Story and Photos By Rob Stapleton for EAA Chapter 42
Mike Ice, vice president of EAA Chapter 42 first flew his RV-9 in early August and has since put 42 hours on his homebuilt aircraft. Built in four years Ice neatly crafted his aircraft for long distance cross country flight to see the rest of Alaska.
Members on hand for the annual Chapter Picnic and BBQ at Matt Freeman’s hangar at Birchwood Airport on Aug. 24 got a first hand view of the Ice project.
Ice who was able to secure a catchy N-number of N491CE flew his project to BCV/PABV from Wolf Lake where he has the shiny silver plane hangared.
The RV-9 complete with a 150 horsepower Lycoming 0-320 E3D first flew on Sunday Aug. 10 from the Wolf Lake airport after an inspection by Chapter 42 member, DAR John Davis the day before.
The first flight—was about an hour long according to Ice and was a revelation. To finish the project Ice took his airplane in pieces to Wolf Lake where he put in about 60 hours of assembly before low wing plane was ready to fly.
Although Mike said he wanted to use a donated helmet on the first flight the canopy would not allow the clearance. Ice had ground crew Tim Rittal, Chuck May and wife Marietta on hand with fire extinguishers and radios, anxiously watching the first lift off.
“The engine rebuilders said to run the engines at full power to break it in, but before I knew it the plane was flying at 150 M.P.H.,” said Ice. “I did circuits at 3,000 feet, going a round—and around. The ground crew said that it was hard to keep me in sight because I was flying so fast.”
Getting used to the aircraft Ice says that the RV-9 flies nicely, stalls at about 40 m.p.h. flaps down, and flies straight ahead in slow flight.
“This has a great flight regime between 120-160 m.p.h.,” said Ice. “I am really pleased, this is a good little airplane. If you don’t get the RPM down around 1500 your not going to get the airplane down for landing, it just keeps on wanting to fly.”
Looking relaxed and proud the pilot builder gave credit to his supporters.
“I want to thank everyone in Chapter 42, Tom Lawhorn for all of his great fiberglass experience, Gale Partch for inspiring me to build the RV, and my wife for her understanding--for the hours, and hours that I put in on this airplane,” said Ice.