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Rebuild an 0320
If your concerned about what it will cost to get it in the sky, there are
a lot of rebuildable 0320's out there. This will save you a bunch. |
Has it been determined that the 14 will be significantly more expensive than the 9? If the price they set for the wing kit is any indicator, I don't see a significant difference.
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Which Plane?
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There are two things that matter in making your selection. The first is your mission for the aircraft. Based on your description of wanting to have a comfortable plane for you and your family. The 14 seems like a good fit. That's one of the main reason I built a 10. If the 14 was available six years ago, that's probably what I would have built. The second is budget. If you can afford it, go for it. There is so much diversity on VAF, don't let other people's judgement or budgets drive your decision. I also wouldn't worry about speed unless your mission is to constantly race your RV buddies. Trust me, they won't be flying wot all the time. They enjoy the better fuel economy by pulling back the throttle too. We have mixed aircraft types flying off for a $100 hamburger all the time. The fast guys slow down and the slow ones fly a little faster. It all works out. In my particular case, I can only do about a hour in a 7 before I start getting leg cramps from not enough leg room to make me comfortable. This is going to be different for everyone. Good luck with your decision making process! You are going to enjoy which ever model you decide to build. Bob |
For What Its Worth,
I can not say enough good things about the RV-8, I've thoroughly enjoyed building it so far. Visitors are amazed at how well and quickly it goes together and it is not a quick build kit! |
Arrange a trip to the factory with your wife and sit in both planes.
As far as fuel costs, pull the black knob back. If you are keeping another plane then your cost concerns are groundless. |
Understand up front that Van's aircraft has incredible resources for their builders. This forum as well as the huge number of builders across the world make for a knowledge base that can't be beaten. Just try to find an airport where there isn't an RV based upon it.
Having said that, with each model of Van's aircraft, the kits have been more and more refined and easier to build. I fell in love with the 9 and started building it some 10 years ago. Life got in the way and I didn't complete it. However, I had never done anything like that before. There was a lot of head scratching along the way of the emp build. Nothing that a question here, a call to the factory or local support couldn't answer but head scratching none the less. The 9 has plans and a builders manual. You go back and forth, hence the head scratching. Something you read in the 'how-to section in chapter 3 needs to be remembered all the way through the build. It may not be specified as a step in the build manual but its needed. Again not a big deal but you need to be aware of it. Perhaps I was a special case of 'newbieism'. I had never built anything before! By the time the 12 (perhaps the 10) rolled around the plans and the build manual were wed. They were not seperate, they were one. So you had a plan step to complete and there was a 'plans' picture right there in the step to show you what to do. It's an incredible step forward. There is no going back and forth between two documents to fighre out what you need to do. With the 12 it's there. Here's a small example of the 12 plans with the combined plans and manual: ![]() Is the 12 perfect? Probably not. I've noticed that things that are in the section on the emp/tailcone that are steps to complete, you don't really have the parts to do it until you order and receive another kit. That really means you can't finish that section until other kits come in, it just goes on the back burner. For example, you would normally have wiring to do in the tail cone, no wiring came with the emp/tailcone kit. There are other things but its an example of how the eveolution continues. With the 14, it sounds as if everything you need for each kit is with the kit. that's another huge step in the evolution. Besides the advancements and evolution of the kit plans themselves, there is the evolution and advancement in the design of the aircraft. The landing gear is greatly improved over kits, especially the nose gear varient. The canopy is a huge redesign/improvement over other kits (while there is no sliding canopy there is also no steel frame that has to be beat up to fit like on other kits). The steps for boarding the aircraft are better designed into the aircraft. There are tons of little things that make the 14 much easier to build if you follow Van's path. It's a 9 and 7 combined with the front seat room of a 10. Most people look at the weight of Americans and bemoan the need for a wider cockpit because we're getting fat. I was there for a long time myself and no matter what I did I couldn't seem to loose weight. For those younger ...hint... your metabolism will slow down, everything seems to get harder after awhile. I remember being younger and wondering why would someone allow themselve to look like that. Then I found I was one... Now, I've lost weight but the one thing that occurrs to many of us, even the skinny, is what Paul has pointed out and I totally have to agree with. If you have wide shoulders, no matter your weight you need all the cockpit room you can get to be comfortable with passengers. The 14 (and the 10) win hands down. The 14 has room, comfort, probably the easiest build of any of the RV models, advanced kit design, advanced aircraft design and in the end will probably be the most popular 2 seat Van's aircraft available (unless they come out with something else!). Bob |
Building?
A lot of builders build what they think? they want.... But!!,,,, a lot build a RV8 the second time around..
Not so many go the other way? Not so sure why this is,,, but my $.02,,,,, the 8 is the one for me. |
I am going to take a stab at it, and if I ever get to try one out, it will be interesting to see what the numbers are.
At 65% power LOP burning 9.04GPH (34.2LPH) you will get around 158-159 knots TAS a around 8000'. So when you look at the speed of say a 180HP RV7A which is doing 166 knots on 7.75GPH, the extra room payload and so on, the extra fuel burn of say $6 and hour is really worth every cent. The RV9 is a gem, same cabin as the 7 but TAS 155Kts on 6.9GPH. almost as quick as the the -14 but 2GPH less. And so slow over the fence it is almost like flying a cub!:D I would suggest going for the -14 unless you and your wife are 165lbs or less. The extra elbow room for long flights is worth 10 times the price difference. YMMV:p |
WHat Plane
Save your self some fun of building and buy a RV6 great deals right now and a great airplane best of the RV's get a ride in one and you will be sold.
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