My name is Wesley Greer and I am building a Van's Aircraft RV-7A Kit Plane.

  • Wings ready for skins!

  • Fuel tanks.....Left tank ready to close, Three Ribs Done On Right Tank.

  • Deburred the left top skin.

Some specifications on the airplane.
Exterior Dimensions
Span 25 ft 0 in
Length 20 ft 4 in
Height 7 ft 10 in
Wing Area 121 sq ft
Weights
Empty Weight 1077 - 1130 lbs 
Gross Weight 1800 lbs
Loadings
Wing Loading 14.8 lb/sq ft 
Power Loading 12.0 - 9.0 lb/hp 
Powerplant/Systems
Engine 150-200 hp
Propeller Fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity 42 US gal
Other
Baggage 100 lbs 		 

Joy and me over Guntersville lake in the Piper.

I'm next to a RV-6A.  The owner was nice enough to give me a ride and he even let me fly it!

 

Joy and me on our way to Destin  in the Piper.

Performance information on the RV-7A
Solo Weight 1400 lbs
Gross Weight 1800 lbs 
Empty weight and performance measured with Hartzell 2 Blade C/S prop
Speed - Solo Weight    160 hp     180 hp    200 hp
Top Speed                      200 mph 208 mph 215 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft] 190 mph 198 mph 205 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft] 171 mph 178 mph 185 mph
Stall Speed                      51 mph    51 mph    51 mph
Speed - Gross Weight
Top Speed                       199 mph 207 mph 213 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft]  189 mph 197 mph 204 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft]  170 mph 177 mph 183 mph
Stall Speed                       58 mph    58 mph   58 mph
Ground Performance - Solo Weight
Takeoff Distance              300 ft     275 ft         250 ft
Landing Distance             350 ft     350 ft         350 ft
Ground Performance - Gross Weight
Takeoff Distance               650 ft     575 ft        500 ft
Landing Distance              500 ft     500 ft        500 ft
Climb/Ceiling - Solo Weight
Rate of Climb                   1,800 fpm 2,100 fpm 2,450 fpm
Ceiling                              20,000 ft   22,000 ft   24,500 ft
Climb/Ceiling - Gross Weight
Rate of Climb                   1,350 fpm 1,600 fpm 1,850 fpm
Ceiling 17,500 ft 19,500 ft 21,500 ft
Range
Range [75% @ 8000 ft]   825 sm    765 sm   755 sm
Range [55% @ 8000 ft]   1015 sm  940 sm   925 sm

This web site and all information contained within are for entertainment purposes only. I simply want to document the building process and nothing more. The construction methods are my opinions only and should not be confused with other construction schemes. There are more ways than one to build an RV-7A and some of my methods may not work in other circumstances. I have no intention to replace Van's instruction manual/s or their recommended building practice/s. If questions arise about any change from the instructions or builder's manual, please seek help from the staff at Van's Aircraft.