Flyin' Bryan's RV-8 Adventure

This site was created to provide friends and family with a vehicle to track my efforts to build a Van's RV 8 Aircraft kit. The dream began in the Summer of 2008. The actual building began in 2009, with the arrival of the empennage or tail kit. I will periodically update the site with photos and comments about my progress.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Honey-do's and airplane building - a raging never ending battle

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So I was all set to slam out the rest of the rudder last weekend. Problem is I have a son graduating frm High School in two months, and the ...

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

250 hours on the hobbs - new tools and more rudder work

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Pic of the new #10 dimple dies for the screwa thagt will hold the coun terweight inside the rudder tip rib: Rib is in the background and ...

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Summing up the last couple of days - Challenging - More tools on order

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So no pics just yet, but coming..... Over the past couple of days I have been cleaning and prepping aluminum and dimpling the frame for the ...

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Cranking away on the rudder skeleton preparation

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Back to 3D mode - drilling, deburring, dimpling, followed by cleaning, scuffing, more cleaning, and finally priming. I was so busy yesterday...

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Bottom Rudder Assembly pics - Hole in Forward RIb Flange Drilled Out

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And now for some pics as promised. Bottom rudder assembly all clecoed in place. The rib, the front spar, the HS 710 Support bracket (with th...

Friday, March 11, 2011

Got the rib in the mail today - back to work on the rudder

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This time I step drilled the hole in the flange first, by using a series of about 6 different standard type drill bits, until I got to the 1...

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tidying Up the Blog While I wait for the Bottom Rib of the Rudder to Arrive

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We have some new RV builders that are ramping up here in the local Denver Area, and so I thought I would spend some time going back in time ...

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About Me

Bryan Raley: So who am I? Born in Dallas, TX, but consider myself a Colorado native, having lived in this beautiful state for all but two years of my life. I built my first plastic airplane model at the age of 7, and I was hooked on airplanes for life. I attended the University of North Dakota and obtained an Aviation Administration degree, earning my flight instructor certificate along the way. I became a search and rescue pilot and crew member for the Civil Air Patrol shortly after graduating from college - going on 26 years of service now. There is no greater satisfaction that using your aviation talents to help your community and the nation. I bcame a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association in 2008 and made my first visit to Airventure in Oshkosh, WI, home of the largest gathering of airplanes and aviation enthusiasts in the world for one week in July 2009. Of course you already know I am building an RV-8 airplane! Other than that, I enjoy living life, spending time with my wonderful wife and 2 great kids, and just enjoying all that life has to offer.

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