Dav8or
Final Approach
That's basically what I had gathered. Seems like an RV-6a is the best choice for us. Time to start keeping an eye on barnstormers,
Why the 6a and not the 7a? Is it just that the 6 is cheaper?
That's basically what I had gathered. Seems like an RV-6a is the best choice for us. Time to start keeping an eye on barnstormers,
Why the 6a and not the 7a? Is it just that the 6 is cheaper?
Maybe I should put this on a new tread...
Has anyone here flow a velocity. I'm not a huge fan of the canard design but I've heard it's very stable. It also has efficacy of a two place plane but with 4 seats. There seems to be a few of these on the market at comparable prices to RVs.
Thoughts?
Maybe I should put this on a new tread...
Has anyone here flow a velocity. I'm not a huge fan of the canard design but I've heard it's very stable. It also has efficacy of a two place plane but with 4 seats. There seems to be a few of these on the market at comparable prices to RVs.
Thoughts?
I have one but you're getting into a whole different type of mission now.
RV- sporty, aerobatic, 2 seats, short field/grass strip, metal construction.
Velocity- range, comfort, baggage, non aerobatic, not so stable (pitch), not short field/grass strip (nose wheel), composite construction.
An RV is like a sports car and a Velocity is more like a Luxury car. You'd be hard pressed to get a Velocity for the price of an RV-6A also.
INCREDIBLE how puffed up everyone is here. Glasair, Vans, Cessna, Mooney, who cares? They are all light singles. If you are the sort of pilot for whom the a/c talks to you and you listen, not a problem. Get instruction and then learn.
If you are not that sort of pilot, then train adequately for it, and learn.
It's just a light single!
You're going at this from the wrong direction.
Job One is to determine the mission profile. Is this for fun flying, or XC? Short strips or Superslab International? Weekend flying or commuting? Ask those and other questions about what you want the plane to do for you. Mark each thing by priority, what you're willing to compromise on and how far.
With your list in hand, now look through the available planes in your price range. The ones which meet your needs go on your next list.
Narrow it down to 4 or 5 planes, and then FLY THEM. You don't want to buy something that you don't enjoy flying, because it won't get any better with time.
I have already defined the mission. I you
Haven't read it hear it is;
Would love to get a chance to fly in all these aircraft. What would be the best way to find local owners and get in contact?
Go talk to two or three of them, ask what they DON'T like about their planes.
I can't even imagine what an RV owner would say they don't like about their plane. I think if they say something critical, they get thrown out of the gang. I can only imagine them saying, "This airplane is actually a little too good for me.", or "I wish they were even cheaper to own and operate."
I can't even imagine what an RV owner would say they don't like about their plane. I think if they say something critical, they get thrown out of the gang. I can only imagine them saying, "This airplane is actually a little too good for me.", or "I wish they were even cheaper to own and operate."
A few 'cons' about the RV:
- They are hot in the summer - that glass canopy turns it into a greenhouse on sunny days.
- They are a bit 'cozy' for full-sized folks. I'm 6'7" and my dad is 6'5" and we are definitely rubbing shoulders and elbows when we fly together.
- They're noisy - we don't have much extra insulation on the side panels of the -7A (see previous point about being 'cozy'), and the thin aluminum doesn't do much for noise cancellation. ANR is a must for flying in RVs IMHO.
- They're cold in the winter - that glass canopy from point #1 combined with lack of insulation in point #3 combine to provide ample opportunity for heat to escape. Feet and shins stay very toasty warm, but not a lot of the warm air escapes into the rest of the cockpit. The heat that make it into the 'living' area escapes quickly through the thin sides or glass canopy.
But dang, they sure are fun!
1. Any plane with a canopy is hot. If I just wanted to stay cool I'd buy a spam can
I can't even imagine what an RV owner would say they don't like about their plane. I think if they say something critical, they get thrown out of the gang. I can only imagine them saying, "This airplane is actually a little too good for me.", or "I wish they were even cheaper to own and operate."
Just to set the record straight, RVs and all light GA planes are "Spam Cans". The term was coined by airline pilots decades ago to describe annoying GA planes that were cheap, filled with amateurs and clogging up the low level skies.
I can't even imagine what an RV owner would say they don't like about their plane. I think if they say something critical, they get thrown out of the gang.
A few 'cons' about the RV:
- They are hot in the summer - that glass canopy turns it into a greenhouse on sunny days.
- They are a bit 'cozy' for full-sized folks. I'm 6'7" and my dad is 6'5" and we are definitely rubbing shoulders and elbows when we fly together.
- They're noisy - we don't have much extra insulation on the side panels of the -7A (see previous point about being 'cozy'), and the thin aluminum doesn't do much for noise cancellation. ANR is a must for flying in RVs IMHO.
- They're cold in the winter - that glass canopy from point #1 combined with lack of insulation in point #3 combine to provide ample opportunity for heat to escape. Feet and shins stay very toasty warm, but not a lot of the warm air escapes into the rest of the cockpit. The heat that make it into the 'living' area escapes quickly through the thin sides or glass canopy.
But dang, they sure are fun!
The canopy and cabin can be sealed effectively so flying in the winter is comfortable. I have flown my -12 & -10 in temps under zero F.
1. Any plane with a canopy is hot. If I just wanted to stay cool I'd buy a spam can
2. I know they are cozy but we can deal with it for the performance. Heck, I've rubbed elbos in a 172 with my buddy in the right seat.
3.what isn't noisy? That's what Bose headsets are for
4. Here in SoCal cold is not an Issue
Well, then.. Seems like you're OK with all the 'cons' that I have listed. So go for it!
BTW - Despite all the 'cons' that I listed, I have flown the -7A in San Antonio, Las Vegas, Atlanta during the summer, and Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the winter, and will continue to do so when possible.
Someone asked for cons, so I tried to dig some up.
Right. You sound like a butthurt little girl. All airplanes are airborne compromises. Why the burr up your ass?
I thought I wanted an RV8 for fun, but after flying in a couple of them, they just don't 'feel' right after flying our C-180 for so many years.
I can't explain it well, but they felt like a thrown together bucket of bolts. Maybe I just got in two poorly built ones. They were loud, cramped, (I was in the back hole) and they felt like a toy.
I thought I wanted an RV8 for fun, but after flying in a couple of them, they just don't 'feel' right after flying our C-180 for so many years.
I can't explain it well, but they felt like a thrown together bucket of bolts. Maybe I just got in two poorly built ones. They were loud, cramped, (I was in the back hole) and they felt like a toy. One had a wicked shimmy or a vibration right at rotation. I mentioned it, that I thought it was coming from the tailwheel, but the owner acted like it was perfectly normal.
I'd rather fly the RV through a t-storm than your 180.
I just got lucky finding our 180. Just blind luck that my first airplane purchase turned out to be one of the best single engine planes ever built imo.
However, I can't remember hearing of an inflight structural failure of a C180 . . .
Not saying the 180 isn't a good design, or strong enough to meet its design goals. But the RV8 is a stronger airplane. It will sustain more stress before deformation or failure occurs. The RV8 was designed and tested to be in a higher (aerobatic) strength category than the 180. Which airplane would you rather subject to intentional or unintentional 6G stress?
Not saying the 180 isn't a good design, or strong enough to meet its design goals. But the RV8 is a stronger airplane. It will sustain more stress before deformation or failure occurs. The RV8 was designed and tested to be in a higher (aerobatic) strength category than the 180. Which airplane would you rather subject to intentional or unintentional 6G stress?
Funny you should ask. After flying them for 57 years it's not something I ever considered as a pertinent question. If it's OK I don't plan to lose any sleep starting now.
Of course not. Just commenting on another poster's characterization of the RV as some chincy, flimsy, poorly-designed, "bucket of bolts".
When the RV fleet accumulates the same amount of age, use and abuse as the current fleet, we'll know much more about them.
Of course not. Just commenting on another poster's characterization of the RV as some chincy, flimsy, poorly-designed, "bucket of bolts".
Apples to oranges. The "current fleet" (if you mean factory metal planes) is not subjected to aerobatics. Different MO. I've known RVs with 5K+ hours and there are no core airframe issues different from any other metal airplane...mainly because they are built just like any other metal airplane. There is wear and tear like any airplane - gear fairings, cowl fasteners, wheel pants, etc.
You're grasping at straws.
I guess. RVs have been around since 1972. I guess we'll have to wait a few more years to find out if they have serious problems not found in factory metal planes.