#Digging was a lot faster and way easier the first time this #electrical #conduit went in. But, that was the time I rented a mini-excavator, too. . I figured this time around would be maybe a little faster than I expected doing this by hand to install larger diameter conduit. But, noooo! . Even with the softer soil this is still back breaking work! I’ll be so happy when I get this done and finally have lights inside the #AirplaneFactory v1.0! . Potentially pouring the self-leveling floor tomorrow! 🤩 . . . . #vansairforce #vansaircraft #vansaircraftrv10 #avgeek #construction #constructionlife #buildingaworkshop #buildingashed #buildinganairplane #rv10 #rv10buildprep #rv10build (at Abilene, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cok-2QYvJ26/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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How to tell an #aviation enthusiast lives here? It’s simple! . With the #windsock installed, the signaling of the #exterior completion is here! . I’ve been waiting since #OSH20 to get to this point (that’s when I bought the windsock). . Next, finish taping the drywall and connect the workshop to power! . Almost everything left to do is inside now. Which means, I can do a little more after work each night just by flipping a light switch to see. . . By the way, it’s not windy. The sock is just stiff. . . . #vansairforce #avgeek #rv10 #rv10build #rv10buildprep #vansaircraft #construction #constructionlife #pilot #airplanesarecool #finished #project #building (at Abilene, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnIgaTaL6FF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
It is finished (the exterior, that is)! All the heavy lifting is done. . What remains is preparing to install the facia boards and trim work around the window. . I’m so glad that this project is finally coming to a close. . I can’t wait to start inventorying my #rv10 #tail #kit & start pounding #rivets! . . . . #vansairforce #vansaircraft #rv10buildprep #avgeek #instapilot #constructionlife #construction #building #experimentalaircraft #eaa #aopa (at Abilene, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmxeKi3LgAC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Let the mud slinging begin! . No, not the political kind. Now that all the #drywall has been hung in my #AirplaneFactory, it’s time to hide the screws and seams. . Perhaps I can tear @mike_patey away from his 3-story swimming pool project long enough to begin designing version 2 of my airplane factory? 🤔😂 . In the meantime, I’ll focus on getting this project finished before I give my wife a heart attack by starting another one too soon. . . #vansaircraft #vansairforce #construction #diy #drywallinstallation #drywallmud #buildproject #whatamess #doityourself #doityourselfproject #project #avgeek #studentpilot #eaa #aopa #2yearprogress (at Abilene, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl7RpJHLGws/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Let’s see if my #measurements are correct! Whoops! They were off slightly. . The #drywalling continues… . Expecting to be able to connect power to the #workshop tomorrow. . #onestepcloser #vansairforce #vansaircraft #vansaircraftrv10 #constructionlife #follow #followyourdreams #babysteps #lifegoals #buildinganairplane #builingaworkshop (at Abilene, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clz3s42ORCn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Uh, oh! We may have some ’splainin’ to do! It’s one of two things: my #airplanefactory v1.0 or related to where I park my tractor-trailer while I’m home. . . Video about it coming soon. . #youtuber #influencer #builtnotbought #vansairforce #violation #violator #notice #airplane #airplanes #airplanesarecool #buildyourownplane #abilene (at Abilene, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjBPtkHO2Ei/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
No, those aren’t geese! This is @vansaircraftinc 50th anniversary and they’re one of the show highlights at #OSH22. A massive flight of 50 RV’s kicked off the opening day airshow. #airplanespotter #airplanesarecool #vansairforce (at Wittman Regional Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgcoYUJuirH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
I moved my hand away from the top of my mug and nodded to the waitress. “This coffee is wonderful,” I smiled.
“I’m glad y'all enjoy it,” she smiled back at me and filled my mug.
About an hour later, In the air over Fayetteville, North Carolina
There is a twenty knot headwind.
Another hour later, near the southern tip of the DelMarVa peninsula
There is a thirty knot headwind, and we are beginning to think about a fuel stop.
A half hour later, over the Atlantic Ocean
Roy and I were two thousand miles from home, in chairs in the sky, in a plane he built. This absolutely overwhelms me with delight. And the best part of the day is still to come.
For an added bonus, I could see many of the places that were navigation references used during my training for my Coast Guard Captain's License. The huge airports of Norfolk International and Oceana Naval Air Station were off to the west. I recognized the curve of the bay, and the bridges that become tunnels half way across the bay. And there was the ocean, endless water and whitecaps moving across the bay.
Roy pushed the throttle in and started to climb over a thin layer of puffy, white clouds.
I reached for his hand… “I seriously have to pee…” I said. The coffee from breakfast - the wonderful dark brew that I couldn’t resist have three cups of -had hit bottom.
“Now?”
“Yes, now.” I squirmed in my seat and reached for the iPad, opened Foreflight and started looking for places to land.
“There’s an airfield,” I pointed ahead and to the left. Sun shone on broad, flat farms below us. White barns and a few houses dotted green farms, green crops, blue ponds, and blue estuaries winding in from the sea.
“That airport is off our beam now.” I wasn’t sure he’d heard me.
“I wished you’d told me before I started to climb.” He sounded annoyed. He poked at the AFS screen in front of him. “Can you wait?”
“No,” I shook my head. “You said we could stop.” I could hear the petulance in my voice.
He pulled the throttle back and pointed the nose down.
“What was wrong with…?” I pointed back over my shoulder. No point now. We were making for a different airport.
“I want to get fuel closer to Dover.” He held up his finger for ‘sterile cockpit’.
Our little plane bumped and rocked side to side in the turbulent cross-wind as we made our final approach. I held my legs tight. Please don’t pee in the plane, please don’t pee in the plane… The words ran in my brain like a rosary. Large, black crows scattered from the runway as we approached the numbers. I didn’t care about the birds. I did care about sitting in a wet spot.
I held my breath, then exhaled as we touched down.
Roy taxied to the fuel pump, shut the engine down, and cracked the canopy. I popped out without our usual landing-kiss. There wasn’t a soul around. The FBO was locked. I ran around to the other side. No door there. I ran back to the other door and banged on it. Nothing. No One. I ran around to the back of the building. Really, there was no back. Just the taxiway, and the runway, and beyond that farm land.
Isn’t airplane travel glamorous, I thought.
I hiked up my jeans and walked back to the plane. Roy was walking to the FBO.
“It’s locked,” I nodded my head toward the building. “Did you get fuel?”
He shook his head. “Fuel pump’s locked too.”
“How long to Dover?” I think in terms of time to destination, which has to do with the best part of the day being just ahead. For this, I’m willing to deal with the occasional abandoned FBO.
“About 470 nautical miles.” Roy thinks in terms of range, which has to do with if we’ll have the required minimum fuel when we get to Dover.
Late October, In the late afternoon of the day we began in Savanna, Georgia
This time I gave my darling husband a landing-kiss before popping out of the plane. The Best Part of the Day had arrived.
I ran through the terminal to the parking lot. My daughter was there, with her head in the backseat. She looked up and smiled. A little brown-haired girl next to her turned to see what her Mom was looking at.
“Grandma!” Ava, otherwise known as Gramma’s Princess, ran and jumped into my arms. I held her and planted kisses all over her face. My daughter, Gaela, held baby Logan in her arms. I put Ava down and hugged my daughter. “Hi Mom,” she said, and baby Logan smiled from her arms. And that, simply overwhelms me with delight.
