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I completed my RV6-A in June 1954 and flew it the first time.
Jim Warren and Noah McCullough, with Noah flying Jim's RV-4 and Jim taking
pictures, flew chase plane with me that day. It took me 5 1/2 years
to complete (6 weeks just to paint). It has a lycoming 0320 in it
with a sensenitch (sp) prop made for the RV's. When I started building
Van didn't have a tri gear version or the sliding canopy version.
As I progressed he came out with the tri-gear so I went that way when I
ordered the parts for the fuselage. Then he came out with the sliding
canopy--so I sent parts back and ordered the parts for the sliding canopy.
None of the skins were pre-punched and much of the parts had to be hand
made unlike now when quite a bit of the material is pre-cut, punched, and
already made (such as bell-cranks) at the factory.
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In the 6 years I've flown it I have had very little in the way of problems.
I've replaced the starter, fuel pump, thermostatic oil temp. valve on the
engine, tachometer and I had to have the transponder worked on on time.
I did have my GPS (Flybuddy) upgraded to receive 8 satellites. I
will probably replace the nose gear strut with one of Van's new "beefed-up"
ones one of these days. Surprisingly I'm still using the original
tires--that's because I fly off of a grass strip.
Jim Hail. |
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Unfortunately the only photo I have of Jim has been compressed
so much it's now hard to see in full size. That's Jim with one of his Young
Eagles friends back in September 2000.
Jim is always active in the Young Eagles rallies and deserves a lot
of credit for his efforts in this fine event. |
