Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/90184
What our Members are Bui lding Keith's newly completed RV-8 with USAF markings here on the port side and U.S. Navy markings on the starboard side. The RV-4 kit was purchased before the widespread use of CNC routers and predrilled holes. Like every builder, Keith spent many hours measuring, marking, drilling, clecoing, and riveting, with Evelyn at his side, bucking rivets. The RV-4 is powered by a 150-hp Lycoming O-320. The en- gine was "fresh" when he bought it, showing only 40 hours on the meter. He brought it to the hangar, performed a top overhaul, pronounced it good, and has fl own behind it ever since. It swings a fi xed-pitch Sensenich metal prop. With perhaps one exception, Keith's assessment is that the RV-4 has been a joy to own and fl y. That exception, an incident that occurred after only 70 hours of fl ying time, was an attention-getter. The fl ight had been uneventful, with Keith up front main- taining a 185-mph cruise and Evelyn handling navigation from the back, when there was a loud pop, a horrifi c rush of air, a solid blow to the right side of Keith's head, and some diffi culty controlling the aircraft. From the pictures taken of his face at the time, it is a wonder there was any- thing left up there to actually be in control. The canopy had departed the aircraft, attempted to remove his head, danced across the portside horizontal stabilizer, and then disappeared, thankfully leaving the stabilizer intact, along with a dazed and confused crew that man- aged to keep the airplane in the air for quite a while before a safe landing was possible. Keith with a true RV grin! 32 NO. 3/NOVEMBER 2012 Keith made changes to the canopy mount when he re- paired the RV-4. It was originally attached using a piano hinge to starboard and a push/pull latch to port. The piano hinge had literally unzipped, leading to the incident. He