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My wife has plenty of time in the back of an -8 (including a few 6+ hour days) and finds it plenty comfortable. We have less time in the Rocket, but I can tell you that the footwells help a bunch. Also, get her up as high as possible, and focus on the upper thigh support in the seat bottom. Many airplanes simply throw some foam against the aluminum and call it done - but very slight changes in ergonomics go a long way (both good and bad).
Concerning the servo installation - mine is in front of the spar under the left "step" and attaches to the bottom of the torque tube. This is a Rocket, however - don't know if this is possible with a -4. |
My wife is 5' 4" and never complains. She likes to put her bare feet on my lap and I message her feet on long flights. You can't do that in a 7 LOL
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Bill,
How did you run the scat line for the air vent? Daddyman |
SCAT/Air for backseat
I put the NACA duct in the lower skin of the R/H wing (I have been told -8 has this in plans) and ran the SCAT through the existing wing rib holes, then enlarged the cutout for the aileron pushrod in the "tunnel" and made a 90 degree turn aft where it then mates to a vent in a simple stick console. I have made pictures for others, but I'd have to find where I have them. It really puts out some good air.
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Built (or modified) properly, the back seat of a 4 (or Rocket) is much more comfortable than the front seat.
Foot wells are helpful, a seat wedge under the butt is good, and beveling the protruding sheet metal off of the pilot seat back REALLY helps to keep knees happy. Finish off with a bit of upholstery to keep the cold/heat out and mama should be very pleased. I did all of these things to my RV-4 and to my Rocket. Photos of the Rocket are scattered throughout www.vincesrocket.com Hope this helps someone! |
I'm 6ft, 195lbs and found the back seat in my RV-4 pretty comfortable after about an hr of flying. I haven't tried longer but agree that the back is more comfortable. The footwells make a HUGE difference. 120# should be no problem at all, but I recommend flying morning or evenings to minimize the turbulence in the summer.
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I am six feet and 185 pounds and have ridden in the back seat of our RV-4 for an hour. No problems.
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I installed rear seat foot wells while building my -4. They are also a great place to put things in while flying solo.
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RV-4 Travel
I have an RV-4 and the front is fairly comfortable (5'10") but the back seat is another story. It's a standard size back seat with NO footwells. The first RV ride I had was in a -4 & it got me hooked but it also had no footwells. When I bought my -4 near Atlanta, my buddy flew me down in his -4 with no footwells and I was so ready to get out of that plane.
What's the common denominator here- you guessed it, rear seat footwells. If you want to make your wife happy buy an -8 if you can afford it. If a -4 is better suited to your budget then buy it and put in rear footwells and your wife will be happy. I recently rode in a buddy's RV-4 with the rear seat footwells and the difference is incredible. It's like riding in a totally different airplane. Stretching your legs out in the back makes long flights possible. I do have the roll servo in the right floor and am trying to figure out where to move it because the rear footwells are on my 'to do' list. Oly |
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