Hi, I'm David Mack. In 2006, I decided to build my own Van's Aircraft RV-7 200+ mph two seat homebuilt aluminum airplane and this is a log of the experience.

Monday September 1, 2025
Flew With Wheel Pants, Slow Flight, Stalls, AOA Calibration, Heavy Wing and Rudder Troubleshooting

This morning, I installed the gear leg fairings, wheel pants, and intersection fairings and then went flying. There was no change to the heavy right wing or the required right rudder during cruise.

During the flight, I did slow flight and power off stalls in both the clean and landing configurations. Then I calibrated the AOA sensor. The stall characteristics are fairly benign.

I also did a speed test to check the accuracy of the pitot, even though we had done one during my transponder/static check. I flew at 23" and 2300 RPM and let the autopilot fly straight and level on three headings 120 degrees from each other. The average ground speed during all runs was 170 knots, which should be the true airspeed. The reported true airspeed by the EFIS during the test was ~166 knots. This confirms that the airspeeds are pretty accurate.

After the first flight, I took off the wing tips and checked the rigging on the ailerons and flaps. The left aileron was spot on, but the right aileron was a little high at neutral, so I adjusted it down. It looks to me like the left flap may be slightly lower than the right flap, but they do both sit flush against the fuselage, so I'm loathe to adjust them.

I also installed a temporary trim tab on the rudder to try and correct the need for right rudder during cruise.

I chickened out and cut part of it off after this picture, as I thought it might be too aggressive. I then went and flew again this evening. The heavy right wing is still there--about the same as before. The rudder is a little better, but still needs more right rudder, so I should have left the trim tab in the larger size.

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