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This is correct. My battery (EarthX) is on the firewall, I have an RV200 composite prop and the grove one piece gear. CG with me, wife, fuel and baggage will be right around 83”.

Sorry all, I had a Homer Simpson moment (Doh!) :D Of course the CG will move rearward with fuel and people. Nevermind :)

Chris
 
Getting there!

When i started the project i tought that when it looked like this it is almost finished.... man i was wrong :O

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RV-8 Fastback

Starting to see more RV-8 fastbacks and gotta say it is a nice looking airplane. Well done to you guys making the extra effort. I’m not a builder but a flyer however I don’t mind doing a little restoration work now and then. Don’t think I’d want to do a fastback conversion on a flying plane but man they do look good!
 
Great looking -8!

For those that fly with the fastback mod, does it actually make your cruise faster, or is it strictly for looks?
 
For those that fly with the fastback mod, does it actually make your cruise faster, or is it strictly for looks?

Why of course...all mods are worth 10 knots. Everyone knows it's true.

Seriously, I doubt anyone has converted from the original, thus back to back numbers are hard to find.

Faster or not, Dennis, it's a great looking airplane!
 
Why of course...all mods are worth 10 knots. Everyone knows it's true.

Seriously, I doubt anyone has converted from the original, thus back to back numbers are hard to find.

Faster or not, Dennis, it's a great looking airplane!

I was hoping you would chime in, Dan.
It seems that you’re fairly data oriented, and I thought you’d be the one to know!
 
Great looking -8!

For those that fly with the fastback mod, does it actually make your cruise faster, or is it strictly for looks?

Looks is just a bonus to have a plane thats easier to get in and out of and removes the metal roll bar from the pilots view.

Great looking plane, congrats!
 
Feel like a milestone was reached today when a friend offered to crawl inside the aft fuselage to help me rivet the upper aft skin on. It’s been a few months of navigating avionics.
 

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Introducing “Excelsior”. Finished installing the wings, tips, and fairings. Figured I’d better pull her out and get a photo in case Ian drops the hangar door on her. Need to reinstall the interior and then it’s time for first engine run and weight and balance.
Soon, soon….
 

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Introducing “Excelsior”. Finished installing the wings, tips, and fairings. Figured I’d better pull her out and get a photo in case Ian drops the hangar door on her. Need to reinstall the interior and then it’s time for first engine run and weight and balance.
Soon, soon….

Mike, That looks amazing!
 
Introducing “Excelsior”. Finished installing the wings, tips, and fairings. Figured I’d better pull her out and get a photo in case Ian drops the hangar door on her. Need to reinstall the interior and then it’s time for first engine run and weight and balance.
Soon, soon….

As Scott, Max, and Ed said, beautiful aircraft! Interesting mods - the step, the access panel, the special yellow tape to hold on the rudder... :D
 
Finally at the hangar

Want to give a shout out to EAA690 KLZU. They got me in touch with an individual with a spot in his box hangar, thank you so much!! Finally in one piece.
 

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Want to give a shout out to EAA690 KLZU. They got me in touch with an individual with a spot in his box hangar, thank you so much!! Finally in one piece.

Looks great!
I have that same prop. You’ll love it. What spinner are you using?
 
Status = Flying

Excelsior flies!
9 years, 2000+ hours and one hurricane (note lack of hangar doors!).
Airworthiness inspection this morning by Arnold Holmes.
Wearing my RV-6 anniversary shirt in homage to the many years of enjoyment I got in my 6A.
First flight this evening by my good friend and super experienced pilot Harvey.
Chase by 8 driver and formation bud Lonn.
Traditional major milestone toast with the good stuff.
 

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Congratulations!

Mike,
Congratulations! You have built a beautiful bird and I’m so happy for you!
Thank goodness you were spared from the Hurricane. Absolutely stunning paint job and top notch craftsmanship all around. Well done!
 
RV-8 first flight

Mike,

Congrats on getting in the air and very nice choice for the obligatory liquid toast. Blanton's is a good one and impossible to find here.

Enjoy the -8, it is an absolute blast
 
AWC

AWC completed!! Thanks to Vern Darley for the inspection and the words of wisdom. Going to train with Bruce Bohannon the end of the month.
 

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Well a small victory for me, gotta celebrate them when we can. After 4 years and 442 hours, the empennage is done (minus the fiberglass work). Drilled that final hole in the control horns this afternoon. Starting on the wings.

 
Rolled the canoe

I got the canoe on the rotisserie and went to town this weekend.

As the song says, I get by with a little help from my friends. Better make that a lot of help.

Kevin and Frank helped buck the rivets I could not reach by myself. I’m in a position now to knock out a lot of work that required the work done this weekend first.

Thank you guys. I’ll be there when you are ready for bucking help.
 

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Drilled the gear mounts today. Before removing the legs for deburring and later attachment, thought I would give them a shine. It took a couple of different grades of sandpaper on a palm sander then 3 different polishes with a buffer.

I can definitely say those are a great looking pair of legs.
 

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Excelsior flies!
9 years, 2000+ hours and one hurricane (note lack of hangar doors!).
Airworthiness inspection this morning by Arnold Holmes.
Wearing my RV-6 anniversary shirt in homage to the many years of enjoyment I got in my 6A.
First flight this evening by my good friend and super experienced pilot Harvey.
Chase by 8 driver and formation bud Lonn.
Traditional major milestone toast with the good stuff.

Over in palm beach if you need an excuse to fly and hang with nose dragger 8s
 
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