RV-7 vs RV-8

[smokyray]

I live nearby and would be glad to give you both a Rocket Ride. Of course, after that, the decision matrix gets smaller

Smokey
HR2

[rjm727]

Hi Smokey,

I had not seen the HR2 conversion before. I just looked at the website and it certainly is impressive. Is the HR3 for the RV8? What airport are you based at?

Ray

[BikePilot]

I believe the HR3 is a single seat machine. I don't think it has any direct commonality with the -8, but I'm far from expert on this.

[mannanj]

My wife had no choice as I had almost completed my RV-8 before we met. She has flown with me about 1/4 to 1/3 the hours flown on our -8.

She is quite content to make her little "nest" in the back seat and enjoy our trips together. She has her own gps and is able to help with navigation or do her counted cross stitch art work in the back seat.

Neither of us are long winded conversationalist, so we don't have to be able to look each other in the eye as we travel.

The -8 was my choice. You build what you want to see when you open the hangar door. Your wife may not travel that much with you...BUT...She may even learn to fly and prefer center line seating when she does!!!!!!!!

[zspivey]

On this one there is no wrong answer. Any RV is a great airplane. When I decided to build, my wife and I had a conversation on how much she would likely be flying with me. She said very little so I built an 8A. Part way throught construction I changed jobs and had little time to work on it. A friend approached me about buying the project. I sold him a half interest and we finished it together. I loved the airplane. Centerline seating is the way to go I thought.
On an August trip to see our daughter my wife complained of being too cold in the back seat. This is the main complaint on the 8.
After 18 months of flying the 8, my friend decided he want to go low and slow and bought a Legend cub. He wanted to sell the 8; I did not want to buy him out so we sold it.
I bought a 6A. During the Thanksgiving holiday, my wife and I made the same trip in the 6. She did not complain of the cold. With her controlling the cabin heat, I felt to hot at times.
After flying the 6 for 20 hours I can say I like it as much as I did the 8. They are different. Solo, I prefer the 8. With a special passenger on board, the 6 is my choice.

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by zspivey

I bought a 6A. During the Thanksgiving holiday, my wife and I made the same trip in the 6. She did not complain of the cold. With her controlling the cabin heat, I felt to hot at times.
After flying the 6 for 20 hours I can say I like it as much as I did the 8. They are different. Solo, I prefer the 8. With a special passenger on board, the 6 is my choice.

Same here. After many years of riding tandem on a motorcycle, we figured that side by side is the way to go. Nearly all of our flights (wife and I) are cross country, and it's great to be able to see what's ahead at the same time, conversation wise. If I was flying solo most of the time, I'd prefer a 3, 8, Rocket, or F1 too. But I enjoy cross countries throughout the mountain west, and prefer flying with "company". Always flying solo, and especially local, bores me rather quickly. And that goes for several friends of mine too.

After all, within just hours, we have the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Yellowstone, numerous other national parks, and much more. It needs to be shared!

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[Pat Stewart]

I have owned two Rv8's and probably have 50 plus hours in the right seat of a 6 and 7. All great airplanes and its really an individual decision. The only major difference I noticed in the side by side is room. The 8 has much more room for the pilot and passenger (assuming two peolple in the aircraft). The 8 back seat looks small but its not, a 250 lb person can ride in there with no problem, not so in the front seat with another person. My wife loves riding in the backseat and the visibility in the 8 is outstandind.

Pat