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/418587
EAA Experimenter 35 F1 ROCKET, N115TP Bruce Topp's F1 Rocket took six years to build and was certificated in October 2013, with the first flight occurring in the same month. Bruce flew to AirVenture from Minneapo- lis, Minnesota. The aircraft is powered by an IO-540-D4A5. Its paint scheme was inspired by hot rods Bruce has seen over the years. This is his second homebuilt aircraft; the first was a Velocity he sold to a pilot in South Africa. A 21-year- old pilot from the Buffalo, New York, ferried the plane to South Africa; the trip took 21 days. HATZ BIPL ANE, NX501P Rick Hansen's Hatz biplane, NX501P, won this year's Sun 'n Fun Grand Champion Homebuilt Plans-Built and then was named Grand Champion Plans Built at EAA AirVenture Osh- kosh 2014. (See the September issue of Experimenter.) This is the third Hatz biplane Rick has built. This time he built it light to meet the defi nition of a light-sport aircraft. The airplane has an empty weight of 829 pounds and a gross weight of 1,320 pounds, and it's powered by a certifi ed O-200-D engine. It is also equipped with Grove light-sport brakes and wheels. RV-7A, N921PM This RV-7A is Mike Reid's second RV project; the fi rst was an RV-8A. The -7A was certifi cated in May 2013 and fi rst fl own in July 2013 after 6 years of construction. The airplane is powered by a Lycoming O-360 of 180 hp. The "921" in the N-number is a reference to his and his wife's wedding anniversary, and "PM" are Mike and his wife's fi rst initials. His youngest daughter, age 16, designed the paint scheme. Mike bases the aircraft out of the airport in Buf alo, Minnesota. RV-10, N24EV Myron Nelson fl ies for Southwest Airlines. The nose art on his -10 is dedicated to Herb Kelleher. The RV was fi rst fl own in May 2014, after 7.5 years to build. Myron fl ew the airplane from Mesa, Arizona, to AirVenture. The stick grips on the aircraft are out of a Boeing 737; all the switches are functional. The "EV" in the N-number is a reference to his wife, Evelyn. HATZ CB-1, N805RF Kevin Conner built his version of the Radio Flyer wagon with his plans-built Hatz CB-1. He used Airtex fabric and PPG paint to re-create the look of a Radio Flyer. The airplane took 11 years and 11 months to build and was certifi cated and fi rst fl own on July 3, 2014. He fl ew it to Oshkosh from Oklahoma. RV-9A, N956GT Gregory Targonski purchased the tail kit for this RV-9 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006. Six years after starting the building process, N956GT was certifi cated and fi rst fl own in September 2013. The aircraft is powered by a 160-hp O-320 and painted like Gregory's favorite model aircraft from his younger years. N956GT is equipped with a full Dynon SkyView system and sheepskin seat covers. Gregory fl ew to AirVenture from Peachtree City, Georgia.