What did you do in 08?

What did you do in 2008?
What will you do in 2009?

here are my highlights..................

The 'Borrowed Horse' my RV 8 was painted by GLO, great job!!
I did 2 first flights for friends and customers. A RV7 and a RV8
Flew to the Bahamas with 2 other RVs. Tom & Linda Jet, RV7a, and Mike & Gala Heberling, RV10, stayed 8 nights on Staniel Cay, a Blast!!
Hung with friends in Florida after the Bahamas trip.
Flew to Mississippi to see Tobin
Flew to Corpus several times to see Tobin
Flew 'Shooter' my kit Super Cub to SD, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and the San Juan Islands. 3 1/2 week trip of a lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 69 hours on the tach.
Flew 'Borrowed Horse' to OSH 09 camped buy the plane all week.
Flew to Indiana to visit friends, ride horses and boating after OSH.
Drove to Denver to see Jerry Jeff Walker
Flew to the east TX, Reklaw Fly-in in 'Shooter'
Many, many, BC lunch fly-outs.
Sold my Cessna 140.
Bought a RV4 project.
192.3 flying hours in my log book for 2008
3806.5 TT

2009 should be a repeat of 2008 with a lot of RV4 time added in.
The RV 4 should fly next week.
A trip to the Big Bend of TX is happening Jan 14th, to 19th in 'Shooter'.
I am thinking 3 1/2 weeks for Montana and Idaho in June, in 'Shooter'.
'Borrowed Horse' to OSH 09,and on to upper New York to see the Heberlings, new house in Canada.
Sun n Fun? and Key West??
Visit some National Parks...................
Lots of RV4 time... if I can't get 200 hours in 2009 somethings amiss...........

Happy New Year, RVers!!

Did a bunch of flying with the Conroe bunch! Which motivated me more to buy the RV-3 kit! End of October, the tail kit arrived and have been enjoying every bit of it! Note to anyone: Don't let friends build YOUR plane. Too many redo's!

2008 - purchased engine and prop

2009 - get project ready to DAR

Lots

Flew from Reno to Dominican Republic for month of Jan and made it all the way down to Guadalope, back through St. Marten, Tortola, Vieques, Bahamas.
Had N700X painted at Gillis Aeropaint in Ok.
Flew to Oshkosh (ist time)
Won raffle to fly with the Shell Aerobatic team
Other flights
Phoenix to visit Wade Barnett at Arizona Sport Planes
Vegas several times
Monterry
Rogue River,OR
Bend OR
John Wayne, Camarillo
Sacramento
Shelter Cove,Ca 0Q5
Lots of senic flights around Reno and Tahoe
Put over 200 hrs on 700X without a single major squawk
Had a great year, hope 2009 is as good

'08-

Got halfway through my PPL training before the time changed and the weekend weather went to pot.

Started prepping the airplane factory and buying tools

Ordered preview plans and practice kits after Santa let me down

'09-

Hopefully pass the checkride and build some practice kits

My big flying trips for 2008 were SNF (2nd time) and Pennsylvania (Also 2nd time).
I did lots of local, GA and FLA, flying to the beach, BBQ's, visit family, flew to NC to see old buddy Andy whom I haven't seen since about '95-'96.

For 2009, I am definitely planning on SNF again, OSH for the first time, and Pennsylvania again. And, of course, lots of local flying.

Survived my last winter in Toledo
New exhaust system on the RV
Flew the RV from Toledo to Jackson, CA without any major squaks and managed to avoid the midwest thunderstorm onslaught. Stopped in Custer, SD to visit Mt, Rushmore and hike the state park. Then, on to Big Creek, ID** for more hiking and relaxation.
Keeping the RV grin going on a continuing basis!

** For those who have been to Big Creek, I received some very tragic news about 3 weeks ago. The lodge was lost to fire earlier in the fall. I will post a separate thread with what few details that I know.

I had a trip to the Bahamas, a couple trips to Indiana also had a big trip out to North Dakota.
Did the Gathering of Mustangs, started flying a T-6G got a P-51 ride
Had a Ball in 08 and plan to continue right into 09, going to start off with having the 8 painted by Grady next week, also plan to finish my Instrument rating in 09 as well as get my Commercial rating. And begin on my CFI
A trip to the Keys (hopefully) and lots of flying in 09


P.S
I had the really neat opportunity to meet a gentleman at lunch today, I was wearing my A-2 that is painted with Dakota Queen.
And this very spry gentleman walks up and asks me about my coat, I proceed to tell him about it and he says "on my coat I had a similar painting"
Turns out he was a P-40 and P-47 pilot with the 9th Air Force!!
We ended up talking for 1/2hr in the restaurant, he is going come see the 8 when its painted. It was a real honor to meet this gentleman, he even wrote a book about his life. He told me he wanted to give me a copy I am going to get him to sign my log book, That will give me the signatures of three amazing pilots... I have Paul Tibbets(B-29 Enola Gay) and Lt Punchy Powells(P-51 ace) and now this gentleman Mr Jack Pinkham.
Look up his book on Lulu

Got my PPL!

2008.....Didn't fly enough!

2009......Fly more....Obtain CFI ticket....Make more progress on Bi-plane project.

2008

flew to Sun-N-Fun
number of flights to the Georgia Coast
flew to Oshkosh met Jay Pratt, Doug Reeves, and Dayton Murdock as well as bunch of RV-8 guys at breakfast
Triple Tree Fly In in SC fun!
flew to Florida (55j) to give my old PA-16 partner a ride in a real airplane
flew to St George Island (f47) on the Gulf Coast
passed 250 hrs on the 8 and 500 hours taildragger time (insurance liked that)

2009

Flew home on Jan 1 from St George Island, passing an Archer on the way!
Sun N Fun
Oshkosh
Fly more and meet more RV folks

2008
Went to OSH for the first time
Got current again after 4 years (this time )
Retired after 20 years in the Air Force

2009
Go back to OSH
Get some debt paid off and order my wings
Get my IR

Lots o' waiting

After my little mishap in late 2007, all of 2008 has been spent in the rebuild:

1. Replaced my damaged fuselage
2. Redid my panel, converted to all glass
3. Rebuilt my engine
4. Upgraded my prop
5. Changed engine mount
6. Changed main gear legs
7. Removed nose gear
8. Added tail wheel
9. New canopy/windscreen (sikaflex)
10. Replaced broken wingtip
11. Replaced one crumpled wing skin and tip rib
12. Replaced damaged VS and Rudder
13. New empennage fairing and gear fairings
14. Replumbed engine due to new engine
15. Refit cowl (due to new engine mount)
16. And about a million other little things
17. Put the first pieces in the paint shop in early December
18. Flew 151.2 hours in the last 12 months,compared to 300+ in 2007 (no RV time,d*mmit)
19. Worked my full time job
20. Endless hours of farm chores
21. Loved my wife (and was loved in return)!
22. Oshkosh (again)
23. Missed (and was bummed about it) every RV flyin
24. Waited and waited and waited

The waiting is almost over. "Bionic baby" will fly again within a month, sporting a snazzy new paint job and all glass panel. The hard parts are all done. Now it's just final assembly and "first flight" checks (all over again). Even found her a new home, right next door. Life is sweet.

2008 in basic chronologic order:

* Started glider rating
* Passed 200 hr in the logbook
* Passed private and instrument written exams
* Diagnosed with cancer, went through chemo, now in remission
* First BFR
* First night instruction
* 500th landing


Goals for 2009:

* Stay healthy and get 3rd class medical
* Pass PP checkride
* Finish glider rating
* Instrument instruction and pass checkride
* September trip from MT over to WA, down OR, and CA coasts, across to 4 corners area, Santa Fe, CAF museum and back to Big D.
* Put away $25k for RV project (probably a -3).

TODR

I thought I could add Bahamas but that was late 2007.

Death Valley
Las Vegas
Grand Canyon
Monument Valley
Four Corners
Big Bear Lake
Catalina Island
Monterey CA
Fresno (to visit Yosemite)
Page AZ (Photograph Antelope Canyon)
Piney Pinecreek MN
T&G at Oshkosh
Over that big lake by Oshkosh
Got my Ham radio license (to use APRS unit)
Gave rides to people over/around Pikes Peak
Had several "issues" with ATC
Fought costly and worthless (to me) ADS-B mandate

The barrier islands....

.....of North Carolina with Jenny..
Numerous day trips to Jekyll Island, Ga...seafood lunches
Cedar Key, Fl..day trip...seafood lunch
Beaufort, S.C. day trips....seafood lunches
Mountains of North Georgia...visit Mannan...eat seafood
Daytona Beach...races....eat seafood
Eagle Neck Airpark, visit friends...eat seafood
Barbour Island, Georgia airpark visits...eat seafood
Millen, Ga fly-in....low country boil, Cajun style eat
350 hours Ag work...cotton, peanuts, corn, etc..1000 TO and landings..
20 or so Transition students....fun



2009, I plan to do Osh..since I haven't in 30 years
Do Reno air races....
more acro
Go fly an Extra 300
Dust crops..eat more seafood

Happy New Year to all,

1. Finished my RV-7!

1. Finished my RV-7!
2. Passed Airworthiness Inspection.
3. Went through transition training.
4. Survived first flight!
5. Finished Phase 1.
6. Gave my spouse and daughters first rides.
7. Performed first aileron rolls and loops.
8. Flew the airplane on its first long cross country to the paint shop.
9. Lost my Dad (at 93).



2009
Bear all your flying stories while my airplane is in the paint shop!
Take the wife on a cruise!
Slow down and enjoy life while contemplating how I can save enough for another project and retirement at the same time.
Get more aerobatics training?
Oshkosh bound?
Bahamas bound?
Someday Alaska?

2008:
Attended Superior Build School and built my XPIO-360.
Got my Special Airworthiness Certificate.
Got transition training from my test pilot and successfully flew my -6A.
Got my Repairman's Certificate.
Got my Tech Counselor number.

2009 Flight Plan:
Finish Phase I (17.5 hours remaining)
Finish fiberglass work on gear legs (intersection fairings)
Get aircraft painted.
Reclaim front yard from wild flora/fauna.
Reclaim garage from project debris.
Resume restoration of '65 Chevy PU.
Start (at least planning phase) RV-10.
Pass 100 hours RV time in logbook.
Attend both Planes of Fame airshows at Valle airport.
Fly CFO to Taos for Taos Wool Festival.
Fly nieces and nephews on Young Eagles flights.

Desired but not certain:
Attend Copperstate and LOE.

It was a good year for flying...

- started a rv-3B project!!!
- put over 75 hrs on the RV-6
- flew to OSH and LOE
- gained a few pounds
- pledged to loose a few pounds
- laughed a lot out at the airport

- didn't attend one status meeting

08 and 09

2008
-Had a high Arctic adventure and work experience in April

-had my quietest flying summer since the 4 was built...weather, work, circumstances all conspired against me!!

-made a few car shows in my newly restored 53 MGTD

-made the Stanley NS flying for the 20 odd year in a row.

-retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after 35 years and two weeks.

-after two months went back to work part time...security clearing recruits...

-youngest son joined the RCMP....proud Dad

09..?

-YTQ needs some love and attention...so I will spend some of the part time work extra money on some updates

-lots more flying!! including some good long trips

who knows what else...retirement opens up all kinds of opportunities!!

Joe Hine
RV4 C-FYTQ

2008:
N110TD flew for the first time.
Watched the Space Shuttle land.

2009:
Finish flying off the hours of Phase 1.
Fly my plane to Sun-n-Fun, OSH and LOE.
Start another project?
Get my IR, commercial and CFI.

Became an RVator

Got TD training
Bought a -6
Passed 100 hrs total during my 5 hrs of RV transition
Had (and having) a blast flying my -6 every chance I get!!!
(or sometimes have a blast just standing there looking at it)

N339A Year in Review

What a year it was for my airplane, my wife, and me! A whole lot of flying, traveling and sleeping in hotels. The year ending 2008 included over 225 nights away from home at hotels in 15 different states:

CA,CO,AZ,NM,MO,KY,FL,OH,IN,OK,PA,TX,IA,GA,TN

We visited 12 different amusement/theme parks:

Disneyland, CA
Disney’s California Adventure
Knott’s Berry Farm, CA
Universal Studios, FL
Islands of Adventure, FL
Hershey Park, PA
Magic Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
EPCOT
MGM Studios (now called Hollywood Studios)
Sea World
Kennedy Space Center

We managed to ride on no less than 15 roller coasters, some of them new and some of them old favorites of ours. All of them were a blast.

We visited Deb’s favorite church (Grace Community) and Pastor John MacArthur in Van Nuys, CA a total of 4 times.

We visited at least 4 museums:

Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Fort Pitt Museum and Block House, Pittsburgh, PA
The Museum at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA
National Air Force Museum, Dayton, OH (My personal fave.)

We managed to get published in the August issue of Sport Aviation with an article we wrote called “Scott and Debs Excellent RV Adventure.”

Deb started up a web site called http://www.itsallaboutusnow.com to keep track of our travels and wanderings about the countryside.

All of the above was possible and due to the airplane we built in our garage. As for the flying, it went something like this:

We made 146 flights resulting in 156 landings.
We flew a total of 24,336 miles.
We landed in 27 different states.
We added 159 hours to the Hobbs for a grand total of 485 hours.
We landed on both US coasts.
Almost all of our travels were done in 339A, except for one trip to Florida when we could not get out of Denver due to bad weather and had to fly commercial.
Some of our flying was with other RVers/friends, much of the time it was just Deb and me, and some of it was just Scott solo.

We flew in a huge variety of weather ranging from MVFR to CAVU and everything in between. Some of it was so awesome that it made us ponder in greater depth just how puny and insignificant we are flying along in our little airplanes.

We managed to go to both SNF and OSH where we and the Ziliks camped with our planes.
Unfortunately we missed LOE due to work commitments, but I can’t really complain about that because if it weren’t for my job, most of this travel would not have been possible. Of the 159 hours I flew, about 110 were work-related with the rest being “joy riding.”
I paid a high of $5.65 for 100LL and a low of $2.85 all in the same year.

I continue to be convinced that the RVs are superior traveling machines. Deb and I had a very extensive year of traveling, and I’m not sure how we can top this, although 2009 already has an impressive lineup of work projects. A planned RV trip to the Cayman Islands in April and probably one to Vegas with RV friends around Labor Day for a couple of 50th birthday parties.

To read more and view pictures of our travels in 339A this past year, visit our weblog at: http://www.itsallaboutusnow.com/BLOG.html

In 2009 I want to be more like Jay Pratt.

Thanks 2008!

RaNae and I had a great time this year in the RV.
Our highlights would have to be the San Juan Islands, Johnson Creek, and motorcycling in Europe.
We flew just over 220 hours in 2008 in our RV-10.

Here is a summary of a few write-ups for 2008.

Driggs Idaho Trip 3
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?p=259577&posted=1#post259577

Grand Canyon Pictures
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=34273

Hurricane UT and Marble Canyon - November 2008
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=36466

Sedona Lunch Trip - Last day of 2008
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=37903

San Juan Islands May 2008
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=30629

Johnson Creek / Big Creek Idaho July 4th 2008
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=31832

Mackinac Island 2008
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?p=271040#post271040

My Shortest Trip Report Ever! (Grassy Meadows to Hurricane, UT)
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showpost.php?p=284741&postcount=2
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?p=284741#post284741

Two weeks in the Alps
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416139

I'm mainly just happy I made it through 2008. We were just talking today about what we want to do this year. We will see.

Completed PPL, Started flying Pitts S2A and S2B, did about 50 hours total flying, got a new girlfriend, broke up with girlfriend, got a payrise, made peace with my dad (haven't spoken in 6 years) buried last real remaining grandparent, spent lots of great times with awesome people and generally felt greatful to be alive

No idea whats going to happen in 09, but I plan to make the most of any opportunities that come my way.

Cheers,
Matt

Hey Jay,
Save a weekend for houseboating on Bull Shoals Lake, AR sometime this summer.

Don

2008 was a good year!

finished the 7A in April and have now logged 95hrs.
flew across Australia in August,to Broome via the desert and then returned via the kimberlies,gulf and central Queensland to the east coast again.42 hrs in 4 weeks with 3 other planes[6A,10 and spamcan]-spectacular.
2009 is to rebuild the 6A?as a taildragger.
continue to read this site daily:
have a great 2009-paul

Share 2008

Don,

I will come to Bull Sholes Lake next summer. Let me know.

Scott Schmitt,

Your trip report on the San Juans reads like our time there this summer. We stayed on the mainland and did day trips. Sure was a fun and beautiful place. My 'Borrowed Horse' was parked in many of the same places. Roch Hbr was a wonderland. Doug is going to 'show me how to post pictures but no one will be able to teach me to write. You do a good job. Please keep the reports coming.

Builders,
If you were locked in your shop this past year 2008, you are getting close to flying. Let us read about your year. It is interesting.

Jaypratt said:

Scott Schmitt,

Your trip report on the San Juans reads like our time there this summer. We stayed on the mainland and did day trips. Sure was a fun and beautiful place. My 'Borrowed Horse' was parked in many of the same places. Roch Hbr was a wonderland. Doug is going to 'show me how to post pictures but no one will be able to teach me to write. You do a good job. Please keep the reports coming.

Click to expand...

San Juan was a great trip. Roche Harbor was my favorite as well.
Well, make 2009 the year you post all your pictures.

Hopefully our paths will cross this year.

2008:

Got my PPL :-D

Bought an ish-load of tools.
Built some work benches.
Nearly completed the empennage kit.
Didn't lose my job.

2009:
IFR - ASAP
Wings - yes
Fuselage - maybe

Big year for me!

I think this was my most event-filled year ever! In (more-or-less) chronologic order:

January
? Paul and Louise finished a dramatic upgrade of my very long-in-the-tooth panel and gave me lots of new toys (like 2-axis autopilot)
? I make my first post on VAF website and people write me nice notes
? Made my first BBQ run in Texas
? Flew back to Virginia and exceeded 260 kt on the descent!
? Took Louise and Paul up to Perkasie, PA, to visit their friends.

February
? Flew to Suffolk, VA (and 1 local flight)

March
? Flew to Knoxville for the weekend (and 1 local flight)

April
? Flew to 52F (Fort Worth) for my annual condition inspection and visit with my buddy Randy Richmond
? Flew to Houston for extended stay with Valkyrie (and her dad, Paul)
? Finally convince Louise to do some gentle acro with me (wing-overs)

May
? Flew back to Virginia

June
? Took Louise and a her co-worker up to Bloomsburg, PA, for an RV Fly-In. My farewell event on the east coast
? Enjoying the Valley-and-Ridge province for a few local flights
? Flew to Dayton, Ohio, so Louise could visit the Wright Brothers home, national park, and her friends
? Moved to Texas and move in with Valkyrie in our new (to us) Airpark hanger.
? More local flying near my new home

July
? Lots of ILS-practice flights in both Houston and around Carlsbad, NM. Life was definitely on the upswing!
? Start making the frequent (1-3 times a week) ?commute? from south Texas to College Station

August
? Lots of commuting trips to College Station
? More IFR practice and other local flights
? Perform flawlessly to ensure that Louise passed her instrument practical exam
? Louise and I passed 500 hours of flying together

September
? The month starts slow as Louise and Paul leave us home while they go off and get married in Minnesota
? A week later, my first hurricane! Carried the 95# malamute to safety, then hung out at 52F
? Lots of commuting
? Add a ?Spot? to my glareshield

October
? More commuting
? LOE (2nd trip to New Mexico this year & my 3rd LOE)
? Louise passed 1000 hours of flying while in me

November
? Commuting, BBQ runs, and local flights
? Landed at the LBJ Ranch airstrip (and saw Lucy Johnson drive by). Made me feel kinda special!
? I stay home while the Valkyrie takes Louise and Paul to California
? Paul and Louise try to compensate by building new gear fairings

December
? Paul gives Louise (really, me) a wheel pant kit. I?m told I?ll go a lot faster once they?re built and on me. I can?t wait!
? This time, I flew Louise and Paul out to Big Bear, CA, and the Val stayed home

2009?
Already flew home (Houston) from Big Bear. I expect the commute to continue. Louise says she?ll be very busy with another obligation until after August, but she?ll probably start us working towards her commercial ticket in the fall. She and Paul are also planning to work on expanding our family by starting work an RV-3 in the fall. I think it will be really cool to be a big brother!

Just a little

2008:

Built a solar house that I designed in 2007
Got my Instument ticket
Attended 2nd SNF
Moved into said house without damaging the RV (2nd move)
Worked on the RV

Flew a couple of instument flights that were realy fun (double rainbows viewed from the air)
Sent my son to the mid east with VFA-87

2009:
Planning to trek to mecca in Jan (Mattatuck)
Hope to buy the finish kit and an engine
Finish the panel.....right.
Attend my older sons wedding.
Go to SNF
Keep IFR currency
Work like a dog on landscaping.
Meet some of the SERV folks for once.

Been flying alot

Bonnie and I put 310 hours on our planes in 2008. Put 230 hours on the RV7a, 40 hours on the C182, and 40 hours on the Tiger. We had a great year with alot of trips around the country. The RV7a came out of the paint shop in January.

Our trips included a Feb trip in the RV7a to South Padre to enjoy the beach. Then off to AZ at end of March to move Mom back to South Dakota with a stop in Cheyenne to visit our son. At $75/night in Cheyenne, that was the most expensive hangar rental of the year. We just got out of SD in the RV7a just in time to avoid a spring snow storm. In April we flew the RV7a to a wet Sun n Fun. In May, the RV7a made the trip to New Hampshire to visit our daughter and grandkids. In June, the C182 made the trip to Wyoming, Montana and Idaho for some great mountain flying and camping. In July, the RV7a was off to Oshkosh, then west to Jackpot, Independance for the Van's Homecoming, rent house on Orcas Island for a week, then Medford, OR for a week, before heading south to Laughlin to celebrate our anniversary and then home. At the end of Sept we were off again in the RV7a to New Hampshire to see the fall colors. A one night hangar rental in Frankfort, KY for $5 was the cheapest of the year. We made LOE in Oct before heading to South Dakota to pick Mom up and move her back to AZ for the winter.

The RV7a has proved to be a great cross country plane for us. Hope to make some of the same trips and some new ones during 2009.

Good news:

Bought an 0-320 engine and had it majored.
Received my finish kit.
Did the first fitting of the wings and tail
Got to spend one more year with my wife, kids and grandkids.
Remodeled a big portion of my house and made brownie points with wife
Survived the current economy.

Bad news:

Lost my Mom, father in law, and two friends. I guess that is part of approaching 60.
Didn't get much work done on the 9A as remodeling the house took priority.