Well, I'm back. It was a very, very nice location with pleasant temps and conversation. Low slung mountains in the distance with wispy clouds draped over them - something I don't see often. This part of the country, and especially the Independence area up in the air, is simply stunning. I won't write a novel here, but will break each day down a bit and maybe sprinkle a memory or two in there if I can remember. Wish you could have come.
Thursday
End Part I
Thursday
Full plane on American sandwiched up against the wall next to a pretty 'stout' guy. Not much wiggle room. Very pleased all my camera gear arrived safe and sound. If you haven't seen the gyro mount unit, you couldn't make a more 'bomb like' looking device. I'm always a little nervous taking that on airline trips <g>. "Mr. Reeves, could you please follow us?"
I got a rental and drove down to the Aurora area, stopping at a Chili's for dinner. Logged in from the booth and checked on email. After that I touched base with the folks who had offered up a place for me to stay, Tom and Barb Turnbull. They are the perfect hosts, are building a -7A, and I hope I get to see them on a regular basis for the rest of my days. Tom made a hole in his firewall for my laptop and I had the apartment over the hangar to myself.
Slept with the windows open. Around 0430 I woke up because I could hear my laptop shorting out. I jumped out of bed, hair looking like the professor from 'Back to the Future' and no glasses running blind through the room, only to find it was the sprinkler system outside turning on. I laughed out loud...
Friday I got a rental and drove down to the Aurora area, stopping at a Chili's for dinner. Logged in from the booth and checked on email. After that I touched base with the folks who had offered up a place for me to stay, Tom and Barb Turnbull. They are the perfect hosts, are building a -7A, and I hope I get to see them on a regular basis for the rest of my days. Tom made a hole in his firewall for my laptop and I had the apartment over the hangar to myself.
Slept with the windows open. Around 0430 I woke up because I could hear my laptop shorting out. I jumped out of bed, hair looking like the professor from 'Back to the Future' and no glasses running blind through the room, only to find it was the sprinkler system outside turning on. I laughed out loud...
Friday I drove from Independence up to Aurora (about 40 minutes) and hung out at the factory for a few hours. Gus met me at the door and showed me a few of the things that had changed over the previous two years: some new computer controlled bending machines (one a six axis job) and their new effort to optically scan all of their documents for archival purposes being a couple.
Visited with Tom and Van and Rian and Scott and Bob for a few minutes and then spent about two hours photographing some of the demo planes. Met Joe Blank again, who would be flying me around the next day in the -8A doing air to air shots. Joe is a hoot to be around and I'm really glad to have been able to spend some time with him and his wife. Great folks. Ask him sometime to demonstrate the stereo system in his -6 someday for you. That's all I'll say...
Spent some time in the secret prototype shop with Rian and Scott, you know, giving them pointers and direction and such. Actually I photographed the closed, locked door. It's good to be out of the loop on some things <g>.
Gus and I went out to lunch, and when we came back took the -12 prototype out for a spin. I had my doubts about the -12, but now get it. I think, and this is the truth, that they will have a hard time making these kits fast enough when they start selling them. I was simply blown away by the visibility. It was a factor above what I get in my tip up -6. You can EASILY see over the nose, you actually seem to be looking WAY down on it, and by tilting your head just slightly you are looking nearly straight down. Again, straight down. Seen the plan views of the -12 yet? Look how the leading edge is about where your hips are.
I want to be the first to call the RV-12 the 'Sightseer'. I get it now. You know that dream we all have where we can float? It's a lot like that. Oh, and you pop rivet it together and all the holes are the correct size, not needing deburring.
Gus let me takeoff and land. I'm no engineer or writer or wordsmith, but it felt honest and crisp at approach speeds and the flare was predictable, with about the amount of sensitivity I would like to have. It's a creampuff and I'm sure you'll feel the same. Very, very honest airplane.
After saying my goodbyes, I drove back down to Independence to rest for a bit and get ready for the Friday night BBQ. The highlight for me, and I'm sure it was for others, was the band chapter 292 prez Bob Brown hired to play. The Amanda Richards Band were an absolute pleasure to listen too. Acoustic guitar, standup bass and drums with Ms. Richards singing. She played about 60% original with the remainder doing covers. Her rendition of Brenda Lee's 'Always on My Mind' was particularly (and sonically) the highlight of my evening. Her interpretation of how Willie sang it was inspired and I was tempted, had I a couple of more beers in me, to go up and sing the low harmony. I was doing it in my head at least. I suspect you'll be hearing about Ms. Richards in the future. Great evening.
Visited with Tom and Van and Rian and Scott and Bob for a few minutes and then spent about two hours photographing some of the demo planes. Met Joe Blank again, who would be flying me around the next day in the -8A doing air to air shots. Joe is a hoot to be around and I'm really glad to have been able to spend some time with him and his wife. Great folks. Ask him sometime to demonstrate the stereo system in his -6 someday for you. That's all I'll say...
Spent some time in the secret prototype shop with Rian and Scott, you know, giving them pointers and direction and such. Actually I photographed the closed, locked door. It's good to be out of the loop on some things <g>.
Gus and I went out to lunch, and when we came back took the -12 prototype out for a spin. I had my doubts about the -12, but now get it. I think, and this is the truth, that they will have a hard time making these kits fast enough when they start selling them. I was simply blown away by the visibility. It was a factor above what I get in my tip up -6. You can EASILY see over the nose, you actually seem to be looking WAY down on it, and by tilting your head just slightly you are looking nearly straight down. Again, straight down. Seen the plan views of the -12 yet? Look how the leading edge is about where your hips are.
I want to be the first to call the RV-12 the 'Sightseer'. I get it now. You know that dream we all have where we can float? It's a lot like that. Oh, and you pop rivet it together and all the holes are the correct size, not needing deburring.
Gus let me takeoff and land. I'm no engineer or writer or wordsmith, but it felt honest and crisp at approach speeds and the flare was predictable, with about the amount of sensitivity I would like to have. It's a creampuff and I'm sure you'll feel the same. Very, very honest airplane.
After saying my goodbyes, I drove back down to Independence to rest for a bit and get ready for the Friday night BBQ. The highlight for me, and I'm sure it was for others, was the band chapter 292 prez Bob Brown hired to play. The Amanda Richards Band were an absolute pleasure to listen too. Acoustic guitar, standup bass and drums with Ms. Richards singing. She played about 60% original with the remainder doing covers. Her rendition of Brenda Lee's 'Always on My Mind' was particularly (and sonically) the highlight of my evening. Her interpretation of how Willie sang it was inspired and I was tempted, had I a couple of more beers in me, to go up and sing the low harmony. I was doing it in my head at least. I suspect you'll be hearing about Ms. Richards in the future. Great evening.
Saturday
Saturday was game day. I met Joe around 0730 and spent the next several hours turned around backwards in the -8A. I won't bore you with the details, and hopefully you'll see some of the results in the '08 calendar, but Joe did get a kick out of making fun of me and all the grunts and cursing and bleeding and screaming that was coming from the back of the plane. I have to take off my shoes before the flight and store them in the baggage compartment (can't turn around in the seat if I have shoes on).
Ken K and I talked later about a plexiglass baggage door mod to the -10 that might help. One with a sliding window. Developing....(pun).
Got to see good friend John Seibold again and met Mike Starkey. Too many others to remember, but the atmosphere was just about perfect with people strolling up and down the streets around the strip looking at all the RVs under construction. Imagine looking down a street and seeing (5) RVs parked in the driveways. Now picture one under construction in about every third hangar. It was like that. You spend the day walking up and down the streets meeting people you will know for the rest of your life. Not a bad way to spend a day if you ask me. Oh, and it was about 75*F. Yeah, Baby!!!
Saturday night the banquet started with a plate of food piled high with chicken and steak. I spent a large part of the time visiting with Ken Krueger, Susan Green and Diane VanGrunsven. Wonderful company. Tom told his normal jokes and kept the festivities going, Van talked about the 51% rule and Ken brought the gathering up to date on some of their thoughts on the -12. Then they picked prize winners and broke for the night. A fun, relaxing time.
Ken K and I talked later about a plexiglass baggage door mod to the -10 that might help. One with a sliding window. Developing....(pun).
Got to see good friend John Seibold again and met Mike Starkey. Too many others to remember, but the atmosphere was just about perfect with people strolling up and down the streets around the strip looking at all the RVs under construction. Imagine looking down a street and seeing (5) RVs parked in the driveways. Now picture one under construction in about every third hangar. It was like that. You spend the day walking up and down the streets meeting people you will know for the rest of your life. Not a bad way to spend a day if you ask me. Oh, and it was about 75*F. Yeah, Baby!!!
Saturday night the banquet started with a plate of food piled high with chicken and steak. I spent a large part of the time visiting with Ken Krueger, Susan Green and Diane VanGrunsven. Wonderful company. Tom told his normal jokes and kept the festivities going, Van talked about the 51% rule and Ken brought the gathering up to date on some of their thoughts on the -12. Then they picked prize winners and broke for the night. A fun, relaxing time.
End Part I
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There appear to to be some nasty drips running down that thing.
