7 Echo Charlie

Build log for N437EC, a Van's Aircraft RV-14A kit plane

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  • Build Log
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Build Hours

SectionHours
6 - Vertical Stabilizer - Done15.5
7 - Rudder Assembly - Done36
8 - Horizontal Stabilizer - Done58
9 - Elevator Assembly - Done72.25
10 - Aft Fuselage - Done85
11 - Empennage Attach 7
12 - Empennage Fairings0
13 - Main Spar30.75
14 - Wing Ribs50.25
15 - Rear Spar24.25
16 - Top Skins21.25
25 - Fuse Bulkheads - Done31
26 - Mid-use Lwr Structure - Done32.5
27 - Firewall - Done21
28 - Fwd-fuse Lwr Structure - Done30.5
29 - Fwd-fuse Sides - Done93.25
30 - Aft Fuse Attach - Done16.75
31 - Fuel System - Done7
32 - Baggage Area - Done24.5
33 - Rudder & Brake Systems - Done20.5
34 - Flap Motor - Done8
35 - Upper Fwd Fuselage - Done43
36 - Aileron & Elevator Systems - Done22.25
37 - Roll Over Structure - Done15.75
Build Log, Empennage, Rudder

Rudder Assembly

This post is largely a back-fill from memory a month after completion of the rudder. I got wrapped up in the build and didn’t take many notes or pictures of…

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June 22, 2019
Aft Fuselage, Build Log, Empennage

Aft Fuselage Begins

With the elevators all but finished, save the twelve blind rivets I’m going to have to install on the bottom of the left and right skins, I started on the…

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September 3, 2019
Blog

Changing up the Primer Game

Nothing is as hotly-debated in the amateur homebuilt world as to whether or not to prime. In fact, my very first call to the Vans builder support line was about…

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August 8, 2019
  • Build Log,  Elevators,  Empennage

    A Word of Caution on the Elevators

    / August 29, 2019 / No Comments

    WARNING: READ THIS POST BEFORE INSTALLING THE FOAM RIBS. The elevators have been an exercise in patience (I’ll expand on that in a later post). I’m 69.5 hours in and all that’s left to do is roll and close the…

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  • Blog

    Changing up the Primer Game

    / August 8, 2019 / No Comments

    Nothing is as hotly-debated in the amateur homebuilt world as to whether or not to prime. In fact, my very first call to the Vans builder support line was about whether or not to prime, and what primer to use.…

    Read More
  • Build Log,  Elevators,  Empennage,  Mistakes

    Slow Progress is Progress

    / July 25, 2019 / No Comments

    For various reasons I haven’t had a whole lot of time to dedicate to building the past couple of weeks, but I have gotten a little bit accomplished. My last update ended with me deciding to fabricate a spacer for…

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  • Build Log,  Elevators,  Empennage,  Mistakes

    The Elevators Begin!

    / July 11, 2019 / No Comments

    I’ve been home this week for professional training so I’ve been a little closer to the garage which has allowed me to sneak in a few minutes when I break for lunch every day. It also means that I’m that…

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  • Build Log,  Empennage,  Horizontal Stabilizer

    Horizontal Stabilizer is Complete!

    / July 9, 2019 / No Comments

    I have been terrible about updating the build log, but hopefully that stops with this post! Tonight, after one month and one day, I finished the horizontal stabilizer. Not as quickly as I would have expected, but the month of…

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  • Build Log,  Empennage,  Rudder

    Rudder Assembly

    / June 22, 2019 / No Comments

    This post is largely a back-fill from memory a month after completion of the rudder. I got wrapped up in the build and didn’t take many notes or pictures of the vertical stabilizer or rudder, so I’ll just hit the…

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  • Blog,  Musings

    I Don’t Know What I’m Doing

    / May 30, 2019 / 2 Comments

    W. Edwards Deming is credited with the phrase: “If you can’t describe what you’re doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” Well, when it comes to building an airplane I don’t know what I’m doing. I do…

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  • Mistakes

    Well…poop

    / May 29, 2019 / No Comments

    This is a page dedicated to all of the missteps, goof-ups, and downright stupidity that comes at the hands of my feeble attempt at building an airplane. May 19, 2019 Today I dimpled the Vertical Stabilizer skin where there was…

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  • Build Log,  Empennage

    Rivets and Hardware and Skins, Oh My!

    / April 30, 2019 / 2 Comments

    The empennage kit arrived today and man, oh man…das a lot of parts! Van’s really does an incredible job of packing a lot of parts and pieces into a relatively small 115″ crate, but I take minor issue with one…

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  • Blog

    Shop Setup: Air Compressor and Dryer

    / April 18, 2019 / No Comments

    As have many other builders, I am choosing to build the majority of this RV-14A in my shop (otherwise known as my two-car garage) rather than a hangar. The reason for this decision is based largely on necessity and –…

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123

Build Hours

SectionHours
6 - Vertical Stabilizer - Done15.5
7 - Rudder Assembly - Done36
8 - Horizontal Stabilizer - Done58
9 - Elevator Assembly - Done72.25
10 - Aft Fuselage - Done85
11 - Empennage Attach 7
12 - Empennage Fairings0
13 - Main Spar30.75
14 - Wing Ribs50.25
15 - Rear Spar24.25
16 - Top Skins21.25
25 - Fuse Bulkheads - Done31
26 - Mid-use Lwr Structure - Done32.5
27 - Firewall - Done21
28 - Fwd-fuse Lwr Structure - Done30.5
29 - Fwd-fuse Sides - Done93.25
30 - Aft Fuse Attach - Done16.75
31 - Fuel System - Done7
32 - Baggage Area - Done24.5
33 - Rudder & Brake Systems - Done20.5
34 - Flap Motor - Done8
35 - Upper Fwd Fuselage - Done43
36 - Aileron & Elevator Systems - Done22.25
37 - Roll Over Structure - Done15.75

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