---------------------------------------------------------- RV8-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 07/07/05: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:10 AM - Re: RV Grinning (finally!) (jolly dawson) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:10:27 AM PST US From: "jolly dawson" Subject: Re: RV8-List: RV Grinning (finally!) --> RV8-List message posted by: "jolly dawson" welcome to the club, Marty..from one who built a RV8a, and am looking for another project...jolly in dallas, or. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marty" List (Yahoo)'" ; "'RV-8 List (Matronics)'" Subject: RV8-List: RV Grinning (finally!) > --> RV8-List message posted by: "Marty" > > Ok, it's past my bedtime, but I couldn't shut down for the night > without sharing my GRIN! > > It all started when I finally found time to make my first EAA Chapter > 1311 meeting tonight, (running an hour late after following the wrong > directions and finding myself at Indianapolis (IND) instead of > Hendricks Co (2R2) where I was supposed to be, but that's another > story). I made my 'fashionably late' entrance and enjoyed the end of > a presentation by a local insurance agent talking about the various > permutations of aircraft insurance (very informative, but legalese is > not my native language ). > > After a break for pizza, we sat down to a home video of several > chapter members doing volunteer work at Oshkosh helping to set up for > Airventure. During the video I got a tap on the shoulder and the > magic question "Would you like to go fly?" posed to me. I looked at > Jon Byrum with what must have been a look of joy that could have only > been topped if he had told me I had won the lottery, which as far as I > was concerned I had. He led me to the only experimental on the ramp, > an absolutely gorgeous RV-7A that was built by him and Vern Sullenger. > After the customary once over of where to step and where to place > hands (I've been on the lists long enough to know that the canopy is a > no-no for hand hold, so thanks guys for the education!) I was finally > sitting in an RV. We started up and taxied out for a great sunset > flight over Central Indiana. We weren't in a hurry, so an easy climb > to 4500 as we turned westward to see the last of the pink horizon > start to dim, the city lights and vehicle traffic going about their > business so far below. He set trim as we leveled off and settled in > to a cruise of 168 knots and he handed over the controls. Let me add > that I don't have my private ticket yet, in fact I've only taken my > introductory flight in a Cessna 152, so that is my only point of > reference. As I've heard so many times before, the controls are light > and very responsive. If I even thought about banking or changing > pitch it seemed the plane moved despite the fact that I was sure the > stick hadn't moved. I guess I was more anxious about handling someone > else's plane with my 0 hours, because I handed control back over to > him without a fight as we turned back for the airport. After a > greaser of a touchdown, he taxied up to the ramp and let me out. He > taxied back out and took off, waggling his wings at me as I stood > there and gawked with a major grin plastered on my face. > > Many thanks to Chapter 1311 and especially Jon Byrum for an evening > that I'll never forget, which is eventually going to cost me around > 40-50,000 dollars and about five years of my life! But it'll be worth > it as long as I have my very own RV when I'm done. > > Sorry for the long post, but I had to put it in words while the > feeling was fresh, although I doubt I'll forget it anytime soon. > > Marty Puckett > (Dang, my cheeks are going to be sore in the morning!) > >