Project Experimental KIT from plan to reality 
(Pictures all down on the pages).

I have made some product choices for my project in front of delivering.

Many evenings on the net, reading about products and looking for comments in forum etc.

My project has a budget limitation...around 400 000,- dkk that was to consider.

Other side is the building time and how it to building it.
I was long time looking for a composite flyer, but the first one looking for , Europa XS, was bankrupt, and people was "tricked" that has paying in advance.
So how to get to the goal ?
I find out that in fact the aluminium aircraft is not much slower or heavier than composite. So when pre punched KIT came on to the marked, I was find my self had made my choice for type of construction.
An all metal aircraft is more "kids friendly" also.. as I can not have work whit composite, and need rush for helping kid, or the other way, kids get in contact whit epoxy... (as single father I need make this concern... ;-)

After some looking around, from Italy fabricate to eastern Europe,. to American. I then find the VANs Aircraft, US, to  be a solid player in the marked. Even is experimental aircraft category, is mostly I chose for get my own airplane, not for be all test pilot for my self and passenger in unproven design..

So a safe design, whit fast cruise speed, and fun to handle, is what lead me to the RV-7.
I most say. Some composite aircraft is better looking still then. The VANS wing profile is squared and same all to wingtip. But. performance is very good, and I no doubt is the best choice for me.
The quick build option, I was find to be just in my budget, and I really wanted save some time there, instead of begin whit a flat packed.

I have non regret of that.. even my budget maybe suffer some, and even goes slightly over my limit. Is a lot more motivating starting point for the persons (like me) that main goal not is to have a building hobby for years, but actually get my self a flying machines for daily use :-)

So was to think engine, firewall forward. I wanted order all parts at once, up front.
This because when need delivery over sea, is not cheap for sending many packages.. And.. many parts is half price from US in compared to Europe. And local in Denmark, is like non resellers of the needed parts.
Also most aircraft product goes in inches, non in metric.

To engine then :
My weight was on something I can make maintains and even repair on self.. but mostly. I wanted something new, reliable engine, that can be in the aircraft for years, whit non hassle or problem.
This would people most say I make strange choice for ? :-)
I choose an auto convention!!
Most find this choice opposite from my goal, but when thinking it true.. I find whit right choices, can get this goal.
Because.. mostly if goes whit Lycoming or clones, I relay on parts from US.
If also want fuel injection, electronic ignition etc. then is mostly custom anyway, and same drawback for reliability as if go for auto convention.

 

Moment about single engine safety:
Engine reliability itself whit redrive etc..
Delivery fuel line, electric failure
Operator failure, leaning, make shorting engines life whit wrong use. and the carburator ice risk etc.

Propeller:
My budget was flat when comes to propeller.. YES.. I wanted a constant speed...but...puuhh very expensive...
I was in first order a Warp drive, fixed pich prop. That make me only use 160 out of the 200HP in this engine.. hmmm

Surfing the net, and I find the "hybrid" prop from "IVO Prop".
After read up and down I was change my order to the Ivo.
The IVO prop has a special feature where it adjusting pitch by turn the propeller blad.. or ..no.. not turn.. twisting the propeller blade itself.
This make me a in flight adjustable pitch prop. Whit even a cheap CS controller as a option.
Maybe not the best prop, but would give me close to CS prop performance.
So far better than fixed pitch in this engine, and for almost same price as fixed pitch. Give me access to the all 200 hp in the engines, and also possible to slow RPM cruise, for low noise and low fuel burn.

Instruments:
I wanted light and modern instruments package.. non IFR.
Again looking around net and find that glas cockpit is not so expensive. If take some other fabricate then the Garmin and the big names,  can something more economic then if was påut in the analog ionstruments..

I landed on the "Dynon EFIS/EMS Flightdeck D-180combined instruments.
This little 7" high res. monitor instrument fulfill all my needs...:-)
it make up for around 26 analog instruments, and free me from mechanical gyro needs.
I only need VHF and transponder , then in fact has what needed...


Radio I again had to save.. non NAV..  only radio option, I not feel need the VOR.DME. Then again, would be nice to interface to Dynon for the HSI....:-)

When go to that simple radio, I still wanted most out of my money.
My search on the net lead me to the australien XCOM-760.
I find the X-com data to be superior, compared to the other small "clock" style com-radios. It has more option, better quality (I think), and also an integrated vox intercom for 2 seat/headset. Transponder I got the same format from Microair. Not many in that category. The ransponder is expensive !! puhh,  but a must have.

So what is back ? lights, upholstery, paint, power distribution etc..

Lights; I choose VANS own selling light package for strobe and navigation. Non landing light for now.
Upholstry; Some will be home made, some parts buy  finished, and ready to put in.
Paint; not decided yet....
Power distribution; EXP-Bus ready to go, electric distributions center.
This panel make the simple electric distribution  just ...simpel. It is somewhat to small for a IFR airplane..but nice to use for the VFR.
Save times, make wiring easy.

Aircraft Spruce deliver the EXP-bus, the panel is ready to put int to the instrument panel whit switches and fuses integrated. It has automatic overload protection whit non moving part.
I like the easy of my complete package. I think is simplified as much possible. Simple is better I think in this case.

Photos:

Garage, kit delivered, sorting the small bag and pieces.