of the RV-10 community for over 20, you're partially correct. Most new builders are disenchanted over the current pricing and more than anything, engine availability, but not the IO-540 itself which the airframe was designed...

I've never heard of Gigaflight but after looking at their website dollars to doughnuts their wire is more expensive than run of the mill mil-spec TEFZEL MIL-22759 (unshielded) or MIL-C-27500 (shielded) wire that you can get just about anywhere. Barring an issue you shouldn't ever have to rewire...