I’m building a Van’s RV9A kit aircraft. This is the second aircraft I’ve built. The first one was a Zenith CH701 STOL. It was built from plans, each and every part was fabricated from raw materials and assembled. That process took 5 years from start to finish. First flight was May 2000. I still have the 701 and fly it from my home airport, Stettler Alberta Canada. This aircraft is powered with a converted Subaru EA81 engine . The process of adapting the auto engine to the aircraft duty and getting reliable operation took a long time. After 10 years of operation I installed a new EA81 complete with a SDS engine control system. Details of this upgrade are described in the CH701 section.

The engine in the new RV9A is an ECI IO360 purchased from Aerosport in Kamloops British Columbia Canada. This engine is equiped with a Precision Eagle Electronic Fuel Injection and Ignition System. More details on this system are developing in the engine section of my blog.  The engine is larger (more HP) than specified by Vans but it fits the RV7 fuselage (RV7 and RV9 share the same fuselage components) with out any modifications. Others have used this engine in the RV9 and are quite happy with the take off and cruise power.The propeller is a Craig Catto custom made 3 blade cruise prop. Ordered December 2011, it arrived late spring 2012. Craig is very well known in the RV circle for his excellent props. The prop is truely a work of a master craftsman.