Tim Olson's RV10 kit #170

Tim Olson's RV10
N104CD
Kit #170

Current Hobbs

(First Flight 2/12/06)
(click images to enter those sections)

Update: I have now made my site Searchable, click SEARCH

Latest Updates:

Added 6/16/2009 - Day Tripping with the RV-10 to Door Co. Wisconsin

Added 5/27/2009 - Fuel Vent Ice Protection
Updated 5/14/2009 - Solid State Drive upgrade to my EFB
Added 5/14/2009 - NavWorx Mounting
Added 5/11/2009 - D-I-Y Dome Light
Added 5/11/2009 - Filtered Air Box Maintenance and Repair
Added 5/11/2009 - Rudder Pedal Blocks for short folk
Updated 5/11/2009 - Bahamas Trip 2009
Updated 3/16/2009 - Brake Maintenance and More (2nd set of linings)
Updated 2/28/2009 - Panel Flying Impressions - and Safety-Trim install - updated with latest comments
Added 1/21/2009 - New Matco Front Axle Upgrade
Updated 3/10/2008 - Slick Mag SB Performed
Added 10/26/2008 - NavWorX ADS-B testing in N104CD!
Updated 10/13/2008 - New England with NYC Hudson Flythrough - (8 states/4 days)
Updated 9/9/2008 - South Dakota Weekend
Updated 8/4/2008 - OSH 2008 - Our Experience
Added 7/18/2008 - IFR Flight to OSH to reserve RV-10 builders campsites
Added 6/2008 - Bring your Best Friend along with Mutt Muffs!
Added 6/27/2008 - Trim Tab Re-Rigging and Performing Van's Service Bulletin 8-6-1
Added 5/4/2008 - Tire and Brake Line Replacement
Added 4/15/2008 - RV-10 Wing Stall Photo Series
Updated 2/22/2008 - Safety-Trim Trim Controller Installation with Runaway Prevention
Added 11/25/2007 - Finally Alone - Rich of Peak and Lean of Peak Compared while Light
Added 11/12/2007 - Nellis/Vegas Trip - Things aren't always as you plan
Added 11/04/2007 - Adding Rudder trim to my Flying RV-10
Added 10/28/2007 - Overhead Antenna Cover and Lighting Console

Added 10/16/2007 - Weekend Getaway to Atlanta / Orlando
Added 9/21/2007 - N104CD's Aux Battery System
Updated 9/15/2007 - WSI AV-300 Weather Receiver Upgrade!
Added 8/1/2007 - OSH 2007!
Added 8/1/2007 - Trim Relay Replacement
Added 6/20/2007 - Long weekend trip to Niagara Falls

Added 6/10/2007 - Economical RV-10 Travel - Mackinac Island Michigan
Added 5/27/2007 - Panel Design and Layout Theories

Added 5/17/2007 - Tim's RV-10 FAQ

Updated 4/1/2007 - Spring Projects - Ground Power and Heater Duct Insulation

Updated 3/24/2007 - Interior Lighting - I finally see the light! + First Flight with New Lights

Updated 3/14/2007 - Updated my Power Diagram in prep for interior lights
Completed 2/25/2007 - Annual Condition Inspection Performed

Updated 3/15/2007 - RV-10 Axle Extension Replacement

Updated 12/17/2006 - Oil Leak Found and Fixed
Updated 12/3/2006 - Panel Flying Impressions

Added 11/23/2006 - CO Guardian install and other pre-winter projects

Added 11/15/2006 - My Wife's Perspective on Building our RV-10
Updated 11/23/2006 - Tires and Brakes - Maintenance Stuff

Updated 11/9/2006 - Improved Cylinder Cooling through Baffle and Cowl Work

Added 10/16/2006 - Grand Canyon / Vegas / El Paso Vacation to Land of Enchantment RV Fly-In
Added 9/16/2006 - First Hard IFR Flight - Oregon Trip to Van's Homecoming 2006
Updated 8/17/2006 - Vetterman Exhaust Extension
Updated 8/17/2006 - TruTrak Pitch Servo Torque Enhance Mod #2
Updated 8/17/2006 - Pinpoint AHRS Install
Updated 9/16/2006 - Front Axle Wear Maintenance Issue
Added 8/8/2006 - First IFR/IMC Flight in the RV-10 Cross State
Added 7/31/2006 - Pinpoint GADAHRS Installation
Updated 7/5/2006 - See Below - Finishing - Added Lightspeed info.
Added 6/20/2006 - Flight to Boone, IA - RV Fly-In
Added 6/9/2006 - Good Air-to-Air Shots
Added 6/6/2006 - Yellowstone Flight
Added 6/6/2006 - Section: Maintenance Notes
Updated 4/29/2006 - Completing Van's SB-06-2-3
Updated 4/18/2006 - Prop Balancing my RV-10
Updated 4/09/2006 - Trip to Sun-N-Fun 2006
Updated 3/30/2006 - Final Touches Before Sun-N-Fun 2006
Updated 3/24/2006 - Wheel Fairings installed, Panel Shots, Headrest Monitors
Updated 3/10/2006 - Panel Flying Impressions

This page and ALL web surfing best viewed with Mozilla/Firefox

Standard Disclaimer: The ideas, concepts, maintenance procedures and tips within this site may not be considered acceptable, and have come from a variety of potentially unreliable sources. As with any do-it-yourself project, building an airplane and doing the maintenance is an "at your own risk" undertaking. Treat any information you find on this page and on the web in general with caution and know that you alone are responsible for the safety of your airplane, and the maintenance performed. Although the ideas posted here were put out with the concept of increased safety in mind, there are no guarantees. (Hey, it's 2006, what's a guy to do)

Why Build the RV-10?? Updated 11/9/2006 See: Why I chose this kit	My Equipment Choices and Performance Specs updated 9/11/05
My Wife's Perspective on Building our RV-10 - Added 11/15/2006	My Misc. Pics	Updated 12/16/05
Tim's RV-10 FAQ - Just added 5/17/2007	Transition Training	Updated 2/23/06
	RV10 Plans for Discussion
The Project - My Builders Log Below is a compilation of photos and information from my construction time, along with maintenance and other information from the years following first flight.
2004/01/24 Uncrating the kit
My Tools and Workspace
DAR inspection and First Flight 2/12/2006	Added 2/14/2006

Empennage Started: 1/26/2004
Vertical Stabilizer	Empennage Plans
2004/01/28 Vertical Stab Day 2 - 1st part to re-order
2004/01/30 Repeat of VS-1014
2004/02/01 Skinning the vertical stab
2004/02/06-9 Priming VS parts, assembling VS rear spar
2004/02/11&29 Riveting VS and VS Skin (VS Complete)
2006/04/29 Competing Van's SB-06-2-3

Rudder	Empennage Plans
2004/03/01-4 Rudder Deburring, cutting out parts, skinning the rudder
2004/03/07 Alodine rudder parts, Destroy rudder skins
2004/03/17-21 Deburred new rudder skins, dimpled, primed rudder, assembled
2004/03/23-24 Drilling H.Stab spar and caps and Riveting Rudder spar and sk
2004/03/25 Rudder Trailing Edge (PERFECT!) - and finishing up the Rudder

Horizontal Stabilizer	Empennage Plans
2004/03/08-16 Started Deburring Hstab parts, got 1003 Spar done
2004/03/25 Alodining Horizontal Stab Spar - good photos of how
2004/04/03 Clecoing the Assembly of the Horizontal Stab
2004/04/15 Deburring, Countersinking, Alodining, and Priming
2004/04/17 Rivet all Horizontal Stab parts, including skin - HSTAB COMPLETE!

Elevator	Empennage Plans
2004 4/22 thru 6/5 All-in-one Elevator construction log. 167 hours total so far.

Tailcone	Empennage Plans
2004 6/15 and 6/16 Starting Tailcone Assembly (10 hours on Tailcone)
2004 6/17 Tailcone assembled - Ready to disassemble and deburr
2004 6/30, 7/8-7/12 Dimpling and Priming Tailcone parts
2004 7/14-16, 8/01 Tailcone Skin Riveting - Time to store the tailcone

Wing	Wing Plans	Wing Inventory
2004 07/07 Wing Kit Arrives
2004 08/04 - 08 Section 13 - Countersinking and preparing the main spars
2004 08/10 - 15 Section 14 - Wing rib placing, Alodining, Priming, and Assembly
2004 08/26 - 09/06 Section 15 - Wing Rear Spar and Section 16 - Wing Top Skin (first part)
2004 09/07 - 10/19 Section 16 - Wing Top Skin (second part) and Section 17 - Wing Outboard Leading Edge
2004 10/20 - 10/31 Section 18 - Fuel Tank Construction (part 1)
2004 11/01 - 11/07 Section 18 - Fuel Tank Construction (part 2)
2004 11/12 - 11/27 Section 21 - Ailerons. Also finishing 18 (tanks) , and 19 Stall-Warn
2004 11/28 - 12/14 Section 22 - Flaps
2004 12/26 - 12/31 Section 23 - Aileron Actuation and Autopilot servo install
2005 01/01 & 2/5-6 Misc - Pitot Bracket Mounting - Reinforce Stall Warning Area
2005 02/26, 3/5,6,12 Section 24 - Wing Tips
2005 04/29 & 05/03 Section 24 - Wing Tips (continued)
2005 05/01 & 2 Duckworks RV-10 Landing Light install (with HIDs!!)
2005 07/06 First shots of Gretx Aero GA-1000 Heated Pitot

Fuselage (QB)	Fuselage Plans
2005 04/25 Fuselage and Finishing Kit Delivery - BIG!
2005 05/07 & 8 Starting on the QB Fuse
2005 05/10 - 12 Tailcone attach to the Fuselage
2005 05/10 - 12 Conduit to the Tailcone & Soundproofing
2005 Thru 05/22 Brake Lines, Gear Brackets, Antenna Doublers
2005 Thru 05/30 Installing Floor Panels, More Conduit, Priming, & other tasks
2005 Thru 06/9 Rear Seats, Rudder Pedals, Baggage Door
2005 Thru 06/10 Andair Fuel Valve & Cutting Back Panel Ribs
2005 Thru 06/12 Painting the Fuselage Interior
2005 Thru 06/21 Misc Fuselage - Rudder Pedals, Controls, Seats, Canopy, Fuel Lines
2005 Thru 06/22 Fitting and Trimming the Fuselage Canopy
2005 Thru 07/2 Fuel Lines, Canopy fitting, Windshield and Window Trimming	Revised 8/16
2005 Thru 07/6 Cabin Cover Prep - Headliner - AP Pitch Servo - Doors pt.1	Revised 8/16
2005 Thru 07/6 More cabin Cover and Doors
2005 Thru 8/16 Throttle Quadrant, Panel Reinforce, Windows, Latch
2005 Thru 8/21 Windshield, Fairing, Engine Mount, Gear Legs, Wheels, Aux. Batt.

Finishing Kit	Finishing Kit Plans
2005 Thru 8/27 Door Latches, Gear Legs, Prop Governor, Spinner Backing Plate	Updated 9/10/05
2005 Thru 8/30 Door Latches, Spinner, Battery Box for Odyssey PC925 Battery	Added 8/30/05
2005 Thru 9/5 AHRS Mounting, Door Latches, Spinner, Headliner, Top Cowl	Added 9/5/05
2005 Thru 9/11 More Cowling Work	Added 9/11/05
2005 Thru 9/18 Oil Access Door, Cowling Louvres, Body Finishing	Added 9/18/05
2005 Thru 9/24 More Pre-Paint Body Finishing	Added 9/24/05
2005 Thru 9/24 And ... More Pre-Paint Body Finishing (Wings Attached!)	Added 10/2/05
2005 Thru 10/16 Empennage and Fairing Assembly	Added 10/22/05
2005 Thru 11/27 Misc. Items Accomplished	Added 11/27/05
2005 Thru 12/28 Lots of Finishing - Plus Andair Final!	Added 12/28/05
2006 Thru 1/29 Final Assembly Begins - Moving to the Airport!	Updated 7/5/2006
2006 Thru 2/8 Progress in HIGH GEAR - Taxi Time!	Added 2/9/06
2006 Thru 2/12 DAR Inspection and First Flight!	Added 2/14/06

Engine Installation	Firewall Forward Plans
OSH 2005 - My First view of my Engine
2005/08/27 Hanging The Engine	Updated 10/22/05
2005/09/24 Installing the Plane-Power Alternators (60A & 70A)	Added 9/24/05
2005/10/14 Misc. Engine Pics - Waiting for Mount	Added 11/08/05
2005/10/22 Engine Mount Clearance Modification	Updated 10/30/05
2005/10/22 Engine Baffling? ... You Bet it is!	Added 11/08/05
2005/10/22 Major Engine Accessory Installation	Added 11/27/05

Instrument Panel - Make sure you follow my Panel Page for more detail
My Panel Plans - A beautiful 3 screen Chelton System!
2005/07/02 First Photos of new Chelton Screens with 5.0C software!	Go to my Main Panel Page
2005/07/16-20 Panel Cut Layout - Adding instruments	My Power Diagram	Current 03/14/07
2005/07/17 Cutting the Instrument Panel and Mounting Radio Stack	My Load Analysis	Outdated
2005/07/19 Painting the Panel
2005/09/10 My Antenna Choices
2005/12/28 Panel Silkscreening - Panel Install - More!	Added 12/28/05
2006/01/15 More panel - All Lit Up!	Added 1/15/2006
Panel Flying Impressions	Updated 2/28/2009
2007/05/27 Panel Design and Layout Theories	Added 5/27/2007
2007/09/21 N104CD's Aux Battery System	Added 9/21/2007

Interior Design (Seats and more)
Seats - Covers by DJ (Cleaveland Aircraft Tools)	Updated 2/16/2006
My Seat Belts, by Hooker Harness	Added 9/14/05
A Beautiful Interior by Abby at Flightline Interiors	Updated 3/5/2006
Making it Cozy - Interior Installed	Added 3/5/2006

Painting and Paint Planning
I finally chose my paint scheme!
Hauling the RV-10 for Painting....the Redneck way	Added 10/6/05
Painting N104CD - White Basecoat	Added 10/9/05
Painting the Tail - Now 99% White!	Updated 10/28/05
Painting Complete!!	Added 10/30/05
Out On Display - Paint Photos with Partial Assembly	Added 11/08/05

Prop
Hartzel C2YR-1BF/F8068D
Prop Balancing my RV-10	Added 4/18/2006

Flights
First Flight Day	Added 2/14/2006
First Passenger Flights	Added 2/26/2006
More Passenger Flights	Added 3/5/2006
Wheel Fairings, Headrest Monitors, Panel Shots	Updated 3/24/2006
Final Touches Before Sun-N-Fun 2006	Added 3/30/2006
Trip to Sun-N-Fun 2006	Added 4/9/2006
Yellowstone Flight	Added 6/6/2006
Good Air-to-Air Shots	Added 6/9/2006
Boone, IA RV Fly-In	Added 6/20/2006
First IFR/IMC Flight in the RV-10 Cross State	Added 8/8/2006
First Hard IFR flight - Trip to Oregon for Van's Homecoming	Added 9/16/2006
Grand Canyon / Vegas / LOE Fly-In / 1st LOW IFR approach in RV-10	Added 10/16/2006
First Flight with New Lights - IFR Departure	Added 3/24/2007
Economic RV-10 Travel - Machinac Island Michigan	Added 6/10/2007
Long Weekend Trip to Niagara Falls	Added 6/20/2007
Weekend Getaway to Atlanta / Orlando	Added 10/16/2007
Nellis/Vegas Trip - Things aren't always as you plan	Added 11/12/2007
Finally Alone - Rich of Peak and Lean of Peak Compared while Light	Added 11/25/2007
RV-10 Wing Stall Photo Series	Added 4/15/2008
IFR Flight to OSH to reserve RV-10 Builders campsites	Added 7/18/2008
OSH 2008 - Our Experience	Added 8/4/2008
South Dakota Weekend	Added 9/9/2008
New England with NYC Hudson Flythrough - (8 states/4 days)	Added 10/13/2008
NavWorX ADS-B testing	Added 10/26/2008
Bahamas Trip 2009	Updated 5/11/2009
Day Tripping with the RV-10 to Door Co. Wisconsin	Added 6/16/2009

Upgrades
Pinpoint GADAHRS Installation	Updated 8/17/2006
TruTrak Pitch Servo Torque Enhance Mod #2	Added 8/17/2006
Vetterman Exhaust Extensions	Added 8/17/2006
Static Port Error's and Corrections	Added 10/28/2006
RV-10 Axle Extension Replacement (Upgrade)	Updated 3/15/2007
Interior Lighting - I finally see the light!	Added 3/24/2007
Spring Projects - Ground Power and Heater Duct Insulation	Added 4/1/2007
WSI AV-300 Weather Receiver Upgrade	Added 9/14/2007
Adding Rudder trim to my Flying RV-10	Added 11/4/2007
Safety-Trim Trim Controller Installation with Runaway Prevention	Updated 2/28/2009
D-I-Y Dome Light	Added 5/11/2009
Solid State Drive upgrade to my EFB	Updated 5/13/2009
Rudder Pedal Blocks	Added 5/11/2009
NavWorx Mounting	Added 5/14/2009
Fuel Vent Ice Protection	Added 5/27/2009

Maintenance and Performance Notes	All Sorts of Charts
Performance Stats	Added 6/7/2006
Oil Change 6/1/2006	Updated 8/17/2006
Front Axle Wear Issue (make sure to also see THIS link!)	Updated 1/21/2009
Improving Cylinder Cooling through Baffle and Cylinder Work	Updated 3/24/2007
First Sparkplug Swap Time	Added 11/7/2006
Tire and Brake Check at 173 hours	Added 11/7/2006
Oil Leak Found and Fixed	Added 12/17/2006
Annual Condition Inspection Performed	Updated 3/25/2007
Tire and Brake Line Replacement	Added 5/4/2007
Trim Tab Re-Rigging and Performing Van's Service Bulletin 8-6-1	Added 6/27/2008
Slick Mag SB Performed	Added 11/9/2008
New Matco RV-10 Front Axle	Added 1/21/2009
Brake Maintenance 2nd set of Linings	Updated 3/16/2009
Filtered Air Box Maintenance and Repair	Added 5/11/2009