ME and My dad are thinking about building an RV-8 or 8A - Page 2

Jaypratt · #11 08-03-2010, 08:23 AM

Nick,

Welcome to Vans Airforce. You will get good information here.

I wish you could come to my hangrer, www.RVCentral.us , here in Fort Worth, TX. I could let you remove a cowl off of a RV nose gear plane and a RV 8. The difference is Huge. For the life of owning your plane you will have it so much easer if you choose the 8 over the 8A. That alone is enough to build an 8.

Get the Grove airfoil gear legs, saves time to build, and weight.

Dayton Murdock has a better throttle quad, order his 'Danny King special', call him direct. He has a lighter tail wheel too, get that.

I have some mods that are easy to make and helps with maintence after your plane is flying. Call me for info. I am glad to help.

Build an 8!
I would like to see one painted like an Bf 109:

jbDC9 · #12 08-03-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panhandler1956

The best advice (IMHO):
I think you should ask lots of questions (which are doing). Do an exhaustive amount of research (6 months for me). And then and only then, make the decision.

Good advice of course... but sometimes, it's easier than this.

When I was dipping my toes into the homebuilt water, I looked at some "fat" ultralight types, plus the Rans S-7 (cool ship, still want one), even looked at a Skybolt rebuild project; then while at Oshkosh 2003 I was at the Vans tent looking at the QB kit laying in the grass, plus the hundreds of completed RVs parked in the grass... done. I think I can do this, I'm gonna build an RV. Quick Build of course.

But, which RV to build? This was actually the simplest question of them all; my requirements were: taildragger, tandem seats, slider bubble canopy, QB kits available. Duhhh, sounds like an RV-8 to me. Even the powerplant decision was a no brainer; a carbureted 180 hp Lyc, constant speed prop. That was easy!

Bill Palmer · #13 08-03-2010, 04:44 PM

Hi Jay,

Okay, I?ll ?bite!? What Huge difference under the cowl? Engine/Nose Gear Mount, Exhaust Configuration, . . . what? (. . . and what?s the problem?)

Thanks,

Bill Palmer

(That California 8A freak that stops by your hangar about once a year either on his scooter or via his sister?s Lexus . . . she lives in Southlake; my mother lives in Keller.)

P.S. That IS a BEAUTIFUL RV-8 you built! (Borrowed Horse)

Jaypratt · #14 08-03-2010, 04:56 PM

Bill,

It is the hassle factor of building a cowl around the nose gear. Plus having extra farings to build, and screws to get the cowl off and on. A huge difference in the two. Add a three blade to a nose gear and the complexity goes up more.
No contest, the tail wheel cowl is a lot easer to remove and put on.

rbibb · #15 08-03-2010, 05:06 PM

If you really want to build a tandem seat RV - build a -4

Bill Palmer · #16 08-03-2010, 05:29 PM

Thanks, Jay

I understand now . . . you're right, of course! The 8A cowl does need to make its way around the nose gear leg somehow. Most nose gear aircraft have the same issue; the 8A is not unusual there.

I'll see if I can make cowl installation/removal at least easier/quicker via MilSpec fasteners, hinges, or something.

Hopefully, I won't need to install and remove the cowl all that often, but . . . !

Thanks Again,

Bill Palmer

FALC0NDRIVER · #17 08-21-2010, 08:39 AM

Nick,
my only advice is to start right away. Get the quick-build kit and start ASAP. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be in the air. My dad and I started with a quick-build 8, and it has been the best time building together. We were just finishing up wiring, about to hang the engine, and he was diagnosed with cancer and gone two months later. I'll have to go it alone now, but I am SO grateful we got to spend the time with each other the last few years.

You guys will love building this kit.

chinch · #18 08-21-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaypratt

Nick,
I wish you could come to my hangrer, www.RVCentral.us

Jay, check your PM.

Scott Hersha · #19 08-21-2010, 05:51 PM

Build times:
It took me 4 1/2 years to build my RV-6 QB, and 2 years to build my RV-8 standard build. You'll learn fast, so if you ever build another, you'll save lots of time. If you can build at home or very close to home (like the back yard) you'll finish faster. Good luck and have fun. Check in here whenever you have a problem with something. there's plenty of help.