Flew nearly 1000 miles from Delaware to North and South Carolina and back last week in my 3000cc Corvair powered 601XL and came away with a renewed confidence and appreciation for the combo.  

The trip to visit family and attend a conference originated at Eagle Crest Airpark (DE25) in Delaware and included stops in Farmville, VA (KFVX), Morganton, NC (KMRN), Greenville, SC (KGMU), and Spartanburg, SC (KSPA) before heading home.  

The 3 liter Corvair engine…

Finally got around to setting an appointment at the Philadelphia FSDO to get my repairman certificate.  The examiner there was very friendly and excited to be able to learn more about homebuilding.  In fact, we talked for nearly an hour and a half because he was enjoying looking at all the photos and videos I brought.  After all the certificated pilots I've met who take a step backwards and give the 'crazy-eye' look  and then go on to say how they would never fly in an experimental aircraft,…

This Week I installed an iLevil AW unit which provides pitot-statically driven AHRS information, GPS, and ads-b to the iPad.

Some may view it as a frivolous expense, but here's why I felt it was worth it:

• Attitude Indicator-  I concluded that an attitude indicator was essential after an accidental albeit brief encounter with IFR conditions.  I didn't want to add the weight and complexity of a vacuum system and found that electric attitude gyro's are ridiculously expensive…

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I installed the viking spring system tonight, but had some trouble adjusting it and would like some feedback.  How stiff should the nose wheel be after adjusting tension with the side nuts?   

The reason I ask is that i've got mine bottomed out and it still doesn't seem stiff enough to keep the nose gear from hitting the stops on landing.…

Snuck an hour of flying in at lunch today...  and had my nose gear bungee break at just 17 hours.   Brand new bungee: I didn't use the bungee that came with my kit due to its age in hopes of avoiding this very thing.  Wasn't a hard landing.  In fact, it broke after hitting a bump while rolling out.  Looks to have broken right where the "hook" at the back of the nose gear leg holds it in place.  Given that this is an area that's almost impossible to see during preflight, i've placed an order…

Second run of engine but the first on the airframe. I was surprised at how quickly it started. 120 hp, 3,000cc corvair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqw8-ikskco&feature=em-upload_owner