Thanks WW. We ended up with a Whirlwind by recommendation of the dealer. Since we've never had anything else, I am sure we'll be happy with it.

I f you have a wood burner in your shop, you'll be able to heat for a few days with the packing crate, seriously!

I hear of guys inventorying their kits, counting all the nuts and washers and making sure they match up with the packing list. Screw that, if all the big parts are there just dive right in and get busy. Two kits from RANS, never shorted on anything, and the last kit had NOTHING back ordered, everything was there, that is super rare in the kit business.

You need a fuselage fixture and a way to hold for painting all the control surfaces and other parts. I have been using for years a 1" sq. tube tripod thingie that I can plug various mounts into, I have two of them so with the "adapters" on each I can hold the fuselage up and twirl it around to where ever I am working. Set screws/bolts secure the parts in the tripod. Other adapters for the rudder etc etc plug in the same tripod. You will more then make up in time saved the time spent in making these fixtures and adapters.

Try and resist the urge to load it up with all kinds of crap, keep it light, nothing beats lightness for good performance. All the engine mods and horsepower in the world don't help a bit when on short final. I just got a Earth X lithium battery and saved 11 lbs over the old Odyssey! I've launched and climbed out 35 times according to the logbook since, so that's a total of 385 lbs., so far, I have not had to haul aloft. That may be an unusual way to think about excess weight but true. When I see a fat person limping around like many do, I always think of how less aircraft weight is also easier on the landing gear, I do not share this thought with the fat person

I agree, I didn't waste time counting bolts and nuts as I have a good surplus of those.

I did add weight, and pleased with it, with the Airmaster prop, second cabin heater, Roberts gear, 26" Bush tires and a phat Matco tail wheel. The bungee gear really absorbs the carrier landings I seem to have a knack for.

I installed VGs a few days before the High Sierra Fly-in and that made a huge improvement. Solo with half fuel, I indicate between 25-30 mph on stall.

courierguy wrote: When I see a fat person limping around like many do, I always think of how less aircraft weight is also easier on the landing gear, I do not share this thought with the fat person

You just did!!, Made me think about my 2 knees that are due to be replaced!! (all the bushings are wore out and the bungees are stretched pretty bad)
First time I have ever really thought about it that way!
Thanks CG.
I hope you started this fat guys reduction of take off wieght for the las t time!!

Guess I better get started

Thanks courierguy, I will forward that suggestion on to the assembly dept.

I plan on working while the ol timers are farting around with that thing. Somebody has to pay the light bill. That'll be my part.

Zzz wrote:The S7 is an extremely fun plane, and flies like a dream. You're gonna be happy.

Hey gbflyer...just to keep the enthusiasm alive in the hangar over winter, here's a pic of my friends latest S7 creation born in NZ!
I invested a few hours in the build process, making a few custom fibreglass components! and hanging on the end of tools as required!
Was a fantastic experience and one i'm super happy to have been a part of. The trouble is, it just makes you yearn to do your own!! I think you'll have a great time building yours



Had a few flights out to our local river bed and can vouch for Zanes comments! what a great machine.
This one has a list of small and not so small mods that is something to behold, but they all add up to make an extremely versatile and sturdy machine......Your gonna love yours!!

Wish you all the best with your build, keep posted on progress.

blue skies

Rob

Kit arrived Monday. Starting to unpack and organize stuff. Lots of parts. A few back ordered fasteners and a throttle cable I think. Good crating on Rans parts, Rotax crating thin as cat piss. We took a little damage to a valve cover do to a fork getting stuck through the 1/4" plywood. Could have been worse.

After years of owning old, very used certified aircraft, it's really something to be looking at brand new stuff.

After years of owning old, very used certified aircraft, it's really something to be looking at brand new stuff.

I know what you mean. Kind of exciting isn't it?

All parts organized and starting to go together. Paint booth built. Working mostly on fuselage since the wings are already built. Screwed the pooch on paint so waiting for metal primer. Nice to see some progress. The instructions are well done, we are amazed at how many things are done at the factory. I think this is probably one of the better kit manufacturers for first - timers like us.

Are you finished yet?

Hoping for Spring. Good chance there will be a S-20 in there next winter.

Can anyone think of a reason other than cosmetics to paint the inside of the cockpit, which left unpainted would be just the natural fabric? Trying to save ounces. Thanks in advance.

gbflyer wrote:Can anyone think of a reason other than cosmetics to paint the inside of the cockpit, which left unpainted would be just the natural fabric? Trying to save ounces. Thanks in advance.

You will need to put the silver over it, at least; otherwise the UV will turn it into moth-food...

Once it's got the "heavy" silver coat, I suppose 6oz more to have it look real nice might seem a smaller price to pay.

Never thought about that. Good point.

We are using Superflite system
7 so no silver. Epoxy primer and topcoat.

Busy with snow the last couple of weeks but getting back at it. Second coat of primer on the fuselage today. Maybe finish sand tomorrow if it dries and topcoat. Didn't realize how much of a show stopper paint is on this project...

pilatuski wrote:



blue skies

Rob

Hey Rob
Can you tell us anything about the wing fences, performance wise. Never seen that mod on a 7 before. Found this pic on ur website.

gbflyer wrote:Busy with snow the last couple of weeks but getting back at it. Second coat of primer on the fuselage today. Maybe finish sand tomorrow if it dries and topcoat. Didn't realize how much of a show stopper paint is on this project...

Looking forward to reading about your progress. And...

Yeah, I have to get with the program on the BCP Redux photo upload procedure.

This seems to be a reasonably priced -7 with all the good mods, http://www.iacsales.com/used_aircraft.htm

Sanding