![]() |
Realistic Build Time/Cost
So I am probably a good 6 months or so out from ordering the first part of any RV kit, and am trying to compare and contrast the different flavors of RV. I am leaning more towards the 10 or 14, but am genuinely curious about all the others. Is there any reason to build a 12 if you intend to use it as a regular airplane? Is it any cheaper to build than say a 14 or a 9? Thanks for your answers!
|
Yes, the 12 will be a lot less expensive. Almost half the 14. The 14 is about 25% less than most 10's I've seen.
The 12 is a great light vfr traveler and fuel saver, easier and less time to build, etc. The 14 can be a full IFR capable aircraft that hauls 120lbs of your life 175kts 5 hours in any direction and is aerobatic. The 10 is a comparable 4 seater, probably faster, and "they" say whatever you can fit inside it will haul around for you. It can fit 4 adults comfortably. I don't know much about the 9 other than it seems like a 7 with its wing design take from the 10 just scaled down a bit. What's your mission? |
RV-12 build time, about 800 to 2000 hours, depending on your skill, knowledge and experience.
Current price tags with the kids building them is about $80 to 85K, depends on motor, the Rotax 912 ULS with carbs, or 912 IS with fuel injection, and one Dynon HDX. With no finish or paint on it, maybe not even wheel pants, or other options. |
One major difference of a 12 than any other RV model is that the 12 is a light sport, which means one only need a sport license to fly it. RV 12 also has a removable wings for hauling or storage or any other reason. Wings can easily be removed and installed.
RV 3 is a single seat RV4, 6(A), 7(A), 8(A) and 14(A) are acrobatic RV4 and 8 are tandem, all others are side by side RV10 is the only RV model that is a 4 person RV9 looks very similar to 6, 7 but it is not acrobatic but has a great fuel economy. All of the models listed above are RV so the are great flying machines. Hope this helps. |
...and
1. It will cost more than you think/plan.
2. It will take longer than you plan. |
Quote:
|
I agree
I agree with cost more & longer to build than u think or plan. BUT OH WHAT AN AIRPLANE!!!
|
I have learned very quickly that if dropping a thousand here and a thousand there on a fairly regular basis is not something you can do then your build will take you SUBSTANTIALLY longer. If you are only going to work weekends it will take you SUBSTANTIALLY longer. If you can't say no to your significant other when it comes time to go to some random persons birthday party that you don't even know it is going to take you SUBSTANTIALLY longer. :D
Just as a data point I'm getting to the light at the end of the tunnel and I already have 1800hrs into my -7A build. I'm betting I come in at 2200-2400 before completion. |
Mission is primarily to just own and build a flying machine of some sort. I do have a wife and two young kids, and wanting a people hauler is not out of the question. I am a first time builder, and also could see the 12 being more of a gateway project into bigger things (-10.) I mainly like the idea of the 12 for like a more tame and more money friendly to fly flavor of an RV.
|
More than one -14 builder I spoken with have dropped north of $150K on their builds and got to the point where they had wished they were building a -10.
The -10 flies like a heavy RV but still much more direct and balanced than say a Bonanza. The -7 and -9 share basically the same fuselage, vertical, and rudder. The wings and HS are different. The -9 has a 28' wing span vs. 25 for the -7. The -9 has a unique airfoil that no other RV uses, not even the -10. The -9 also has slotted flaps that help lower the stall speed over the -7 by almost 10 knots. The -9 is much better balanced on the controls than the short wing RV's. The -12 is a delight to fly. If your mission is to fly an hour a day, every day, and take an occasional long trip at speeds slightly faster than a Skyhawk, this is your plane. It has better visibility than the others and more shoulder room than the -9. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:03 AM. |