General
General
specifications and performance figures from Van's are found here.
Builder-Selected Options & Equipment
The RV-7A kit offers various configuration options,
and leaves many choices -- especially when it comes to powerplant,
systems, and avionics -- entirely up to the builder. The following reflects
choices already made, as well as my current thinking on choices deferred
until later.
Airframe
 | "QuickBuild" wings and fuselage kit |
| Tricycle gear (designated by the 'A' in RV-7A) |
| Tip-up canopy |
| External cabin steps, both sides |
| Electric elevator trim (aerodynamic trim tab) |
| Electric aileron trim (spring bias) |
| Electric rudder trim (custom, TBD) |
| Electric flaps (now standard) |
Powerplant & Propeller
| Aero
Sport Power IO-360-B1B (non-certified Lycoming
clone) |
| 360 cubic inch, 4-cylinder, horizontally opposed,
air cooled, normally aspirated, direct drive |
| Rated 180 HP at 2700 RPM |
| Fuel: 100LL, any likely successor, or high-octane
unleaded auto gas (but without ethanol) |
| ECi
nickel carbide cylinders and other major engine components |
| Precision
Airmotive Sliver Hawk EX fuel injection (non-certified Bendix
RSA-5AD1 clone) |
| Dual P-Mag electronic ignition (by company E-Mag) |
| Whirlwind
200RV constant speed propeller |
Fuel System
| Integral wing inboard leading edge fuel tanks, 21
gal US useable per side (standard) |
| Rigid pick-up tubes (standard), no provision for
sustained negative G |
| Float-type fuel level senders (standard) |
| Aiflow Performance 25 PSI auxiliary electric fuel
pump (Van's standard option for FI) |
| Andair L/R/OFF fuel selector valve |
| Electronics
International FT-60 "Red Cube" fuel flow transducer
(coupled to primary EFIS) |
Electrical System
| Dual independent electrical systems
("main" & "aux"), with emergency xfeed
capability |
| Main and aux dissimilar and asymmetric (only main supports
starter and other heavy loads) |
| Safety-critical redundant equipment (dual EI's,
dual PFD's) segregated by electrical system |
| External ground power receptacle (AN2552-3A),
isolated with relay |
| Main battery: Odyssey PC680, 12 V, 17 Ah,
AGM/VRLA (now standard) |
| Main alterator: PlanePower
AL12-EI60, 12 V, 60 A,
internally regulated (now standard) |
| Aux battery: common form factor (multiple source) 12 V,
3 Ah, AGM/VRLA |
| Aux alternator: B&C
SD-8, 12 V, 8 A, permanent magnet dynamo |
Cockpit Layout
| Dual flight controls and brakes |
| Center-mounted engine controls (standard) |
| Pilot's stick grip left-handed,
co-pilot's stick grip right-handed (standard) |
| Military-style stick grips (Infinity
Aerospace) with controls for trim, flaps, autopilot, PTT, etc. |
| Human factors driven cockpit and
instrument panel layout |
| Cockpit interior and instrument panel painted gray, glare shield
painted flat
black |
| Visco-elastic foam seat cushions unpholstered in
Ultraleather |
| AmSafe
5-point harness (Van's standard 4-point plus the optional crotch
strap) |
| Other upholstery minimal, TBD |
Avionics
| Redundant critical components powered by independent electrical
systems (no vacuum) |
| Two independent dissimilar PFD systems (no
mechanical flight instruments) |
| Main EFIS: Advanced
Flight Systems AF-5600 w/ AHRS, pitot/static, AoA, EMS, mapping |
| Aux PFD:
TruTrak
Gemini PFD |
| Approach-certified WAAS GPS/VOR/ILS/COMM: Garmin
GTN 650 |
| Two-axis autopilot: TruTrak/Advanced
Flight Systems a/p coupled to main EFIS and GTN |
| Transponder, mode S/ES (ADS-B out): Trig
TT22 |
| ELT, 406 MHz & 121.5 MHz: Artex
ME406 |
| Low-drag antenna installations where practical |
| Custom intercom (no audio panel) |
| Custom annunciator panel |
| Custom controller and solid state switching for flaps, trim,
and other airframe functions |
| Custom hub for integration of avionics components |
| Provisions for future installation of ADS-B in (UAT
or dual mode UAT+1090ES, TBD) |
| Provisions for future installation of second COMM
(TBD) |
Lighting
| All LED lighting for high reliability and
efficiency |
| Landing lights: Two Rigid
Industries R+/62010 45W PAR36 in wing outboard leading edges
(modified Duckworks
bracket & lens) |
| Wingtip strobes and nav lights under
shaped lenses: AeroLEDs
TBD |
| Tail strobe and nav light mounted in bottom
rudder fairing: AeroLEDs
TBD |
| Panel lighting: white LED strip under glare shield |
| Cockpit flood lighting: TBD |
Corrosion Protection
| QuickBuild pre-assembled components are delivered coated with Sherwin
Williams P60G2 industrial wash primer. |
| Parts prepared by me are treated with alodine
(chromate conversion coating) and/or coated with fluid resistant
epoxy primer (AKZO NOBEL 463-12-8). |
Exterior Paint
| Done professionally |
| Paint system TBD |
| Two-tone paint scheme TBD |
| Tail number (N741RK reserved) in 12" lettering for international
flying |
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