7 Echo Charlie

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

  • Build Log
  • Blog
  • Glossary of Terms
  • About
  • Build Log
  • Blog
  • Glossary of Terms
  • About

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
Aft Fuselage, Build Log, Empennage

Holy Deburring, Batman!

Not a whole lot of progress today. Some more fitting of parts, some deburring, etc. Nothing really exciting. My initial feeling is that this part of the build is going…

read more
September 5, 2019
Build Log, Elevators, Empennage, Mistakes

The Elevators Begin!

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…

read more
July 11, 2019
Blog

DIY Spray Booth

While waiting on the fuselage to be delivered, I took the opportunity to clean the garage/workspace, organize my tools, and tackle some other tasks around the house that I didn’t…

read more
February 20, 2020
  • Blog,  Build Log,  Empennage,  Fuselage,  Wings

    It’s Been A While…

    / January 29, 2022 / No Comments

    It’s been nearly two years since I last updated this site! Holy moly! A lot has happened in that time, both with the airplane and in life. If you’ve been following my Instagram account, you’re a little more up-to-date than…

    Read More
  • Build Log,  Fuselage

    Forward Fuse Lower Structure

    / March 31, 2020 / No Comments

    This update is all about the forward fuselage lower structure, incorrect rivet call-outs in the plans, and that friggin’ sticky tank sealant! No matter how many times I use it, or how much care I take it keeping the workspace…

    Read More
  • Build Log,  Fuselage

    Mid Fuselage Lower Structure

    / March 7, 2020 / No Comments

    Lots of work for this update. Lots and lots of riveting, some nail-biting cutting, and a stupid mistake. First, the mistake. The control stick mounts to a bearing bracket that also acts as a control stop. The parts are identical…

    Read More
  • Blog

    DIY Spray Booth

    / February 20, 2020 / 1 Comment

    While waiting on the fuselage to be delivered, I took the opportunity to clean the garage/workspace, organize my tools, and tackle some other tasks around the house that I didn’t want to be bothered with while I was working on…

    Read More
  • Build Log,  Fuselage

    Fuselage Kit Arrives!

    / February 13, 2020 / No Comments

    Well the long-awaited day has arrived: the fuselage kit was delivered! That joyous moment was ruined, however, when XPO Logistics delivered this: Once the ratchet strap was removed the crate basically fell apart and I was left with the task…

    Read More
  • Aft Fuselage,  Blog,  Build Log,  Empennage

    Empennage Completion

    / February 4, 2020 / 1 Comment

    Well, it’s been a while since I’ve made a post so to make up for it I’m including lots of pictures because, well…lots of words are boring. Something about the holidays makes me want to be unproductive in all manner…

    Read More
  • Aft Fuselage,  Build Log,  Empennage

    Airplane Parts, Assemble!

    / September 9, 2019 / No Comments

    Now that most of the parts have been primed it’s finally time to get to the fun part: assembly! I only got a couple of hours in tonight, but that was enough to get the bulkheads and one of the…

    Read More
  • Aft Fuselage,  Build Log,  Empennage

    Prime Day!

    / September 8, 2019 / No Comments

    Prime day, indeed. But not the fun, frivolous-crap-arriving-at-your-door Amazon kind of prime day. Nay, this is the kind of soul crushing, toxic fume huffing, sweat lodge treatment you can only get from a full 10-hr day of priming in the…

    Read More
  • Aft Fuselage,  Build Log,  Empennage

    Holy Deburring, Batman!

    / September 5, 2019 / No Comments

    Not a whole lot of progress today. Some more fitting of parts, some deburring, etc. Nothing really exciting. My initial feeling is that this part of the build is going to go quickly; it’ll be interesting to look back on…

    Read More
  • Aft Fuselage,  Build Log,  Empennage

    Aft Fuselage Begins

    / September 3, 2019 / No Comments

    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 aft fuselage. Right off the bat, the plans have you…

    Read More
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

Instagram

7echocharlie

7 Echo Charlie
Instagram post 17948383667242615 Instagram post 17948383667242615
Life Pro Tip: put both of your wings on one side o Life Pro Tip: put both of your wings on one side of the dining room and still enjoy full use of one half of your table. Guests who object to this arrangement should be purged from your life, anyway. Follow me for more life hacks.
Holy moly! After completely screwing up the origin Holy moly! After completely screwing up the original rear spar and aileron bracket for the left wing, forging on with the right wing while I tried to figure out what to do about the screw-up, getting a new left rear spar, building and attaching the new aileron bracket only to realize I forgot to also attach the rear spar reinforcement plate with it, drilling out, and re-doing the aileron bracket for a THIRD time I finally got the left rear spar completed and attached to the left wing ribs. This was a trying time.
It’s been a minute since I’ve posted much here It’s been a minute since I’ve posted much here or on my website, but I just added a big update post to my website (link in bio), plus a few smaller incremental update posts that I backdated to when those sections were completed. So if you haven’t checked out the site in a while, go give it a look!
Putting the pops to work today! We started rivetin Putting the pops to work today! We started riveting the right top wings skins on last night using the back rivet method with a 12” back rivet set, but we stopped because the results (pictured) we very inconsistent and we were spending more time drilling out rivets than actually riveting. So this morning we changed approaches and started riveting the normal way with a good ol tungsten bucking bar and mushroom set with the pressure turned down to about 22-25 psi. We increased our productivity at least twofold and the results, while not *quite* as flawless as a proper back rivet job, were still very good. The trade-off is 100% worth it to us…and I’m pretty particular!
Lots of work on the wings lately. While I still tr Lots of work on the wings lately. While I still try to decide how (or if; it’s just cosmetic at this point) I’m going to re-work the left aileron hinge bracket I decided to keep working on the right wing. Prep/priming done, all holes dimpled, and ready to go. I also drilled the extra 3/4” holes and ran conduit in both wings for future wiring needs. Maybe I’ll do a future post on how I did the drilling and conduit runs!

#vansaircraft #vansrv14 #kitplane #homebuilt #homebuiltaircraft #eaa #pilot #pilotsofinstagram #avgeek
I made an expensive mistake recently. Attempting t I made an expensive mistake recently. Attempting to rivet the aileron hinge bracket to the rear wing spar I managed to smiley the crap out of the shop heads of these rivets (circled). Drilling them out caused a little  damage to the holes. After talking to Vans they said it was fine to build on because of the way the parts are sandwiched together, but I just don’t like the way it looks now that it’s all back together. It just doesn’t sit right with me. Sooo…I get to pay freight shipping for a new spar and double plates! Work carefully, friends!
One of these is not like the other. 🤔 Mistakes One of these is not like the other. 🤔 Mistakes are frustrating, and I’ve made my share of mistakes so far, but they’re a natural part of anything worth doing. You make mistakes, you learn from them, you move on and do it better next time. And that goes for more than just material projects! Build on!
.
.
.
#vansaircraftinc #vansaircraft #vansrv14 #homebuiltaircraft #homebuilt #eaa #experimentalaircraft #experimentalaviation #aviation #avgeek #pilotsofinstagram
Left wing ribs installed. Holy cow, that was repet Left wing ribs installed. Holy cow, that was repetitive. Time to do it all again!
Wing kit arrived last week! Holy cow, it’s getti Wing kit arrived last week! Holy cow, it’s getting tight in this garage. Good problem to have!
.
.
.
#vansaircraft #rv14 #eaa #homebuilt #homebuiltaircraft #experimentalaircraft #pilot #pilotsofinstagram #avgeek
Marking some things of the list tonight: ✅ Paint Marking some things of the list tonight:
✅ Paint the rollover structure (the last piece of the fuselage!)
✅ Attach the air vents
✅ Make the gasket around the access covers 
.
.
.
#vansaircraft #vansairforce #rv14 #rv14a #homebuilt #homebuiltaircraft #eaa #pilot #aviation #avgeek
Access holes cut in the forward top skin, elevator Access holes cut in the forward top skin, elevator pushrods fabricated and installed, and the fuselage off the rotisserie. Unfortunately, the week my wing kit was schedule to ship the Van’s crating department all went into quarantine due to Covid so that will be delayed a few weeks. Oh well, gives me time to figure out the garage layout and finish up some odds and ends!
.
.
.
#vansaircraft #rv14 #rv14a #homebuiltaircraft #homebuilt #eaa #pilot #avgeek
Got the AS Flightlines brake lines installed. High Got the AS Flightlines brake lines installed. Highly recommend! Steve is fantastic to work with and took time out of his day to answer lots of my questions. Cannot speak highly enough of this company!
Working on the brake and rudder pedals! I bought t Working on the brake and rudder pedals! I bought the AS Flightlines pre-made brake lines (not pictured), so that will save quite a bit of time making the lines per the plans.
Got the first shot of paint down on a less visible Got the first shot of paint down on a less visible area of the cockpit tonight. Ended up with a little orange peel, but I kinda like the look for the interior. Debating whether I want to keep it for the rest or adjust the gun to smooth it out 🤔
Not all primer is created equal! While we were wor Not all primer is created equal! While we were working on the fuselage I forgot to prime the two pieces pictured so in the interest of saving time I thought, “I’ll just hit them with the self etching primer. No big deal since it will be painted over.” Well, as it turns out, for some oddball reason SEM primer states that color should not be applied directly over it. 🤔 So off it came tonight to be replaced by Akzo! Pay attention to the primers you plan to use!
.
.
.
#vansaircraft #rv14a #eaa #homebuiltaircraft #vansrv #experimentalaircraft
Did a little bit of night flying last night. The b Did a little bit of night flying last night. The build has slowed to a crawl, so I figured it was a good time to get some flying in!
Got 'er on the rotisserie this past weekend and it Got 'er on the rotisserie this past weekend and it has made working on the baggage floors SO much easier! I'm about a week away from painting the interior, so this should make all the hard-to-reach places a lot more accessible.
.
.
.
#homebuiltaircraft #homebuilt #vansaircraft #vansrv14 #rv14 #eaa #pilotsofinstagram #pilot
"Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet." - Ari "Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet." - Aristotle
.
Sometimes things don't go the way we planned and life hits us with the ol' switcheroo. Sometimes the "baggage" we end up with isn't the outcome we expected. In times like that it's important to have patience and have faith that all things work together for good. 
.
(P.S. some baggage is more judgmental than others...)
.
#eaa #vansaircraft #vansrv14 #experimentalaircraft #homebuiltaircraft #homebuilt #pilotsofinstagram
Finally got the last rivets in the aft fuse attach Finally got the last rivets in the aft fuse attachment after a month off, so this baby is now one complete piece! Baggage floors going in now.
.
.
.
#vansaircraft #rv14a #homebuiltaircraft #pilotsofinstagram #vansrv14 #eaa #avgeek #aviation
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • It’s Been A While…
  • Forward Fuse Lower Structure
  • Mid Fuselage Lower Structure
  • DIY Spray Booth
  • Fuselage Kit Arrives!

Categories

  • Aft Fuselage
  • Blog
  • Build Log
  • Elevators
  • Empennage
  • Fuselage
  • Horizontal Stabilizer
  • Mistakes
  • Musings
  • Rudder
  • Wings

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Archives

  • January 2022
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • Build Log
  • Blog
  • Glossary of Terms
  • About