F4 Rocket Lite - Page 4

brianwallis · #31 05-03-2007, 01:28 PM

I cannot wait to see this thing (F4) If this turns out as good as I think it will.. we will certainly have a bad to the bone bird...
Best
Brian
ps./.... veeerrrryyyy interested

f1rocket · #32 05-03-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark manda

I based my statement on the remarks from a ret. Lt. col. who owned a six, built a 4 and built and is flying a HR-2.

sideways-- same powerplant as a RV.

I have only ridden in this HR; maybe an F1 is narrower and shorter or I mean the F4.

Oh, I got it. I misunderstood the sideways comment. My bad.

I don't know how the harmon is to see over the nose. The F1 isn't that bad with the new tailwheels.

RVAddict · #33 05-03-2007, 03:07 PM

I assume that a parts only kit will be pre-punched or matched hole, or whatever vans termanology is for the ones you don't have to drill any holes in.....?

F1Boss · #34 05-03-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVAddict

I assume that a parts only kit will be pre-punched or matched hole, or whatever vans termanology is for the ones you don't have to drill any holes in.....?

No -- our vendor company doesn't have the computer controlled forming equipment required to make the pre-punched formed skins. That being said, we are just about finished with a fuselage kit here (boning up the parts kit assembly manual) and we have less than 100 hrs in it.

I've built a few 6s, and a few 8s, and this one is still pretty easy to do: side skins are punched, so there is your bulkhead alignment, and the fwd floor is also punched, so there is the fwd floor & cockpit section alignment for you. The bulkheads and ribs are not punched, so alignment is actually less of a problem (as I recall with the 8s).

I didn't mention in my earlier post -- we will be setting the ship up for the 180HP style IO-360 engines. If market demand allows for it, we will produce a cowl to fit the 200HP IO360 style engines too.

Carry on!
Mark

RVAddict · #35 05-03-2007, 05:51 PM

Mark,
Thanks for posting the info you have given us!

I really like the F1 and the idea of the F4 seems doable for me one day in the future. (I don't even have my PPL yet...

) I was asking because Obviously I have never built an airplane before and that was one thing I liked about the RV-8 vs the RV-4.(it's prepunched, or if you have the $, the QB option) I'm a mechanic and feel that I have the ability to build one, but don't have the knowledge or experience, plus I'm a bit of a pessimist and worry about screwing something (or a lot of somethings) up. After all, it's going to be my butt in the seat.

It's nice to know you are planning to offer it as a QB or individual kits (wings, fuse, ect.) as QB if I understood you correctly.

I wish you the best of luck with this and I sincerly hope to see it come to market!!

Respectfully,
Josh

mannanj · #36 05-03-2007, 08:18 PM

Josh:

If you're a mechanic, you're way ahead of a lot of people who start and finish homebuilt airplanes. If you're an auto mechanic; just remember things are a bit more delicate on a plane and we deal in inch pounds not foot pounds.
Red torque, not Blue torque. (You just torque intil you're red in the face, not blue in the face.)

Seriously, you will goof up on occasion. Correct the mistake and if it's serious enough, order a new piece.

It's an incredible accomplishment when you finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rv72004 · #37 05-04-2007, 12:13 AM

It is just my opinion that Vans has it pretty well sown up with regards to 'up to 200hp' planes.

I dont think that F1 will sell enough to make it viable or competitive with the Vans products, but I could be wrong. Just get a Showplane rear deck on a 8 and you got a kinda F1 lookalike.
I think Vans planes are popular because of customer support ,builder fraternity and cheap prices.

That being said, the F1 Evo is the most beautiful kit I have seen . It offers everything. Low stall speed , fast cruise, aerobatic, looks, and a presence second to none. A RV really hasnt much on it.

If i had a vote in all of this, I would vote for a cheaper EVO ,which is also totally prepunched. I would also want a complete firewall forward kit available.A bigger fraternity of builders would be a big plus too, but that will take time.
Now I dont mean as cheap as a RV as that is not reasonable. A lot more goes into a EVO than a RV. Just a bit more in line would possibly attract a lot more builders.

If I decide on another project, it will be a EVO . And it wont be with a measly 200hp !!

Linedog · #38 05-04-2007, 06:09 AM

Guys,

The F4 news is VERY exciting indeed!

Just a word on the "Sport" vs. "EVO" wings. I have a "Sport" winged F1 and fly with an F1 EVO in formation frequently. Here is what we have seen as the differences:

The EVO is faster by a few knots (he has at least 30 more HP too...). It also lands a few knots slower.

The "Sport" has a much better roll rate! The Sport is light in roll and moderate in pitch (without the bellcrank mod.) The EVO is heavy in roll and light in pitch.

The EVO is 75 pounds heavier with much less avionics (but has a gross weight increase to make up for the useful load loss).

Personally, I do most of my flying locally, formation and acro. I thoroughly enjoy the flying qualities of the "Sport" wing and wouldn't trade it for an EVO! When I do go cross country, I spend (at most) a couple of extra minutes per leg--smiling about my better roll rate the whole time! If you use your F1 as a "2 place Bonanza" cross country machine, then EVO it is. But if you enjoy sport flying...the Sport wing is the winner, especially if you are trimming 50 horsepower! (JMHO....)

The F4 promises to be an awesome machine...and will blast the RV-8 out of the sky! (Performance, interior room, handling...and of course looks!) The F1 chops through turbulence much better than an RV-8. Mark's personal customer support is without equal. Wow...this is exciting- very cool!

Jeff

RVAddict · #39 05-04-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannanj

Josh:

If you're a mechanic, you're way ahead of a lot of people who start and finish homebuilt airplanes. If you're an auto mechanic; just remember things are a bit more delicate on a plane and we deal in inch pounds not foot pounds.
Red torque, not Blue torque. (You just torque intil you're red in the face, not blue in the face.)

Seriously, you will goof up on occasion. Correct the mistake and if it's serious enough, order a new piece.

It's an incredible accomplishment when you finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mannan,
Thanks for the advice! I'm a maintenance technician in a factory. It's not a union job so it's multi-craft. Meaning we do everything; mechanical, electrical, pnumatic, ect. Plus, I've always bent my own wrenches on my vehicles and home projects. I'm reasonably confident that I have the skills, it's mostly the knowledge and experience that worry me. Hopefully as I pogress through my PPL training and hanging out with the guys there, and here, I will learn more about what needs to be done and what should not be done. ( I love to know what makes things tick) I've always wanted to be involved with GA aircraft but just now got in a position to start. I didn't grow up in it so I'm starting from scratch... It's gonna be great!

kevinsky18 · #40 05-09-2007, 02:15 PM

If this was offered as a quick build kit like the RV-8 and closer in price I wouldn't give it a second thought. I would also consider paying more for an EVO wing. But Without quickbuild or even prepunch I'm going to stick with the RV-8 as my fist kit.

My second kit well then I might as well go for all the ponies up front.

So in short. In order for this to fly it needs to be competitive with the RV-8 in terms of builder ease and price. And of course a bit better preformance.