First-time builder dilemma: RV-3 or RV-8?

[rv7charlie]

My -4 was built by a guy who didn't have a pilot's license (had previously built/restored several cars). His instructor put him in the back seat, and when he could land the plane from the back seat with only rudder pedals (no brakes), they swapped places for the rest of his training.

Don't know if that will work (legally) in Europe. But training in your own plane will be a lot less expensive than renting, if you intend to own a plane after you get your license. If you decide you don't like flying after all, you will have had the building experience and you should be able to at least recover your investment in parts.

None of the above would be possible in a -3. And I'll bet that at least *some* of the time, you do have people willing to go sailing (flying) with you, right? Again, not possible in a -3. Given how expensive flying/gas is in Europe, it's hard to imagine being unable to find a willing passenger fairly often.

I would absolutely love to own a -3, but I can't justify such an expense as a 2nd airplane in my one-pilot family. :-)

Charlie

[rph142]

You guys are looking at this all wrong. If you build a 2 seater then what leverage will you have to build a single seater down the road? If you build a single seater then your partner will almost force you to consider a two (or 4)seater later in life....at least that's been my experience. Start with a single seater then when finished admit your mistake and build/buy a 2 seater.

[Waterobert]

I was in your shoes few months ago. I could not decide on the plane I want to build and had zero experience flying. My plane choice was between RV 3B or RV12. Anyway, I am working on my license now and building is on hold. I decided that I have to find out if I really love flying so much that I am ready to spend 60-80K$ on building. So far I feel like I will enjoy RV3B more and I don't have enough flying experience to risk taking other people to fly with me. I can always rent plane when I have friends flying with me. I see myself flying 90 percent of time solo.

[David Paule]

I'm building a -3B but I've never flown one. For that matter, I haven't even seen one. But I've flown an RV-12 and it was one of the sweetest-flying airplanes I've flown, and I've flown over 100 different kinds, including two other RVs.

The RV-12 was exceptional.

Too bad it's not a taildragger.

Dave

[KatieB]

Originally Posted by rph142

If you build a single seater then your partner will almost force you to consider a two (or 4)seater later in life....at least that's been my experience. Start with a single seater then when finished admit your mistake and build/buy a 2 seater.

Or she could want her own...

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by rph142

You guys are looking at this all wrong. If you build a 2 seater then what leverage will you have to build a single seater down the road? If you build a single seater then your partner will almost force you to consider a two (or 4)seater later in life....at least that's been my experience. Start with a single seater then when finished admit your mistake and build/buy a 2 seater.

So....what 2 seater are you working on Rob?!

[8 ball]

Very good advice, listen!

[Jaypratt]

Sebastian,

Really,,,,, you have had two rides in a C172? Get 200 hours in a 172. then think about what your mission is. You might want something besides a RV.

[n82rb]

Originally Posted by Saville

If you start with a 1000 empty weight airplane full tanks and a 200 lb pilot you get 108 lbs left over. 30 lbs baggage and that's 78.

If you go CS prop it'll be a little less than 78.

And all your XC will have to be solo unless you bring a very small person with you.

1000 empty weight is achievable but you have to build carefully.

Plus the build time for an RV-4 vs an RV-8 QB may be longer.

It can be done, mine came in at 995 no paint, O-360 and hartzell constant speed.

Bob burns
Rv-4 n82rb

[Ignition]

Originally Posted by rph142

You guys are looking at this all wrong. If you build a 2 seater then what leverage will you have to build a single seater down the road? If you build a single seater then your partner will almost force you to consider a two (or 4)seater later in life....at least that's been my experience. Start with a single seater then when finished admit your mistake and build/buy a 2 seater.

Good advice! That's exactly my plan too.

Originally Posted by sdh

Big questions from my side at this stage:

• Is an RV-3 (with QB wings) suitable for an (average) first-time builder?

I can answer this question: In my experience, Absolutely.

I agree with others here, I'm also a first time builder currently building a -3B (with slow build wings) which I started 2 years ago when I was 20 and I've found it to be fairly straight forward... with a lot of time spent thinking ahead and making sure things are correct. The plans aren't perfect and sometimes you need to do something a little different to make it work but if you break it down into a sequence of smaller 'projects', it's very manageable.

The -8 appears to be an easier/faster kit if you plan to build, although I can't imagine the -3 being necessarily much more difficult than the -8. I haven't built anything else so I have nothing to compare it to.

My main issue has just been time, or lack of time to build due to my job. If you have the time to build either, you'll likely be happy with either choice. But make sure you do in fact have the time to build often. If it were possible, that would be the only thing I would change about mine. Unfortunately I still need to work.

In saying all that, my next build will probably be something similar to the RV-12, just so I can see what I've been missing out on with the ultra-fast assembly kits. They look like a world of difference to the older kits.