Questions from non-RV owners
 

So, I was loading up my 10 last Monday for a 1.5 hour flight back to Nashville.

I had my wife, my 15 year old son (who is taller than I am), my 12 year old daughter (who is the same size as my wife), myself, our 50 pound dog, our luggage, a K-cup coffee maker (luggage), and 40 gallons of fuel.

A friend of mine at the airport saw this and asked me who was staying behind. He was serious.

I said, "no body - we're all headed back".

He couldn't believe it.

I was still 120 pounds under the weight limit and well withing CG. Could have still been within limits with full fuel.

And I easily made 170 knots at 7500 feet all the way home.

RVs rock.

Last fall I had a guy in a Bonanza seriously try to talk me out of departing from Leadville, OAT was close to 50F, he said "You'll never make it!" I told him to keep watching because one of us was about to get surprised.

Then there is the spam can guy on the ramp saying "nice Cirrus". More often than not I do an explanation as to the value of an RV-10 over a Cirrus.

Carl

I'm still trying to understand why people have such high regard for the Cirrus. just another dull grocery getter, IMHO.

It was about 60F. 800 feet field altitude.

And I climbed out at 1000 feet per minute no problem.

As for the SR22, I have rented one and I have a friend with one...and I find them to be dull, heavy, and kind of dated. Not to mention the BUCKETS and BUCKETS of money my buddy has had to pour into his over the last 5 years.

Maybe they have a few knots on my 10 - although I am not sure of that.

The RV-10 feels like a sports car.

I do that same thing all day long! I looked long and hard for a plane that will out perform the -10 and I cannot find one. Great speed, useful load, interior room and affordable to operate and maintain. Amazing machines!

Thanks..
 

..for the motivation. I hope to get mine in the air sooner rather than later.

You can get the performance, speed wise at least, from a Bo or a 22, although you can't get the useful load.

I know this comparison has been knocked around a million times on this board.

But, holy cow, what a machine the 10 is, and what sold me on it was that its soooooo much cheaper to maintain than certified.

I could buy a used 22. It wouldn't be as pretty and new looking as my ten for the same price, but I could have purchased one. BUT, I could not have afforded to maintain it. That's what makes the RV a no brainer, IMO

Every time I'm in a Bo, it feels like the window is trying to push me over to the center. I find the -10 MUCH more comfortable.

That is exactly what drove me to the -10. Ease of maintenance both man hours and $$$.

My typical load is myself, wife, 18 year old daughter, 16 year old son and my girls 80 lbs of bags. Plus I normally leave with full fuel. Always climb out at 1000fpm, usually around 115-120 kts and cruise 170 on 13gph. No other plane can do it. You can get close, but it will cost you so much more. I have a friend with a Cessna Columbia and he spends north of $25k/year to maintain. I couldn't spend $2000 on a CI if I tried, and that includes the A&P that spends a full day assisting with FWF.

Gotta love this plane. Getting ready to launch on a West coast trip to Palm Springs from South Texas Wednesday. About 950nm. Can't wait!