What should Vans do next?

[Bob_pipedream]

Here are a few ideas (probably already stated in this thread):

Revisit the cowl design and try to lower the cooling drag by creating some kind of lower cowl baffling that would also stop floor vibration in 6,7,9 and improve efficiency

Redesign the 6,7, 8 and 9 nosewheels

Sort out documentation - particulary for older models - e.g. air dams in baffle plans for 7 and 9 apparently, but how would a 6 owner know about that? (just stick something on the Vans website)

Yep that glider would be cool - preferably electric and maybe with solar panels on the wings

Do a study on the RV6 and maybe increase max load (just 50lbs would be good)

Do long range tanks

Investigate a modified monkeybike (50-100cc cable of 45mph and can use Avgas from the tanks) that could fit in a RV6,7,9 (would have a big market for that - 500 - 1000 owners would want one)

Produce a taper wing retrofit (not sure would be much more efficient but would look cool)

Finally how about guns?

[rhill]

Not since the RV-3 wings would fail in flight and the 3B wing redesign, Has Vans had a such a Moral Hazard as the 6,7,8,9 A nose wheel. Regardless of how it happens, who is at fault, Pilots, Vans, Gofers, It does happen and far too often.I would like to see a stronger nose gear to address this issue. Who better than Vans to do this, I can't think of a better time than right now for the company.

[Bob_pipedream]

Agree with the nose wheel issue...

But what about a pressure recovery fuselage for the RV8?

[bhassel]

hmmm... realistically - what base doesn't Van's have covered. Everything is there except maybe a niche market (no harm in that)! How can we help keep Ken et al busy? Maybe just upgrades to the current line.

• A new nose wheel option for those that want it (I'd like to think I'm going tail dragger if I can ever get back to the project again!)
• Extended range tank option for all models
• RV-12 style panel option for those that want it
• An improved golf swing (everyone needs one of those)

Bob

[Stabird]

How many rollovers before a death and lawsuite shuts down Van's? Apply the resource to improve the "A" nose landing gear design.

[Danny7]

Originally Posted by rhill

Not since the RV-3 wings would fail in flight and the 3B wing redesign, Has Vans had a such a Moral Hazard as the 6,7,8,9 A nose wheel. Regardless of how it happens, who is at fault, Pilots, Vans, Gofers, It does happen and far too often.I would like to see a stronger nose gear to address this issue. Who better than Vans to do this, I can't think of a better time than right now for the company.

what statistics do you have to back up your claim? If you say it happens way to often i'd like to see a little statistical comparison of rva models flying, vs ones that have flipped or had a nose wheel incident. I know statistics can be made to show things you want, but i'd like to see people that make a claim have some number, any number; an actual number of incidents to say there have been to many.

[David Paule]

Kitplanes, July 2010, article starting page 36.

[Andy Hill]

How many rollovers before a death and lawsuite shuts down Van's? Apply the resource to improve the "A" nose landing gear design

If you want a "true" nosewheel aeroplane, buy one - not a "converted" taildragger That is what A stands for...

Whilst the rollovers are hardly desirable, I do not think they are a significant safety hazard, given that Van's effectively say to keep the NW off the ground. As per the post above, yes - they do have a number of high profile accidents, but are they actually more hazardous than the taildragger version?

Andy

[redwards]

How about writing some decent building instructions for the existing models?

[tomcostanza]

Fix the nosewheel.