New engine mount and nose gear option for RV-7A/9A kits

[Draker]

Excellent timing for me too, as I was just getting ready to pull the trigger on the Finishing Kit. In other news, the Finishing Kit for a -7A is now almost $9500 Im pretty sure the last order form I had listed it at $7315. I know Vans increases their price once a year but wow!

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by Draker

Excellent timing for me too, as I was just getting ready to pull the trigger on the Finishing Kit. In other news, the Finishing Kit for a -7A is now almost $9500 Im pretty sure the last order form I had listed it at $7315. I know Vans increases their price once a year but wow!

As mentioned in the announcement, the new mount and nose gear is the default standard in the finish kit from this point fwd, and there is a price delta of between the old style and new style of that amount.

[rapid_ascent]

Scott,

Well that at least makes a little more sense.

[KatanaPilot]

I’m going to order as soon as I can. Despite assurances from some “experts” to the contrary, the nose gear is a weak point on this airplane. I operate off a somewhat rough grass strip and this redesign will provide additional safety.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by KatanaPilot

I?m going to order as soon as I can. Despite assurances from some ?experts? to the contrary, the nose gear is a weak point on this airplane. I operate off a somewhat rough grass strip and this redesign will provide additional safety margin.

Any idea of the weight increment and moment arm for this new mount/nose gear?

That info is in the Service Letter document that was link to in the first post of this thread.

[KatanaPilot]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

That info is in the Service Letter document that was link to in the first post of this thread.

Didn?t show up on my phone download, but found it later. Thanks.

[TS Flightlines]

With all due respect to those looking at the cost differences, whats the cost differences of a collapsed gear, a flexed firewall, a prop strike inspection and potential 'other' expenses that could happen? Seems like less expensive insurance to me to do the upgrade.
In my case----I havent bought the mount OR the nose gear---as I'l still on the titerope of taildragger or nosedragger.

Tom

[snoop9erdog]

I initially was going 9A, but didn't like the delicate nose gear design. So I switched to a tail wheel configuration. Plus I have always wanted to learn the skill.

After Bill Repucci let me taxi, takeoff, and land (with assistance) his 9 ....happy to say I look forward to becoming proficient in the tailwheel 9....and I will save the 3k. It was a lot of fun.

[RV8JD]

In light of the snippet below from the new SL ...

"By way of illustration, during installation of the new mount and gear system on the Van?s Aircraft RV-9A factory demonstrator aircraft, the following changes were measured before and after the modifications described in this service letter had been completed.

NOTE: Your aircraft will not match these weight and balance figures; this information is taken from a single aircraft and is provided for illustration purposes only. You will need to re-weigh your aircraft and complete a new weight and balance document upon completion of your project.

? Empty weight: Increased from 1088 lbs to 1093 lbs (+5 lbs)

? Nose wheel arm: Moved forward 1.18 inches

? CG in specific typical max-gross-weight loading scenario: Moved forward
from 81.447 inches (21.60%) to 81.174 inches (21.08%)

? Nose wheel weight measured in specific typical max-gross-weight loading scenario: Increased from 318.0 lbs to 333.3 lbs (+15.3 lbs)"

... Folks may want to review the nose gear weight limits as published by Vans:

https://www.vansaircraft.com/wp-cont...ice_letter.pdf

[Bavafa]

I think this announcement just reduced the value of my beautifully made and well equipped RV-14A, but I still wouldn?t sell it for anything less than $50000 
This is a very nice upgrade VANs has done for the 6/7/9 trigear.