| BUILDER | Ray Hill |
| OWNER | Jeff Cain |
| REGISTRATION |
Visit Jeff’s webpage by clicking on this text.
The photos from our biplane site are from NX8032Y, S/N 6, built by Ray Hill in Baxter IA in 1978. Rumor has it that it was the first built off the plans (the first three came off the hanger floor chalk marks) and that Ray actually built Kelly’s first tail feathers.
We purchase Eve in 1995 and have since shared her with almost two hundred kids (youngest 5 & 1/2, oldest 84). There are a few facts on the airplane hidden in our site. Some of them are even true.
Needless to say, I am in Hatz heaven, and love the way she flies. Although with spring here and variable weather, I haven’t gotten a chance to fly her since last night. Sorry.
As to your questions about how she flies, I’ll answer in two or three parts-
1-The airframe is wonderfull. Well balanced and light on the controlls, she is well manered in and out of the patern. We slow fly, stall gently, and do the world’s most fun wingovers. Loops are easy, but rolls a little slow. Downwind at 80, fence at 70, and SLOW when we touch down. Very cub-like in the pattern.
2-Power/performance. As I wrote before, s/n 6 started her life with 125hp and an old 0-290D. This was perfect for sea level, but missed a bit at our altitude (6,000 ft MSL on a cool day). At that time (wt 940 non electric) she would climb ~700 ft/min solo and 3-400 ft/min gross. Stall at ~38.
Two years ago my partner had a little incident, and we decided that the time was right for upgrading the power. We now have a fresh 160hp 0-320 with starter and alternator (toyota and john deere) and added ~90lbs, but also added an additional 300 ft/min climb. It is nice to know that the throttle does more than just add noise.
We will be at Barttlesville this year, and would welcome passengers. The count stands at just a little under 200 rides in the last four years.