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RV-8 | Fastback
I am building a Van’s Aircraft RV-8, a single engine, two seat, tail-wheel, fully aerobatic, and cross country capable plane that strives to achieve “Total Performance.” I’m based out of Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster, Maryland and a member of EAA Chapter 1384. This blog exists for two reasons; first because the FAA requires builders to substantiate that they performed the majority of the work (51% rule), and second as a way to share the experience with friends, family, and other builders. Building a plane is a huge undertaking, and this site is my opportunity to pass it forward.
RV-8 | Fastback
Welcome! This site chronicles the building, flying, and maintenance of my Van’s Aircraft RV-8—a two-seat, tailwheel, fully aerobatic, cross-country-capable aircraft designed to deliver “Total Performance.” I built the RV-8 from a kit over the course of 2,000 hours, and this blog is my way of sharing the journey with friends, family, and fellow builders. Building an airplane is a massive undertaking, and this is my way of paying it forward.
Along the way, I’ve expanded my ratings to include a tailwheel endorsement, CFI, CFI-I, Commercial Multi-Engine Add-on, and MEI. I also had the chance to pursue rotorcraft training—earning my Private, Instrument, and Commercial add-ons in helicopters.
If you’re interested in the technical side, I’m documenting all the work involved in the Show Planes Fastback build on a separate page—check it out here.
You’ll also find index pages organized by topic. All my flight activities, including helicopter training, are available here.
LATEST POST SUMMARY:
- Tangier Island: Formation, Smoke, and a Chesapeake Bay Adventure - (1 maintenance, 2.3 flight hours)
A flight to Tangier Island with James and Mike became a perfect aviation vacation day: two RVs, island history, lunch and the beach, formation flying, smoke, and thunderstorms to work around on the way home.
- Showplanes Fastback — Lessons Learned -
Sixty build sessions, one structural mistake, one instrument panel bent in the wrong order, and a lot of composite work. Here is what I would want to know before starting the Showplanes Fastback modification.
- Two Year Anniversary! - (143 flight hours)
I haven't barely posted since the first 6 months flying this airplane. But she has nearly 200 hours on her now and has flown all the way across the country
- Sunrise Over Manhattan: Flying the Hudson River Corridor - (2 flight hours)
Flying the Hudson River Corridor at sunrise delivered jaw-dropping views of Manhattan—and a top-tier RV-8 memory.
- Cross Country by RV-8: A Farewell Flight Before Foreign Service - (40.3 flight hours)
A 21-day cross-country adventure in the RV-8, from Maryland to Zion and back, filled with friends, flight challenges, and unforgettable views.
- Blackstone Reports #2 and #3: The Break-In Arc -
A working draft on N22UP's second and third oil-analysis reports and the three-sample wear trend they created across Phase 1.
- First Passenger: Phase 2 Begins -
A working draft on N22UP's first passenger flight and the emotional shift from Phase 1 testing into ordinary shared flying.
- Baltimore Martin State: The First $100 Hamburger -
A working draft on N22UP's last Phase 1 flight, the short KDMW to KMTN round trip that quietly closed the first test period.
- Phase 1 Complete: 40 Hours, 64 Days, 35 Flights - (40.45 flight hours)
A working draft capstone for N22UP's first test period, tying the numbers, test tasks, and operating limits into one end-of-Phase-1 summary.
- The W42 Visit: Flying to See a Friend (Within the Test Area) -
A working draft on the August W42 trip and what it felt like to use N22UP for a real visit while still remaining fully inside the Phase 1 rules.
- Vx and Vy: Five Flights to Find the Best Climb -
A working draft on the late-July climb-test series and how repeated sawtooth climbs helped bracket the best-climb speeds for N22UP.
- Stall Testing -
RV-8 stall testing data and notes from N22UP's Phase 1 flight-test program.
- Airspeed Calibration: The 4-Leg GPS Method -
A working draft on the long July 23 calibration flight and how N22UP's indicated airspeed was checked with a four-leg GPS method.
- Blackstone Report #1: What 7 Hours of Break-In Looks Like -
A working draft on N22UP's first Blackstone oil-analysis report and what the first seven hours of break-in looked like in the filter and the lab data.
- Oil Change and Misc Maintenance - (3 maintenance hours)
Oil change and miscellaneous RV-8 maintenance notes from July 2023.
- Nose Oil Leak, Part Three: The Prop, the Paper Towels, and the Real Culprit - (10 maintenance hours)
After months chasing a phantom prop hub leak, the real culprit turned out to be a loose NPT fitting with the wrong sealant.
- Low Oil Pressure - (1 maintenance hours)
The oil pressure has been on the low side of good since the first flight. Time to adjust the pressure relief valve.
- Back in the Air: July Flying Log -
A working draft covering N22UP's return to flight after the first maintenance pause and the steady July climb toward a real Phase 1 rhythm.
- Nose Seal: Part deux - (3 maintenance hours)
Investigating the nose seal oil leak.
- Induction snorkel & oil cooler bypass - (3 maintenance hours)
Fiberglass relief to prevent cowl rubbing, and removing the leaky oil cooler bypass valve.