My RV-7 - Dedicated to building a Van's RV-7

Mail me by clicking [

This is the home page of my home built Van's RV-7 called Spirit

Gary, a member of the Cessna 172 owning Derby Arrows group, has gone slightly mad and decided to build a performance aircraft in his shed....well ok the garage then. This part of the web site will chronicle the journey and that journey will easily take at least 4 years

Photo's courtesy of Van's Aircraft


	A bit about me: Hello. I am a 40 year old man living in Derbyshire and I am mad about flying. On Bank holiday morning 30/04/07 I woke up and almost immediately I had decided that I would build my own aircraft. By that evening I had decided which aircraft I was going to build. Now its also important to note that I never done anything like this before and when ever I touch metal it seems to break in my hands !! Reassuringly I will have plenty of help and advice from Bob who has built aluminium and composite single seat racing cars. My next door neighbour has shown keen interest to. Not to mention help from Derby Aero club and fellow builders. A bit about the aircraft: The aircraft I have chosen is a two seat, low wing, high performance, all metal, tail-dragger. Its a Van's RV-7. For more about them click here: http://www.vansaircraft.com/ The aircraft will be built in my single car garage next to the house. Not a great deal of space and I will need to keep the noise down. After much thought and an internal need to name the aircraft more than just its registration or make I have decided to call her Spirit. With a little tongue in cheek I am calling the people who help.....Team Spirit. You can see who they are from the right hand menu.

Total Build Time

511.5 Hours
Site updated as of 06/07/2008

Getting Started Time

150.0 Hours
Last update was 22/07/2007

Practise Kits Time

26.0 Hours
Last update was 05/08/2007

Empennage Build Time

183.5 Hours
Last update was 24/02/2008

Wing Time

150.5 Hours
Last update was 06/07/2008

Choosing Engine Time

2.5 Hours
Last update was 23/06/2007

Panel Time

4.0 Hours
Last update was 14/10/2007

Aircraft Specification:

Solo Weight 1400 lbs
Gross Weight 1800 lbs

160 hp

180 hp

200 hp

Speed - Gross Weight
Top Speed	201 mph	209 mph	216 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft]	191 mph	199 mph	206 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft]	172 mph	179 mph	186 mph
Stall Speed	58 mph	58 mph	58 mph

Ground Performance - Gross Weight
Takeoff Distance	650 ft	575 ft	500 ft
Landing Distance	500 ft	500 ft	500 ft
Climb/Ceiling - Gross Weight
Rate of Climb	1,400 fpm	1,650 fpm	1,900 fpm
Ceiling	18,500 ft	20,500 ft	22,500 ft
Range
Range [75% @ 8000 ft]	835 sm	775 sm	765 sm
Range [55% @ 8000 ft]	1,025 sm	950 sm	935 sm