New name for the blog

This blog has been named "The Building of N76012", which is the N-number of the RV-12 that I started in 2013.  Now that I'm preparing to build an RV-15, the name needs to be changed.  I don't have an N-number for the -15 yet, so it's not an option to just extend the title to include the new number.  That's also not particularly elegant.

Turns out, I already had a name and it fits perfectly.   "Hill's Air Force LLC" is a small holding company for the express purpose of titling all of my aviation assets.  Specifically, N76012 and two hangars at the Delaware Municipal Airport, H-10 and H-11.  With the upcoming addition, HAF will be comprised of two aircraft in two hangars.  Now the blog name is quite fitting.

I won't change the URL and will leave that as homage to the RV-12.

Hey, I'm Back

I'm back because I did a thing.   

In addition to flying N76012 more than 400 hours since the last time I posted 8 years ago,  I've also continued to expand what I want out of my aviation life.  I sold N7623V (and still have a bit of heartache) and became a partner in N883CD, an early model Cirrus SR-22.  I've renewed my tailwheel endorsement.  I got some multi-engine training.  I've been to Airventure (twice).  I earned my ATP certificate (not that I will ever need it). I joined the Commemorative Air Force and am checked out in an antique PT-26.   And I'm bored.

So, like I said, I did a thing.   I put down a deposit and am waiting for the first kit of a Van's RV-15 to be delivered to my house so I can start all over and build another plane.   My lovely wife, Lada, graciously let me have the 2 car garage at our previous house when I built N76012 and she stepped up and has bequeathed the new 3 car garage for this new project.   Delivery is tentatively set for mid June 2026.  I'm guessing I will need 3 years to build the RV-15.   When it's airworthy, I will sell my share of the Cirrus (again, with much heartache) and fly both of my RV's for a few years (perchance a decade?) before Father Time says it's time for me to make my last flight.

Why the RV-15?

Photo taken from Van's website

It's different.  The RV-12 is a fantastic, low, slow fun training airplane but it really isn't useful for going places because it's slow and has a very small luggage space and grosses out when you add 30 lb of luggage with me & Lada.   I love the Cirrus, but she is expensive.  Not only that, they cost a lot!  In exchange for that money, you can go fast to paved airports.  Paved airports with long runways.  The Cirrus crosses the fence at 77 kt.   3000' is a relatively short runway.  This is great for cities and such.

The RV-15 is very different.  It's the perfect plane to scratch several itches.   It's fast enough to be a good "go somewhere" plane, similar to the Cardinal.   It's got gobs of useful load so we can carry large suitcases (she prefers to be well prepared in her travels) or -- God forbid -- camping equipment.   It's a tail dragger.  It's designed for off-airport operations.   I doubt that I'll do a lot of off-airport ops, but I am surprised that I find myself looking forward to doing some camping.   Lada loves the outdoors, so this will be a nice tool for her to explore the US's wilderness.  Van's is predicting about 400' for both take off and landing.   Fudge that by 50 % and that's 600'.   There are lots and lots of small, grass fields that are 1000'.   If I really get ballsy, there are many more open fields of that length.   Who knows?   Maybe this machine will let the two of us go out to somewhere in Montana, find a field in the middle of nowhere, camp out on a moonless night, let my eyes will adapt to the darkness and I will see the Milky Way with my own eyes.

my final post

 

N7623V, piloted by Ed, overtaking my right wingtip

 

 

 

On our way to Urbana.  I flew in trail for the 1st half of the flight.

 

Taking the lead...

 

And heading off to explore! 

 

Dear Reader,

 

This is my final posting for this blog.  Not because of anything bad—far from it!  I’ve simply run out of time to maintain the blog due to work, and—much more importantly—flying!   The blog was very useful during the build process, as it allowed me to organize my thoughts, document my progress, and serve to burn off my energy when I was trapped at work and not able to be building my plane. Having accomplished those goals, I realize that just documenting everywhere I fly and what all I tweak & repair simply isn’t the same with respect to needing to be written up.

I will close with one final accomplishment.  I’ve always wanted to fly in formation, and had the opportunity to do so last week.  This gives me the perfect closing for this blog,  For the first time I have seen my plane where it belongs—in the air!

Thanks so much for your attention, Safe flights & Tailwinds!

-David Hill
N76012   RV-12
N7623V   C-177RG

 

Wheel pants! Finally!

Hey, guess what?  I finally got wheel pants on the plane, and now I can say that the plane is complete!  Recall the minor fiasco where my pants got swapped with my next-door-neighbor’s when they were both at the same paint shop?   Rather than having them (both sets) stripped and repainted, I just hired Joe (local A&P and fiberglass wizard) to trim & fit the pants in my colors onto my plane.  

I got to get out of the office and go fly yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find them installed and ready to go.   I’m waiting for Joe to let me know how much I owe him, but I really don’t care. I’m not a good fiberglass worker, and these things have been a thorn in my side for a long time, so now I’m just glad they’re done. 

By the way, I did pick up the predicted 6 kt in level flight (114 KIAS, 3000’, 3°C, 5400 RPM)

 

The plane is complete!

All three wheel pants!

 

 

 

trouble with wheel pants

I finally got the wheel pants back from the painter.  He does good work, but not quickly.  Unfortunately, I found a serious problem.  Take a look at these, and compare them to the image below (Nov 2016).  If you look at the cutouts, you can tell that these are not the same fairings.  It turns out that my next-hangar neighbor had his RV-14 painted just after my 12 was done.  Recall that my wheel pants were turned in for painting after the plane itself.  It also turns out that since the wheels are the same size, so are the fairings.  This means that both of our wheel pants were in the shop at the same time and—you guessed it—were painted the wrong colors and delivered to the wrong customer.

Steve (said neighbor) had Joe S (local A&P and fiberglass wizard) do the installation of the pants on the RV-14, so Joe didn’t realize that they weren’t what was already fit into place, he just fit my pants (painted white) onto Steve’s RV-14.

Chris said that the only thing to do was repaint both sets to be correct, and that’s what I thought had been going on for the last 3 weeks or so.  Not.  I ran into Steve a few days ago and my white pants are still on his RV-14.  I just decided to hire Joe to re-fit Steve’s pants (painted in my colors) onto my RV-12 and be done with it.  I’ll present the bill to Chris and see if he’ll pick it up (at least partially).  I just want the damn things on my plane so I can be finally finished with them.

 

Steve’s wheel pants in my colors

 

my original wheel pants (now on Steve’s plane)

Travis

My son-in-law, Travis, joined me for a lunch trip to Butler.  Here, he’s flying back to Delaware and enjoying being a pilot!

 

 

 

H-10 joins H-11

not strictly on topic of the RV-12, here’s one of the things that I’ve been waiting for for several months.  The door is finally installed between the two hangars, allowing me the luxury of the most space of anyone on the airport (other than the group sharing the joint H1-H2 complex).  It took several rounds of negotiation with FulFab, the company that designed & built the hangars, but we finally had a joint date that worked for both of us. 

 

 

Installing upper girt

 

cutting through the wall

 

From H-11 into H-10

 

From H-10 looking into H-11