| | Owner: Bob Kelly
Aircraft Model: RV-9A
Tail Number: N908BL
Location: Scipio, Indiana
Completion Date: February 27th, 2007
Canopy Type: Slider, Carbon Fiber
Engine Details: 160 HP Lycoming
Fuel System: Carbureted
Panel Details: Leather covered panel with ASI, Altimeter, VSI, Dynon D10A. Narco VOR, Trio EZ PilotII and Altitude Hold II, AFS engine monitor, XCOM 760 radio, AvMap IV GPS and Narco transponder
Paint Details: Imron light gray with blue and warm red vinyl accents
Builder Website: http://www.missionmedia.org/RV-9A.html
Interior Details: Sportsman Leather Backrests with Aviator Leather Seat Cushions, Aviator Leather Side Panels and a Carpet Kit
Interior Colors: Wheat Leather Trim with Customer Provided Leather for the Inserts along with Latte Carpet
Customer Comments: Our RV-9A was finished and flown February 27, 2007. We didn't install the interior until the first annual inspection early in 2008. We provided Classic the leather second color inserts so the interior matched the leather covered instrument panel, and matching vinyl trim (purchased from Classic Aero) was added to tie everything together.
N908BL is a day/night VFR aircraft, although it may soon become IFR. It is powered by a 160hp Lycoming and pulled along by a Catto prop. The biggest change from Van's standard was the addition of a complete carbon fiber canopy system, allowing for better sealing of the interior and somewhat better visibility and baggage access. This did not cause any problems with installing the interior and allowed finishing the inside of the slider with vinyl.
N908BL is a pleasure to fly and performs up to Van's advertised numbers, perhaps a bit faster at higher altitudes, thanks to electronic ignition by E-Mag. Thanks in part to the carbon fiber canopy, even with the leather interior it came in at 1054 pounds, better than we expected.
The entire combination would be hard to beat, and now that the interior has given use the finished look we wanted, we get nothing but compliments, even among owners of high-end "certificated" aircraft.
The building experience was fantastic, in no small part because of the great suppliers with whom we worked. I truly believe building and flying your own RV is as close to fulfilling the Great American Dream as is possible today. Try it; you'll like it
Bob Kelly, caretaker of N908BL |
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