Hey guys, been following your build and bookmarking lots of your tips and tricks. Congrats on the anniversary and thanks for sharing so much with us!

Operating Expenses
 

I'm curious if you have a handle on what your hourly operating expenses have worked out to be over the year. It's been years since I've seen data on the -10, so I'm wondering what real life $'s are these days since that will likely play a part in the plane we build.

you guys need to add another flag to Huntsville! :)

operating expense
 

I keep track of our rv10 per hr expenses for tax purposes
in 2011 269 hrs flown cost per hr (not including fuel) was $36
in 2012 140 hrs flown cost per hr (not including fuel) was $42

I include all chart subscriptions (full ifr), repairs, insurance, ad valorem taxes,
etc

I did not see much difference in cost per hr between our 7a and our 10. the 7a was full ifr as well, so most of the costs were comparable
The good news is the more hrs you fly, the lower the cost per hour
Carol Syracuse

Thanks guys!

I'm not sure I could have constructed that list if I wasn't keeping up with it in a database somewhere. Nice job!

Anything specific? We didn't find anything during the annual except the main tires.

Me too! That was our first -10 ride and we reminisce about it often. Thanks again!

Thanks for asking this. We're working on a list. =D

Carol's kept way better records than we have.

We haven't had any substantial repairs so far, our first year insurance was really high because of low time (it's dropped drastically this year) and our hangar is in an expensive area. With all of that being said, our per hour cost (without fuel) was about $49. That includes insurance, taxes, hangar rent, oil changes, XM & ForeFlight subscriptions.

Here's our list...

Did right:

• Decided to build the plane despite it being seemingly impossible and too expensive of a task.
• Waited to paint until after it had flown for a while. Too many things could have scratched the paint by now - not that they won't in the future but we're over the hump of lots of shuffling of things going on.
• Installed overhead console with air vents. More air in the hot summer and also, in cruise, they are much quieter than front vents if you don't need full blast air.
• Went with a new engine. There are plenty of things to worry about and I'm glad we aren't worried about potential engine issues from having who knows what rebuilt parts in one. I don't think there is anything wrong with getting an overhauled one, but I think it requires more diligence and knowledge of engines in general than we had at the time.
• Went with a simple operating design (from electrical/button pushing standpoint) and clean panel. Easy to use and works great!
• Did seat mod so seats can slide off rails without removing flap rod covers.
• 3rd door latch + door pins from PlaneAround.com
• Used McMaster seal around door frame instead of stock seal.
• Used Lord Adhesive for windows instead of Weld-On.
• Installed door lock on pilot side and drilled hole for pin through door handle push button on passenger side.
• Installed landing lights in both wings.
• Went with the Dynon SkyView system. We really love flying behind it.

Would do different:

• Probably would do a VPX system. At the time we were really scraping dollars, but, in the grand scheme of things, it would have been much cleaner behind the panel and we could have gotten some really neat data on our EFIS regarding the electrical system.
• Cut a bigger clearance around the wheel pants from the get go so they don't crack if you land hard! The instructions called for a "finger" clearance but I guess we need fatter fingers.
• Buy multi-conductor wiring to make wiring cleaner.
• Leave longer service loops on panel wiring.
• Install parking brake - maybe? It would be handy every once in a while.
• Went with Garmin 650 instead of 430.
• Wish we had the 50w (or more) HID lights from Duckworks instead of the 35w.
• Get the prop balanced sooner. That made such a big difference.

Will upgrade:

• Electronic ignition
• Flow matched injectors
• Battery charge port in baggage wall or tailcone belly
• Add USB charger ports

I maintain a Google map with pins on all of the airports that I've landed at, as well as a short ( two or three sentences) description of who I was with / good food / fuel / pilot lounge / etc. I use a different pin for each year, so I can see travel patterns.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...3071b952&msa=0

hi Brian and Brandi, great update! thanks for sharing. i think i did about the same number of hours in the first year, though you covered a much broader area of the US. Mexico is still on my list (so close for me too) as is the entire southwest.

I last saw you at OSH 2012 in HBC. I hope to see you make it out to SF some day!

Jae