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  #1  
Old 08-07-2015, 10:58 AM
finkj finkj is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 9
Default Considering S-LSA purchase

Is it ok to post about S-LSA in this forum? I didn't see a separate category.

Thanks!

Jon
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  #2  
Old 08-07-2015, 11:18 AM
Mich48041 Mich48041 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Riley TWP MI
Posts: 3,070
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Only if it is an RV-12!
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Joe Gores
RV-12 Flying
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  #3  
Old 08-07-2015, 12:12 PM
Pilot300 Pilot300 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 4
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I am also considering the SLSA version, and would enjoy a discussion.

Bill
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  #4  
Old 08-07-2015, 12:15 PM
RFSchaller RFSchaller is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
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There are many paths to God --- and two to the RV-12 forum: ELSA and SLSA,😆
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  #5  
Old 08-07-2015, 12:19 PM
finkj finkj is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 9
Default RV-12 S-LSA

I did of course mean an RV-12. I live in the city in Philadelphia and building an airplane is not something I'm that interested in.. but I would love to own a Van's RV-12. I am taking a test flight next week. I'm would love to hear peoples thoughts especially on the purchase process etc, if anyone has been thru it..

Thanks!!

Jon
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  #6  
Old 08-07-2015, 12:39 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFSchaller View Post
There are many paths to God --- and two to the RV-12 forum: ELSA and SLSA,😆
The second half I will agree with.......

I will let those that have gone through the purchase process of an S-LSA RV-12 comment on their experience though.....
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Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.

Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
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  #7  
Old 08-07-2015, 02:10 PM
mturnerb mturnerb is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ponte Vedra, FL
Posts: 1,475
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I would encourage anyone interested in learning about my experience to email or PM me. I purchased the S-LSA featured in this video this past April: http://www.bydanjohnson.com/index.cfm?b=6&m=5&id=327.

I chose this particular airplane for two reasons: 1. It was already on the East Coast (was featured at Sebring airshow and Sun N Fun) 2. It has the Garmin G3X touch. Also has a unique feature in that a Garmin Nuvi camera can be mounted at the tail tie down ring and connected directly to the G3X screen.

I added a second G3X touch screen - Vic Syracuse installed the kit from Van's for me - it was truly "plug and play". Other than the panel fitting/change and plugging in the cable (already in the harness), the only other change was upgrading the fuse for avionics from 5 amps to 7.5.

I have put just over 30 hours on the plane so far and absolutely love it. I flew 2 hours cross country just yesterday. The Garmin system has been flawless and has quite a few features that I absolutely love. The autopilot is incredibly easy to use: with the touch screen and the GMC305 controller, it's easy to set up to capture heading (or nav track), vertical speed or indicated airspeed, level off at pre-selected altitude, and then (using VNAV) automatically descend to pattern altitude. Of course I don't let it do all the flying...

Hand flying is very intuitive, and very responsive - good climb rate, great "feel", fast roll rate, easy to land (understanding the sensitivity of LSA to gusts - just requires attention to stick and rudder when landing). Slowing down to flap speed and descending to the pattern takes some attention - this airplane wants to stay in the air. Speed control on final is very important - over 60kts and it floats...

I'm getting TAS of 116-117 knots at 5400 RPM around 6000 feet, burning about 4.9-5 gph.

Van's has been very responsive to questions and other requests but the only real issue I have had is the Rotax carb floats - mine have been fine but have waited until last week for the new ones. I'm going to take it down to Lockwood week after next to have the new ones installed, and a scheduled oil change.

Build quality is superb, as is the paint job. I've compared to a few other RV-12's and find the quality to be better than most and equal to some of the best homebuilders.

Turner Billingsley
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Turner Billingsley

RV-14A built/sold N14VB
RV-10 in progress as of May 2020

https://tbrv10.blogspot.com/
https://turnerb14a.blogspot.com/

Last edited by mturnerb : 08-07-2015 at 03:20 PM.
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  #8  
Old 08-07-2015, 07:44 PM
finkj finkj is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 9
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thats great!! I will PM you!
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  #9  
Old 08-08-2015, 05:46 AM
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Dgamble Dgamble is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 845
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You might also consider, as long as you're doing research, looking into buying an already-flying E-LSA. That would give you more latitude in ongoing owner performed maintenance and upgrades, while still holding open the option for having others perform any maintenance that you aren't comfortable with.
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Dave Gamble
Grove City, OH

RV-6 N466PG Purchased already flying - SOLD!

The Book: The PapaGolf Chronicles

Built RV-12
http://www.schmetterlingaviation.com

The Book: Being written.

The above web blogs and any links provided thereto are not instructional or advisory in nature. They merely seek to share my experiences in building and flying Van's RV airplanes.
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  #10  
Old 08-08-2015, 07:03 AM
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Rick_A Rick_A is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Highland Village, TX
Posts: 1,520
Default Brand new E-LSA available soon

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgamble View Post
You might also consider, as long as you're doing research, looking into buying an already-flying E-LSA. That would give you more latitude in ongoing owner performed maintenance and upgrades, while still holding open the option for having others perform any maintenance that you aren't comfortable with.

I'm going to have a brand new E-LSA that I'm building for sale within the next 30 days. I'm going through the Production Acceptance procedures now and I hope to be flying within a couple of weeks. I plan to do all the flight testing and a bit of fun flying.

It has the dual Garmin package and every option available from Vans. I plan to have Grady at GloCustom paint it, but I would sell it before it's painted if someone is interested.
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A&P
Flying 7A Slider;
RV-12 SOLD
Jacksonville, FL
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