Rv 7 Advice needed

[RV7a Newbie]

Folks Im on the Fringe of ordering my emmpennage kit for an Rv7

I was focused on the nosewheel version as Im flying a Samba XXL at the moment and its second nature to me to taxi / Land this configuration.

Could anybody give me a quick summary of the advantages or disadvantages of both kits with reference to building, mainteance cost etc

As always, thanks for your comments

David, Ireland

[C-FAH Q]

It's a never ending debate. Both are great. The tail wheel is dead easy to fly. This quote may turn the table for you, or not.
" I told my girlfriend I was a nose wheel pilot......she said we should both see other men"

[RV7a Newbie]

Ive Been told the Nosewheels dont take hard landings well, Is there an Issue here?

[BobTurner]

Assuming you want insurance, call an insurance agent specializing in Experimental aircraft and Vans in particular, if you can find such a thing in Ireland. With little to no tail wheel experience, the first year is going to cost you more, in both money and dual instruction time, for the tailwheel. He can tell you how much more.

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by RV7a Newbie

Ive Been told the Nosewheels dont take hard landings well, Is there an Issue here?

IF you mean touching down hard on the main gear, well, the same hardware is used for the main gear on both the 7a and the -7.

IF you mean touching down hard on the nose gear, well, you should never do that in any airplane.

[RV7a Newbie]

Bob,
Cheers Sound Advice on the Insurance/ extra training end of things.

What I was Told [By Someone who possibly who doesnt know much about this] was that in the nosewheel version that after an initial landing on the main gear that the front strut was prone to damage easily after a harder than normal touch down..
Any truth in this?

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by RV7a Newbie

Bob,
Cheers Sound Advice on the Insurance/ extra training end of things.

What I was Told [By Someone who possibly who doesnt know much about this] was that in the nosewheel version that after an initial landing on the main gear that the front strut was prone to damage easily after a harder than normal touch down..
Any truth in this?

The nose wheel is relatively small, and if it drops into a hole on a grass strip it can catch, bend back, and the plane will flip over. This can also happen if the nose comes down hard; the wheel can bend up to the point that the front of the gear leg makes contact with the surface. There is an after-market mod to strength the nose gear leg, if you plan on non-paved surfaces, or poor technique.
So yes, there is some truth here. RVs cannot be abused like, say, a 152.

[agirard7a]

I like the look of the tail wheel. My insurance was not
Difficult to get or expensive with a tail wheel and 0 time.
Needed transition training. I was originally building a 9a and changed to a 9.
Grass strip safer in my book. But others will tell you differently.
Plus and minus to both. You have time to decide. Build the tail and wings than make the call.

[C-FAH Q]

Originally Posted by BobTurner

IF you mean touching down hard on the main gear, well, the same hardware is used for the main gear on both the 7a and the -7.

IF you mean touching down hard on the nose gear, well, you should never do that in any airplane.

Main gear legs are completely different between the 7 and 7a. One set comes off the spar and one set comes off the engine mount

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by RV7a Newbie

Bob,
Cheers Sound Advice on the Insurance/ extra training end of things.

What I was Told [By Someone who possibly who doesnt know much about this] was that in the nosewheel version that after an initial landing on the main gear that the front strut was prone to damage easily after a harder than normal touch down..
Any truth in this?

Read Vlad's posts and see the places he's landed and taken off from... habitually... for years. I also got the impression early on that the nose gear was a bit fragile, but I think it's just a matter of doing what you were taught to do since day 1 of flight training. Land slow, on the mains, keep the stick back, don't break the airplane.