-1 Wing
 

I bought an already built 2002 Rv-8a. How do I know if it has a -1 wing or not? I read somewhere that the aerobatic limit is 1550 without it.

Yes, the RV-8/8A has an Aerobatic Gross Weight of 1550 pounds if it does not have the Dash-One wing. 1600 pounds if it has the Dash-One wing.

This is stated in the Van's "RV-8A WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA - QUICK REFERENCE" sheet linked below.

https://www.vansaircraft.com/wp-cont.../01/RV8Awb.pdf

And see this post about identifying which wing you may have:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...50&postcount=2

I had the same question in 2004 and asked Van's Aircraft. Scott Risan of Van's stated "Any spar serial # greater than 869 is a -1 spar." I received my RV-8A Quickbuild in 2001 and have spar serial number 962 so I have a -1 spar and aerobatic gross weight of 1,600 lbs.

Where is this spar serial number located?

I need to determine if I have a -1 wing or not

Thanks!

Is that backwards?
I would think any spar number above 869 would be a -2 wing, but I don't really know?

Scott?

I'm pretty sure the wing part numbers follow the convention in the rest of the kit. original part has no -1. Modified design of same part has the -1. (ie. W-715, W715-1)

If its not recorded somewhere in the Builder's log, you're quickest way will probably call Van's, I think they'll have a record of it in your customer file.

The serial numbers are vibro etched into the root end of the main spar. I think they are also documented on the wing kit invoice/shipping manifest.

Well I have conflicting data regarding what wing is on my -8:

Vans says it was the old 1550 wing design which was bought in 2000.

The logbook says the wing was replaced and/or rebuilt (unclear) and doesn't say when or what was done.

In many cases Vans has all the info you want. But what it cannot track is who did what, with what, and when.

Yep, you're right. Given those facts though, does pulling the wing to read the serial number tell you what the builder did to it?

Well that's why I was asking where that serial number is recorded on the spar.

What you suggest is that I have to pull the wing to find out. I'd rather not do that if I didn't have to.

Vans also said that the differences between the -0 and the -1 wing include the fact that the RV-8 -1 wing tank and RV-7 tanks are interchangeable. And that the screw hole spacing on the top and bottom long edges of the tanks are different between -0 and -1.

Does anyone who knows whether or not they have a -1 tank on their RV-8 measure the screw hole spacing? I could compare with what I have on my spar flange.

Another option is to buy a -0 (or -1) wing tank skin and see if the holes line up with the spar flange.

This is from an old post from CHASKUSS http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...157#post855157