RV-8 Secret - Page 3

tjo · #21 08-08-2016, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stancaruthers

Thanks Pat,
My primary mission is a FAST FAST cross country IFR machine without too many loops or rolls. Coming from the Bonanza, this will be a large change for me. It's just the wife and me now and my cash cow has lost her way, I no longer want to cringe at every annual......it's like waiting to hear from the Tax Accountant whether you owe this year or not.
I want to hire the best local builder to do my pre-buy I'm guessing.
I hear lot's of numbers on speed, what set up would allow for 170Kts or will an 8 even do that ?

Sounds more like a 9 with an io340 or parallel vale io360 to me. Maybe a 14, but you won't find one of those already built.

Tim

TXRv8Flyer · #22 08-08-2016, 09:01 PM

I have an RV8 and a F33A bonanza. The RV8 fits my needs perfectly. Most of the time I do a bunch of solo flying. I see around 175-185ktas on 9.5gph. The Bonanza is better if I wanna bring 2+ people or a lot of luggage. You'll be happy with the RV8 no doubt! Its very fuel efficient for the speed, going from Texas to Oshkosh and back cost me around $300 I believe. The one thing I miss compared to the Bonanza is that the RV comfort level isn't quite as high. Now thats if you do 3+ hour legs. Anything less isn't that bad. The other downside on the RV is how it handles turbulence. The bonanza is in my opinion the much better option for turbulence of any level, the RV not so much. But overall if I had to choose which to take, I'd probably go for the RV. Hope this helps.

Dbro172 · #23 08-08-2016, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjo

Sounds more like a 9 with an io340 or parallel vale io360 to me. Maybe a 14, but you won't find one of those already built.

Tim

Coming from a V35B you might be kind of board with a -9... I think you'd be happy with an -8. Nines are more of a 145-150 KTAS plane, although very efficient, especially in the teens. Those narrow body -8s really boogey.

These RVs though, you kind of "wear" them as opposed to sit in them like a bonanza or skylane. Bo's are very comfortable, you might not like sitting shoulder to shoulder and feet stretched out in the side by side RVs. I'm currently flying a mooney M20C and it very much fits/flys very much like my RV-9A, except slower climb speed and higher stall speed, but it carries 1050lbs! Pretty much a 4 seat RV-9A. Once your in its fine, but getting in and out blows for the pilot side.

I'm building an 8 for a cross country cruise speed, not so much aerobatic...they say the personal space in the tandems is actually better than the side by sides and baggage looks similar.

My Mooney is similarly unstable in yaw like my -9A was, feel a lot of tail wagging compared to the 182, which was like a schoolbus on rails. But I heard the V tails are kind of like that too. I'm not sure how the short wings (6,7,8) are in yaw though.

Unfortunately the cost of a nice -8 is going to be similar to a V35B however ownership and operating costs will be exponentially lower.

springer · #24 08-08-2016, 09:34 PM

[quote=Dbro172;1101723]I'm building an 8 for a cross country cruise speed, not so much aerobatic...they say the personal space in the tandems is actually better than the side by sides and baggage looks similar./QUOTE]

There is more shoulder room in the front seat of an -8 than any other side by side RV cept maybe the-10 when you have passenger sitting next to you. The rear "pit" of the -8 you are pretty much locked into one sitting position which I find uncomfortable for anything more than a ride around the block.

jefferts · #25 08-08-2016, 10:31 PM

I use my 8 for long cross countries. It's been to CA and FL from CO this year so far. I flight plan 180 knts and 10 gph...the one thing you might want to look for is tip tanks, mine has 60 gal of fuel and that lets you do long IFR legs with really comfortable reserves. At the end of the day, I think you'll find it's significantly faster than the V-35 with lots less fuel burn, but it's not the most stable IFR platform in the world. The fun factor just isn't even comparable !!

stancaruthers · #26 08-09-2016, 06:53 AM

I guess first things first
Take pics, get times and list my Bo...... get er gone
I may get a little teared up when the Bo goes.
Go to Hicks or 52F and sit in a few 7's-8's
I assume the 7 will not keep up with the 8 due to fuse width ?

jfrank71 · #27 08-09-2016, 07:05 AM

If CC is your mission, the -10 is great. I've had mine over 2 years and put 175 hours on it. It amazes me every flight how comfortable and efficient it is. I flight plan 170ktas on 13gph. Tons of room and haul family of four (wife and 2 teenagers) and bags. 1050 UL by the book. The only thing that limits my legs to 3 hours is my bladder. I also have access to a -7 I fly several times a year. Lots of fun, much more nimble and fuel burn is down to 8gph at same speed. Just need to figure out how much room you need. Best of luck.

Scott Hersha · #28 08-09-2016, 07:12 AM

Generally speaking and all things being equal, an RV7 is slightly slower (3-4 MPH)than a like equipped RV8 - check the performance numbers at vansaircraft.com, they are pretty accurate. 3 Knots will not make a very noticeable difference, time wise, on most cross countries. Also, since you said you are buying, not building, your choices will be limited by what is available. You can probably get the engine/prop combination you want in a paint job you can live with, but it's less likely you'll get one with the instrument panel you want also. Price will be reflected in the state of the IP. If you can find a good airplane with an outdated panel, you should be able to get it at a good price. Upgrading to the G3X Touch is a good choice, and I would recommend using the Garmin autopilot servos too, to make it a seamless functional setup (personal experience). If you don't want to do the panel upgrade yourself - although it is perfectly OK for you to do that - I can recommend Redline (redlinethegoal.com) to do the upgrade for you (personal experience here too). They have done numerous panel rebuilds and are G3X experts. Good luck with your search. You just can't do better than the RV8.

F1Boss · #29 08-09-2016, 07:42 AM

"My primary mission is a FAST FAST cross country IFR machine without too many loops or rolls."

If your search is limited to FG type ships, take a look at the Rocket market too. If you are considering an RG type, the Lancair Legacy is another hot rod, tho not so roomy.

The Rocket can absorb 30kts on the nose and still give you 170KT GS while burning 11GPH. The TCM 550 Evo versions can give you 210+KTAS at 17500' on 11GPH...

Carry on!
Mark

traynhr · #30 08-09-2016, 07:46 AM

Stan,

I owned a B33 with an IO470N (260 hp) for many years. It was a great airplane and it was used solely for legs 1.5 hr. or longer. I commuted to work each week and the airplane was fast enough, reliable enough and comfortable enough. It was also very expensive to keep between insurance, maintenance, annuals, vionics and consumables. When I retired, my mission changed. The Deb was sitting in the hangar, not getting exercised and I wasn't flying it very much at all. I sold it. I bought a really nice Champ to get refreshed in tailwheel technique and then last February, my son and I bought a beautiful RV8. It's got an 0-360 with a fixed pitch prop. Simple, bulletproof but fast and efficient. My son (an ex-Air Force fighter pilot) loves to do aerobatics and we both enjoy the CC capability. The expense reduction is just amazing. As an example, I recently had a problem with the MGL efis. I removed it, sent it back and within a week, I had it back, fully repaired for about $250!

They are two totally different airplanes. Each does a certain missions well. The RV8 just fits our current needs as perfectly as the Deb did for many years.

Rob