Author: Matt

  • Fiberglass Fairings

    Lots of folks seem to think that Van’s fiberglass fairing are pretty bad, so I’ve been looking at what might be a better starting point to work from. Fairings Etc gets good reviews, so it’s something to keep in mind for the future. They come totally unfinished though, so would need a shot of primer…

  • Mastodon!

    I’ll be proxying all my posts onto Mastodon at matt@n410me.com Feel free to follow the blog there to stay up to date with the project.

  • Aerobatic Weight

    The RV-8 has an Aerobatic weight limit of 1,600 pounds. In order to have a fully aerobatic aircraft, we need inverted oil and an aerobatic propeller. This adds weight – but how much? The Whirlwind 330-3B 3 bladed composite prop weighs 53 lbs including the spinner and related hardware. With the Jihostroj P-940 governor that…

  • What engine makes sense?

    I’ve been researching how to have my cake and eat it, too. How can I build an RV-8 that is plush but also accepts a parachute that has modern & redundant systems but is also lightweight? I’ve been looking for places to shave some weight here and there in my build. The IO-390 is the…

  • Why the RV-8?

    Why the RV-8?

    I’ll mostly be flying alone, so fun was a priority in choosing the aircraft I wanted to build. I began this journey looking at building and flying a CubCrafters EX-3, a backcountry-capable Piper Cub clone. I love the outdoors, and the idea of being able to land in some field or off-airport strip really intrigued me.…