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-   -   Which RV? 8,10,14? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=178033)

SantosDumont 12-24-2019 01:37 PM

Which RV? 8,10,14?
 
I'm a relatively new pilot / Mooney driver. Got my PPL in 2016. I'm up to about 800 hours now and I'm to the point where I want to be more hands on with the airplane maintenance, but you know, certified.

Mostly I'm concerned about being able to control the quality, and I figure the only way to do that is to do it myself. There are a lot of things that I would do different, and a lot of mistakes that I would rather be my own, than someone else's that I just have to tolerate. So I'm ready to get started on building my forever plane.

So far my missions seem to be 90% solo XC, 5% passenger, 5% training. Probably 1% of my flights are IFR, shooting an approach through the marine layers in CA.

I signed up for one of the RV Builder intro classes in January, and if that doesn't scare me off I'd like to pull the trigger on an empennage kit and get started.

But I can't decide which kit I should actually build.

I have 3 boys, ages 11,9,7. Right now they would rather play Minecraft than go flying, but I'm expecting that could change in a few years. 10-20 years from now I see the need to have a XC machine for the wife and I to cruise around and visit the kids in college, see grandkids, etc.

The Mooney has really spoiled me. It has 100GAL tanks, and while I usually only fill the inboard tanks to 64GAL, if I'm doing a long 600 mile round trip XC I can fill it all the way up and not have to worry about fuel for the whole trip, there AND back.

Here's my thoughts:

RV-8.
This would be my "All about Me" plane. It's the fastest, best looking, most sporty. It could meet my 90% XC mission, but it doesn't really seem like a XC plane. Only 40 GAL tanks, kind of cramped cockpit, and not a super great experience for a passenger in the back. Doesn't seem like it would be great for IFR. The most I think I'd want to do in it is 2hr legs. I live in Vegas and a sliding cockpit would be great for summer taxiing. If the kids ever got interested in flying, it would be a long, long time before I ever let them fly it.

RV-10
This can haul more stuff and has more panel space. 60 GAL tanks gives it a similar range of the Mooney. Seems like the most comfortable. But I still can't fit my whole family in the 10, so I'm not really sure I need all the space. Probably too powerful for a trainer, but something the kids could quickly graduate to.

RV-14
Similar characteristics to the 8. Not as sporty but can still do aerobatics. More roomy than the 8, side by side seating = more comfort, especially for passengers. 50 GAL tanks = 1 more hr range than the -8, but 1 less than the -10. Side by side seating means it could be used for training if the kids wanted to use it.

One other consideration in looking at the cost of the kit, why is the -14 $10k more than the -8? The -3 to -9 kits all seem to be similarly priced. Is it just because it is bigger, newer, easier?

At $2k for the starter kit, the -8 seems like an easy impulse buy... although the -10 or -14 isn't out of reach, but I would have $2k more to spend on tools to get started.

I'd appreciate any insight on the different models that anyone is willing to provide.

rocketman1988 12-24-2019 02:00 PM

Narrow
 
It is easy to narrow it down a bit. If you need more than two seats, you only have one choice...and it is the most expensive one...

I am building a -10. If the -14 was available when I started, the choice would have been harder...

Carl Froehlich 12-24-2019 02:04 PM

Something to consider, the 8, 10 and 14 all have roughly five hours of gas. In rough terms and at about the same cruise settings:
- RV-8 burns 8gph
- RV-14 burns 10gph
- RV-10 burns 12gph

I find the RV-8 to be just as fine for IFR as the other two. I do 90% of my cross country IFR. While the RV-8 as comfortable as the RV-14, the RV-10 is king of the road for long cross country work.

Also in rough terms:
- The RV-8 is for you
- The RV-14 is for your wife
- The RV-10 is even more for your wife

The RV-14 price reflects the depth of the kit - so construction is the easiest.

Carl

Mike S 12-24-2019 02:09 PM

Welcome to VAF
 
Josh, welcome aboard the good ship VAF:D

Toobuilder 12-24-2019 02:40 PM

Lots of threads on this subject and plenty of opinions. All I can tell you is that before you write off the -8 as a "selfish" choice, spend some time in one. I have a lot of hours going cross country in little airplanes with my wife and we both strongly prefer a tandem to a side by side. The RV-8 isn't much of a "crew" airplane, but it's certainly a comfortable and capable CC ship. 8.5 GPH at 165KTAS means that 42 gallons will take you a long way.

That said, you should also take a hard look at the Rocket. It has all the good attributes of the -8, only better. If you want to invest in a few gallons of Avgas for the short flight to Mojave, I can show you both (and an L39, if that strikes your fancy better).

mike newall 12-24-2019 02:47 PM

14.....period.

Email me as to why :D

PaulvS 12-24-2019 03:01 PM

RV-9A
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SantosDumont (Post 1395069)

So far my missions seem to be 90% solo XC, 5% passenger, 5% training.

Based on these missions it would be worth also considering the RV-9A, which is an ideal cross country machine. It is an efficient design and has a decent range and is comfortable enough, depending on the size of the occupant(s). The only drawback, if relevant, is that it is not aerobatic. It will cost less to build and finish than the 10 and 14 and probably the 8.

Good luck with your research and transitioning your sons from Minecraft to flying, I have a similar challenge!

Papa 12-24-2019 05:00 PM

Quick add:

Cruising at 11.5k or 10.5k I true out in my RV-8 at over 170 KTAS and less than 8 GPH. I typically cruise LOP. Last week returning from Fallon (KFLX) to KVGT, I got 174 KTAS burning 7.3 GPH. Going ROP, I can true out at over 180 KTAS, but then I burn 8.5ish GPH. But for cross country with 42 gals of fuel, that?s 5+ hours endurance. A lot longer than I want to sit without stretching my legs! I live in Vegas, so if you want to see my 8, send me a note, I?d be glad to give you a ride.

Mark

DRMA 12-24-2019 07:55 PM

RV-10 For Capacity & Comfort
 
Any of the 3 aircraft would be a good choice, depending on your mission and family. I'm building the 10 for it's capacity, comfort, and eventually a good IFR Cross Country airplane. But I also don't do aerobatics. If you want that, then the 8 or 14 would be your options.

In the comfort considerations, many RV-10s are built with air conditioning, which can make life a lot more comfortable, especially on the ground on hot days with a long taxi and hold for traffic. My wife said that if I wanted her to fly with me during the summer, the plane would need to have AC, which made this a must have option for me.

I doubt that any of these 3 planes would be a good trainer for your boys. They are too complex, too powerful/fast, and perhaps not as strong in the landing gear as a typical good trainer. For that, you might want an RV-12 or an old workhorse like the Cessna 172 or Grumman Cheetah.

Just be sure you have the time and commitment to successfully build any of them. If you can make it a family project, and get your sons involved in the construction then it could be a great experience. But you shouldn't sacrifice time with your family while they are growing up. Instead, you might consider purchasing a flying RV in order to have the ability to do maintenance (just not the annual inspection) yourself, and immediate satisfaction of having a flying airplane of your dreams without the several years of build time.

Good luck with your decision.

andrewtac 12-24-2019 08:45 PM

Bought an 8 and just getting started on a 10. I am almost always solo, but want the 10 as my retirement plane to travel in. They all can accommodate more fuel (either by your own design or after market tanks). The 8/10 combo is what I settled in. 8 all about me, fast, sporty, and fun. I prefer the vis from the front, and like tandem seating. It will hold a ton of baggage too, well not a literal ton but I can fit a roll aboard bag plus a duffle behind the seat and small duffle up front. If by myself can strap another duffle in the rear seat. Probably enough clothes for a month without washing clothes. Though, I do want something that can hold as much baggage and three other people to take weekend getaways with the wife and friends. My wife also gets nervous in the 8, says it is a go cart. The 10 seems safer to her, completely an emotional thing. I think because it is bigger an not a bubble canopy. Best advice would be to ride in all three. But you might end up where I did wanting two of them, as others have done.


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