What makes the RV14 kit faster to build?

[GPV]

Hi all,

Can any of you builders tell me what makes the 14 faster to build?

I am aware of the following:

Final sized holes
Pre-assembled wiring loom
Easy fit canopy

Is there anything else? Any prefab parts that aren't in the other kits or anything? What about deburring, etc?

Your advice is appreciated!

Greg

[Avengerboss]

Just about everything, the canopy glass is precut for front and rear, canopy frame is assembled on a bench and fits great, all holes for the most part is prepunched to size, all Fiberglass parts are gel coated and marked with trim lines.
It's an amazing kit, the fit and finish of the components is second to no one.

[N941WR]

Many of the parts that have to be cut and filed from aluminum bar and angle stock come pre done.

All that adds up to a LOT of time savings!

[kiljoy]

The 14 kit is amazing. I hate using that word (my wife uses it far too often) but that's what it is. With the 14 you're not really building a plane, you're assembling it.

No matter how many times I'm certain that I've cocked up and that things won't fit together they do.

[Bavafa]

I probably characterize it slightly different. A 14-A compared to a 7-A ( so I can speak of personal experience) takes a bit less time to build but much easier and more repeatable. The canopy is by far the biggest difference and easier to build compared to a typical tip-up. The next big difference is the much higher quality in finishing of the fiberglass parts.
It took me 15 months to build a 7A from start to first flight (paint included) and took 13 months for a 14A including paint.
The kit also comes with many items that you might need to purchase separately with other kit, hence less time researching.

[mturnerb]

Agree with all others' comments, and will add this: I think RV-14/14A's will be much more consistent in quality (and functionality) when finished, because there is so much less variability in the fit/finish of parts. Now that I'm flying mine, I'm hard pressed to see it as a "home built"/ one-off aircraft but something much more like a production aircraft. Even panels in -14s tend to be more consistent, especially if sourced from SteinAir or similar: the recent Stein Air tour thread has a panel in progress that looks so much like mine that I did a double-take, likewise many of the new ones showing up on Facebook have very similar panels.

I think this consistency will add to market / resale value for 14's as well.

[GPV]

Thanks for the responses everyone. It's nearly sold it for me. Now if only that climb rate was a littler higher! I prefer sliding canopies in the hot climate here too but I can live with it.

I think anything that reduces time and hence the chance of losing interest is a good thing.

Bavafa, having built both now, which do you prefer to fly?

[mturnerb]

Originally Posted by GPV

Thanks for the responses everyone. It's nearly sold it for me. Now if only that climb rate was a littler higher! I prefer sliding canopies in the hot climate here too but I can live with it.

I think anything that reduces time and hence the chance of losing interest is a good thing.

Bavafa, having built both now, which do you prefer to fly?

Mine climbs like a bat out of hades.... What are you looking for in terms of climb rate?

[Bavafa]

Originally Posted by GPV

Bavafa, having built both now, which do you prefer to fly?

Hands down, the 14. I loved my 7 and it was a beautiful, trouble free and capable RV but the 14 has grown on me so much more and I love some of the improvements that they have done to the kit. Simple things as the steps, pre cut engine baffles and the main gear logs.

[GPV]

Originally Posted by mturnerb

Mine climbs like a bat out of hades.... What are you looking for in terms of climb rate?

Haha to be honest it's got plenty, it's just that when comparing the 7 and 14 on paper the 7 climbs 500-odd fpm faster.