Best airplane/RV for me

[apkp777]

Looking at your profile, you are the typical RV guy. Your needs are similar to most of ours. I doubt anyone here will chime in and tell you they regret building/buying an RV.

I too have flown lot's of airplanes. My -9 (tailwheel) is my favorite. Not just because I built it, but the design is amazing. Take a ride with someone before you make any decisions. We all call it the "RV Grin". Something about these planes just makes you HAPPY

[pilot375]

I guess the next questions is what is the best way to get a ride? Anyone in the Phoenix area, or know someone that is that would be willing to show me their plane? I would sure appreciate it!!

[tkatc]

Having recently bought an RV I can tell you that insurance is not very hard. I am a low time pilot and I was able to acquire reasonable insurance with the only requirement being 5 hours dual and 5 hours solo before carrying passengers. Insurance will not be an issue, especially for you.

The nosewheel RVs have gotten a bad reputation for anything other than paved strips. There are 2 schools of thought on this issue which are argued to death. One school of thought is that pilots that encounter problems on unpaved strips with the nosewheel are just not flying it correctly. The other school of thought blames a weakly designed nose wheel as the cause of problems. Take your pick on that and choose what your are comfortable with.

I have not been in the "glass" planes but I have been told they are "tight" compared with an RV. I think the RV is a little tight so I wouldn't want to get into anything much tighter than that.

Good luck and enjoy your search. It took me about a year to find a match.

[Jerry Cochran]

Since you presumably have airline privileges why not fly up to Oregon and get rides in various RV's including the -10? That might be the quickest way to find out. If you do, I'd sure be game to also let you fly my -6a...

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by pilot375

Are the tricycle gears on the RV a concern above and beyond what you would find from a Piper 140.

There is no comparison between the RV nose wheel and those on production planes. The RV nose gear is basically for parking, not landing! It must (and can) be treated with care - there are many owners with thousands of landings on grass in the nose wheel RV's, so they work. But don't think that you can get away with sloppy technique like you can on a production "tank"....

Paul

[pilot375]

I actually quit the airline business. Flying pays good while flying, but there is so much unpaid time on the ground, the hourly rate is actually pretty poor until you are there long enough to both get a good schedule, and good pay rate (assuming you pick an airline that does not go out of business just when you get comfy!!) I have already endured airline closings, and furloughs. A few years ago when I was sitting in the cockpit my captain was flipping the bird at another airplane (same company) because they were from the "east" coast and voting out ALPA. I realized the old industry I loved was gone, forever. I started looking for alternatives the next day. Luckily, I found a way to make more sitting on my boat with a laptop and an internet connection.

[kens_cockpit]

Originally Posted by pilot375

I found a way to make more sitting on my boat with a laptop and an internet connection.

OK You've got me. What is it?