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  #1  
Old 06-18-2016, 02:23 PM
lon@carolon.net lon@carolon.net is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Santa Monica, California
Posts: 139
Default Seeking insight into maintenance costs for new RV-12 SLSA

I'm daydreaming about buying an RV-12 SLSA. I've been checked out to rent one of the few that is available for rent, so the joys of owning one are easy to imagine. The costs owning one are a bit harder for me to figure.

I've done my homework and have estimates of what it will cost to buy the plane, insure it, park it, have it inspected each year, keep the GPS database updated, and buy fuel and oil.

What I can't estimate is what maintenance, repair and Service Bulletin compliance costs may be. I know that these costs can vary wildly as a result of factors and events beyond a plane owner's ability to control or forecast. But I can't guess whether those costs are likely to be in the neighborhood of, say, $5,000 or $25,000, over the first 5 years of the plane's life.

If I were to buy an RV-12, it's likely that I would attend the Rotax maintenance course and the Light Sport repair course. But I have my heart set on a brand new factory-built plane registered as an SLSA, so even after taking those courses, I will not be able to do all of my own maintenance and repairs.

Any insights into what I should reasonably guess those costs might be will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Lon
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  #2  
Old 06-18-2016, 02:37 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is online now
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
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In CA, as you are, don't forget personal property tax - 1% of appraised value - every year.
You should be able to do routine work like oil changes and plug cleaning, assuming you are inclined to do so. Those costs depend on how many hours per year you fly. Also tires/tubes depend on how many landing you do, but 3 - 4 years is typical for many.
Pay the A&P the cost of inspection (again, if he lets you do the grunt work of opening/closing it up, grease where needed, brake pads, etc. it can save money). Hopefully there will be few unexpected squawks in the first 5 years. As it ages, of course, there will be more.
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  #3  
Old 06-18-2016, 03:53 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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Location: Hubbard Oregon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lon@carolon.net View Post

If I were to buy an RV-12, it's likely that I would attend the Rotax maintenance course and the Light Sport repair course. But I have my heart set on a brand new factory-built plane registered as an SLSA, so even after taking those courses, I will not be able to do all of my own maintenance and repairs.
One option with an S-LSA is to have it recertified as an E-LSA. You could then do all maint. and even the annual condition inspection if you have taken the Rotax and the Repairmans courses.

The only down side is possible resale value because the airplane can then not be used for hire, and the only way it could ever be switched back is by the manufacturer doing it.
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RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
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  #4  
Old 06-18-2016, 06:45 PM
Mich48041 Mich48041 is offline
 
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I could be mistaken, but doesn't the two week course allow a person to inspect an S-LSA? Or is that only for E-LSA aircraft that belong to others. Mel?
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RV-12 Flying
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  #5  
Old 06-18-2016, 07:25 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Mich48041 View Post
I could be mistaken, but doesn't the two week course allow a person to inspect an S-LSA? Or is that only for E-LSA aircraft that belong to others. Mel?
Correct

I assumed he was talking about the 16 hr inspector course since he new it wouldn't allow him to work on an S-LSA.
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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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  #6  
Old 06-18-2016, 07:25 PM
Top Cat Top Cat is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Mill SC
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I bought an SLSA in July 2014. I'm very pleased with the airplane and have had no problems.

I thought about doing the courses but to tell you the truth its been easier and cheaper to simply have my Rotax trained mechanic do all the maintenance and service, which hasn't been very much. Besides I've learnt a lot watching and working with him. He charges $535 for the annual plus anything that needs doing and parts. I haven't had anything other than oil and brake pads. I thought about doing the service course only but so far I don't feel the need.
Biggest issue I have had has been regarding replacing the defective carb floats a while back. I got a few drips of fuel and a couple of sunken floats but the Rotax always ran perfectly and eventually, through Lockwood, I got new floats and was fully reimbursed.

Although I used 100LL initially to fly the plane home from Vans and for a few months after that I've been using 93 non-ethanol, and currently E-10 93 ($2.54 gallon) so my oil changes are at every 50 hours. That's been working out at 2-3 oil changes a year. Cost is 3 quarts of oil and a filter each time.

I'm changing the plugs at annual next month which isn't much and I added a mod for the panels under the tank last time since it was coming out anyway, I think the panels were less than $20.

I added the wifi adaptor for SkyView ($39) and it works great with my iPad with Foreflight. I'm thinking of adding an iFly 740 GPS to backup the single SkyView for situational awareness and will be adding the 2020 GPS soon so as to be fully ADSB compliant. When I bought my plane dual screens weren't offered but I'd get them today if I was buying.

I chose the RV-12 because its made in the USA and , in my view, provides better performance than some foreign made LSAs which can cost up to $100k more than I paid. My empty weight is 765lbs providing a useful load of 555 lbs which is also much better than many other LSA models.
My insurance is $1306 for full coverage including replacing the RV with a new one if needed. Nice electric hangar is $165 month here in SC.
Vans support is great and this forum has been an excellent resource.

I've put on about 240 hours since July 2014 and I plan on 5 gallons per hour and usually get 4.8 and 118-120kts at 5300rpm.

My goal has been to fly as much as I can, when I want to, and be able to do as much as I can on my own. The RV-12 SLSA has been very reliable and very economical and so my 'mission' has been more than met. I pay about $1200 year in SC personal property tax but my sales tax was only $300.
My goal in owning rather than renting was to be able to fly 15 hours per month and pay the same or less than renting. So far I'm ahead and I can fly whenever I want.

Hope this helps answer your question?

Last edited by Top Cat : 06-19-2016 at 02:30 PM. Reason: I erroneously wrote 765 bs as useful load instead of empty weight.
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  #7  
Old 06-18-2016, 08:35 PM
RFSchaller RFSchaller is offline
 
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Howard,

Your useful load seems very high. Somewhere around 590 lbs seems more typical.

Rich
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  #8  
Old 06-19-2016, 03:35 AM
mturnerb mturnerb is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFSchaller View Post
Howard,

Your useful load seems very high. Somewhere around 590 lbs seems more typical.

Rich
I'm 99.99% sure Howard means empty weight of 765, with useful load of 555 lbs, or fuel fuel + 435 lbs. Still among the best of LSA's
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  #9  
Old 06-19-2016, 02:26 PM
Top Cat Top Cat is offline
 
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Location: Fort Mill SC
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Rich and Turner,

Sorry, you're right. I meant to say empty weight of 765 instead of useful load. The useful load is 555.

I've corrected my error in the earlier post!

Last edited by Top Cat : 06-19-2016 at 02:31 PM.
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  #10  
Old 06-19-2016, 03:08 PM
lon@carolon.net lon@carolon.net is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Santa Monica, California
Posts: 139
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BobTurner View Post
In CA, as you are, don't forget personal property tax - 1% of appraised value - every year.
You should be able to do routine work like oil changes and plug cleaning, assuming you are inclined to do so. Those costs depend on how many hours per year you fly. Also tires/tubes depend on how many landing you do, but 3 - 4 years is typical for many.
Pay the A&P the cost of inspection (again, if he lets you do the grunt work of opening/closing it up, grease where needed, brake pads, etc. it can save money). Hopefully there will be few unexpected squawks in the first 5 years. As it ages, of course, there will be more.
Thanks Bob. I took into account the California Personal Property Tax. But I forgot about tires and tubes, so now I've added those to my spreadsheet.

You've given me reason to hope -- and I know it's just a hope -- that there'll be few unexpected squawks when the plane is still young.
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