First flights are the ultimate accomplishment in the homebuilder world. Scott Davis made that big step in his RV-14 on Oct 11, 2025 at nearby Driftwood Ranch Airpark (XA86). His wife Lisa and next-door pilot neighbor Paul Watts were observers and ground support. It was a typical first flight profile of taking off, circling up over the runway to 4000′ and doing basic systems and handling checks while running the brand-new engine hard for break-in. Then one approach to a full stop landing. Lasted about 45 minutes and was pretty uneventful. CHTs were all well under 400 degrees, and oil temp was around 210. A few minor squawks to correct after.
Scott’s new build is mostly a stock Vans Quick Build RV-14 taildragger with a Lycoming Thunderbolt IO-390-EXP119 engine, dual PMags, Airflow Performance fuel injection and Hartzell prop. The panel is all Garmin dual G3X, GNX375 navigator, dual VHF radios (1 remote), remote GMA245 audio panel, G5 backup attitude indicator, 2-axis GMC507 autopilot all built by SteinAir. The interior was done by Classic Aero Designs in leather with heated seats (at Lisa’s request). It’s got a JDAir canopy latch and rudder pedal extensions. The exterior is bare metal for now with paint, fairings and wheel pants coming at some point in the future. He’s having too much fun flying it!
Scott learned to fly at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University then spent 20 years in the AF flying F-4Gs and F-16s and is now in his 22nd year at Southwest Airlines. After 46 years and 19,000+ hours it was the most exciting and gratifying flight of his life. As Scott puts it “The emotions hit during the taxi back to my hanger. Building an RV was a bucket list item for me and after years of procrastinating my loving wife Lisa encouraged me to pull the trigger. I started building in Nov 2019 in my garage in Glendale, AZ. Two years ago we moved to TX and I finished the plane in my hanger here. By then all major structures were done, the engine and prop were hung and the fuse was on its gear. I can say with confidence it was, by far, the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I promised myself before I started that I wouldn’t quit no matter how hard it was or frustrated I got during the build. There were plenty of times I wanted to quit but with the encouragement of my wife and friends I kept at it. In the end, it was so worth persevering! I have about 32 hours on the plane now and will be wrapping up Phase 1 testing soon.”
Scott has many people to thank. First and foremost, his wife of 37 years Lisa. “She was my biggest cheerleader and source of encouragement and support when I needed it. She’s very much looking forward to her first flight in it as soon as I complete Phase 1 testing and then traveling in it to visit family. Other folks include Craig Waters and Dan Arkema, both in AZ who provided a wealth of knowledge, a helping hand, that certain tool or piece of AN hardware when I needed it. Martin and Claudia Sutter here in EAA 983 were also a big help when I got here to TX and didn’t know anyone locally in the kit plane community. “