Builder Sites
Not an exhaustive list, just those sites I’ve used for building information, for inspiration, or are just well done.
Reference Sites, Resources and Organizations
Rivetbangers – Not as active as it used to be, but still a good resource.
Van’s Air Force – If you’re anyone in the RV community, you’re on VAF.
The VAF List – Probably the best compilation you’ll find of RV-related of links.
The Matronics RV List – Captures almost ten years of RV builder experience.
The Matronics RV List search engine – Nice search engine for the RV List.
XPanel – Nice and not-too-expensive software to help design your dream instrument panel.
FAA Resources – Advisory Circulars and Regulations Online
FAA Amateur-Built Aircraft Reference Material – Excellent collection of FAA information for homebuilders.
FAA Dynamic Regulatory System – FAA’s official site for FARs, ACs, Type Certificate Data Sheets, Orders, etc
Advisory Circular 90-89A, Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook – PDF Document
Advisory Circular 20-139, Commercial Assistance During Construction of Amateur-Built Aircraft – PDF Document
Advisory Circular 20-27G, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft – PDF Document
Companies
Dynon Avionics – An affordable EFIS for experimental aircraft.
ExperimentalAero – Home of the DRDT-2 dimpling tool.
Cleaveland Tool – Tools for RV builders.
SteinAir – Wiring kits and specialty tools. Great service!
Unlimited Aero Engines – Powering the Mighty RV!
Hi: I bought a Bob Archer antenna for my 7A and will be installing it shortly in the right wing tip. I couldn’t tell from your photos exactly how you attached the antenna to the end rib — angle aluminum but placement and quantity of rivets (pulled or solid too). Do you have any helpful hints or gotchas since you installed it? Since your antenna is not bonded to the wingtip fiberglass itself, how has it done structurally since you installed it? It looks unsupported enough to bend, but would like your insight and experience. Thanks so much!! I’m based at KDVT (N722RV)
Hi Bill!
I didn’t rivet the aluminum angle to the rib, it’s held in place with three (IIRC) AN3 bolts and AN365 locknuts using some of the existing tooling holes on the rib. The antenna has survived just fine over the last five years; I glued small sections of pipe insulation foam tube to the trailing edge and front outboard corner just to cushion impacts against the wingtip. It does flop around a little, but not enough so far to fatigue the antenna metal.
I decided to use the angle mount rather than bonding the antenna to the piano hinge, as some have done, to make sure I had a good ground to the airframe. VOR/LOC/ILS performance has been good so it must be grounded pretty well.
Hope this helps, good luck with your project!
Dave