In Formation

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="11">   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cockpit"><U><IMG SRC="0410b0b0.png" border=0 width="11" height="11" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>       <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="11">   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chris Hukills RV8"><U><IMG SRC="0430b0b0.png" border=0 width="11" height="11" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> My RV-8 flew for the first time in July, just prior to Sept. 11, 2001. I got the restrictions flown off just in time to  be grounded, due to the fact I am based at North Las Vegas, within the LAS Class B. When the VFR restrictions were finally lifted, I started to explore the cross country capabilities of the aircraft. I have since put on about 300 hours, mostly all cross country, even if just for a $100 hamburger. </div> <div> The plane likes to travel at 11-12,500. That will clear the hills, most of the bumps, and it'll burn 8.5 gph, truing 195 mph.</div> <div> I have an Aerosport Power 0360, that has been modified with 9.2 to 1 pistons, Bendix fuel injection, and Acro Specialties inverted oil system. The prop is a fixed pitch, metal Sensenich. My intent was to keep the plane as  lite, and low maintenance as possible, without sacrificing performance, or aerobatic capability. I believe that I met my goal, as it weighs 1068 lbs, with paint, interior, fairings, 2 axis autopilot, day/night VFR.</div> <div> Speaking of paint, I would like to comment about that subject, hopefully without invoking the Wrath of Van.</div> <div> In my attempt to keep the plane as lite as possible, I employed the technique recommended by Vans, to apply the Dupont Croma One paint directly over the etched and alodyned metal, without primer. This resulted in adhesion problems! Since I painted the base color onto the parts at various stages of construction, I was aware of the problem early on, and began using primer.</div> <div> The color stripes are vinyl. The simple scheme was mine, but Eric Mann of Freedom Sign and Graphic (775 771-3937) refined it, and applied the vinyl in a couple of hours.</div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Chris Hukill's RV-8</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chris Hukills RV8"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> In Formation</div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="04a3e640.jpg" border=0 width="574" height="356" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>