Dennis Persyk Rv6 Project

I met fellow RV-List member, Dennis Persyk, at the Chicago Area RVaitors annual Picnic at Casa De Aero.  This also happens to be Dennis's home and field (lucky guy).  About midway through the picnic Dennis volunteered to take about 15 - 20 of us slobbering souls across the runway to his Hanger/Home to see his RV6A project in progress.

First off, let me tell you that Dennis has a fabulous workshop.  It's a huge hanger with enough room to store three complete RV's!  It's heated and air-conditioned!  It's even got a pretty yellow floor so he can find the rivets that fall on the floor.  He's got plenty of room to spread his work out.....even with that gorgeous looking Cessna 172.  Dennis gave a detailed tour and graciously answered any and all questions about his project.  He could have probably used a tour guide given the size of the group.  You'd think that grown adults would mind their manners when they are in someone else's home/shop.  But noooooo, just like a bunch of kids in a candy store, we all headed in different directions calling out across the room all at once, "Hey Dennis, what's this?"  "Hey Dennis, how & why did you do that?"  "Hey Dennis, is this a portable spray booth?"  Then everyone saw that lovely engine sitting on the stand and ran over there shouting questions, all the while Dennis was giving a description of his panel.  

The panel demo was great!!  Dennis had many of the gauges operational and he gave a demo of the VM1000.  Most of use had never actually seen one working with numbers on it.  So often you just get to see the panels of planes parked on the ramp.  

Updated 2/23/00 - Here are a few pics of the removable panel parts

Dennis had an interesting idea to help with panel lighting.  Look closely at the inside of the canopy.  See those wires on the left?  They run to a light strip that covers the whole width of the canopy.  It was too bright in the shop to get a good demo, but Dennis says it helps light the panel up very nicely and it was cheap too!  J.C. Whitney, if I remember.  Hook up a dimmer and you're all set.  Cool.  For flight instrument lights this RV is using post light.  I'm interested in seeing how that looks at night.

Dennis wanted me to give credit to his neighbor, John Perry, at Casa De Aero for helping him build the engine baffling that you see in the photo's.

Like always, I was so engrossed in asking questions and looking things over, that I didn't get enough pictures.  Dennis has graciously invited my wife Beth and I back whenever we can make it.  I'll impose myself at that time and try to get some more pictures of additional good ideas he has.

In addition to his nice fuselage stand and engine stand, Dennis had a very nice wing stand, portable paint booth and wing carrying handles.  He has also installed the Gertz Aero Elevator Trim modification.  As I said, all of these pictures will have to wait for the next visit.

Update - 2/23/00

I had the opportunity to visit Dennis and his project again.  There were so many things I could have photographed.  In addition to the pictures above here are a few other things that I noticed on my brief visit. 

This is the heater control unit.  It appears to be well constructed but Dennis is concerned about the design.  If the heat is turned off there is no outlet for the hot air and the heat will stay in the muff and possibly burn them up.

Here is a view of the gascolator and fuel flow transducer.  There are is some unique plumbing taking place in order to get a straight 4" section immediately prior to the Vision transducer.  All the bends are perfect.  Beautiful!