Looking for Arizona advice.
 

I hope to complete my 7A within the next year and order the engine and prop sometime this summer during Airventure since they always offer discounts. I will be installing the 0-320 160hp. My wife and I have decided to leave the great icebox midwest and move to Az. and looking at the elevations throughout the state makes it seem like a constant speed prop is a must. Any thoughts on the topic from the western folks? I like the simplicity of a fixed pitch metal prop but it only seems practical in the flat midwest.

Fixed Pitch props - thumbs up
 

Fixed Pitch prop works great in AZ! May not outclimb a C/S but we go everywhere and never have had a problem. We do not consider it a safety issue. Lots of people here with fixed pitch props on their RVs.

Rosie totally concurs with Tom ;-)

I flew FP props out of the mountains in CO for years (in 172s etc.) and am flying FP RV-9 in Reno now. No issues at all, especially for RVs.

greg

Fixed Pitch Works
 

I flew into Leadville once in an RV-6A with a 160 hp o-320 fixed pitch prop setup. Take off at a 13,200' DA still had a 250 FPM climb rate with 3/4 tanks and me (235lbs) in the plane..... Yep, used a bit more runway, but it climbed just fine (had to lean for max RPM prior to take off...).

Fred Stucklen
RV-6A N925RV 2008 Hrs (Sold)
RV-6A N926RV 875 Hrs (Sold)
RV-7A N924RV 525 Hrs Flying

I'm a newbie with the FP/CS debate but here's my opinion. I'm with Tom V. I'm sure a FP will do just fine and that is what I plan on until I have the $ for the CS. Remember that your not building a plane with C172 performance. The only time you'll really feel the climb performance suffer is in the extreme heat of the day which I don't think you'll like to fly in anyways. It's to uncomfortable. There are several FP RV's here in AZ.

You'll be fine
 

As Tom noted, you'll be more than fine. Even the 160 hp is overpowered in the scheme of small aircraft. If money allows, go with the 180 hp. There will be no doubt then and the resale will be better.

Where in AZ are you looking? There is house in my airpark available in the Phx area. (P19)

Arizona
 

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looks like I can stick to the original plan and use the fixed pitch prop. Love the simplicity and lower cost. I keep forgetting the 7 will still outperform the Cherokee I had by a considerable margin.

FP or CS, the most important thing is that you go to Tucson and get a Sonoran Hotdog. Oh so good.

You mentioned you're ordering an engine (as in "new") -- not sure it makes sense to stick an O-320 into an RV-7, since it costs virtually the same as O-360.. the difference in price is negligable...

It's not price its experience with the engine and the fact that I can burn auto if I need to. It also is using less fuel and in the long haul with only a 4 mph penalty in top end it made sense.