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03-06-2011, 08:16 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Dumas, Arkansas
Posts: 63
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$16,000 RV-4
I started my RV-4 in 1987 when the kit cost $6,750.00. I found an O-320 in a salvage yard with 1,550 hours on it for $2,750.00. I planed to overhaul it, but decided to paint it and hange it on the plane to see if it would run. It ran great for 600 more hours before I finally overhauled it. My Sturba prop cost $340.00 and I bought my instruments, tires, oil; cooler and most firewall forward parts from a salvage yard. A VAL 760 radio for $650 new and a used transponder w/encoder. It has a FlyBuddy loran that I need to remove someday. 4 years later I had $16,00.00 in it when I first flew it. I flew it without paint for 5 years and finally spent $2,000.00 for a nice Jet Glow 3 coler paint job. 20 years and 1,200 hours later it is still my pride & joy.
__________________
Gerald Loyd (Bulldog)
RV-4
O-320, Catto 2 blade
Began flying 1963
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04-18-2011, 06:47 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Fargo, ND
Posts: 146
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Bought my kits from 2003 till now. Still need to get the FWF kit. My engine is a take out from a local plane that my FBO owner friend took care of. Sold it to me for 5K with fresh paint. I'm still considering topping it as it is in 150 HP configuration. Simple day/night VFR with a Dynon 180, Icom A210, $500 brand x handheld GPS, used xponder. A car restorer/custom paint friend of mine is going to shoot for me if I fill up his beer fridge. If I don't overhaul the engine I'll be well under $40K. I cringe when I see all these weekend warrior planes with $40K pannels. I fly a Learjet all over the world with a pretty bad FMS and a garmin 496
side note: I saved at least a grand by making my own lighting system.
reference: http://www.reiffpreheat.com/RV4.htm
I replicated his effort but cut mirrored plexi for the inside of the light compartment for better reflectivity. Cost be about $200 and will blow a whelen system off the ramp!
This is why I like experimental aviation.....
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RV-7 Flying
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04-18-2011, 07:10 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Leesburg, va
Posts: 213
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I stopped adding it up
I guess that might come back to bite me come tax time, but I did not want to have a record of the cost that my wife could point to anytime she wanted something.. destroy all evidence :-)
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06-09-2011, 06:22 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Akron, IN
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaRomeo
About 6 years ago Bob Brashear told me he built his day VFR RV-6 for $28,000. He rebuilt the engine and painted it all himself.
B,
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No Way! The kit new cost at least $20K....unless he purchased the kit used at an auction for nothing?
Built my RV-7A w/ basic IFR panel (VOR, LOC, GS) for $69k.
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06-09-2011, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagleo6
No Way! The kit new cost at least $20K....unless he purchased the kit used at an auction for nothing?
Built my RV-7A w/ basic IFR panel (VOR, LOC, GS) for $69k.
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Doug is not fibbing.
You have to keep in mind that Bob was one of the early RV-6 builders, and when the complete kit first became available (late 1988) you could buy the whole thing for just under $7000.
Times (and prices), they are a chaaaaaangen.........
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06-10-2011, 03:16 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 212
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$28 k
I first flew my -4 for the same amount of money I bought a used government motors suburban. I started it in 1987, bought the kits as I went, a used engine for $2700, a basic VFR panel, and finished in 2002. Then after 200 hours I ovehauled the engine, $9000. Then came a Trutrack autopilot, and then came an AFS panel, then came a real navcom... I now have about $50k in it. And it weighs less now than when if first flew.
Blue skies.
__________________
Brent Travis
N999BT
Flying
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06-10-2011, 04:34 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
Posts: 295
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cropdusterdave
I fly a Learjet all over the world with a pretty bad FMS and a garmin 496
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UNS-1M? I'm hoping to keep my project entirely within a reasonable budget, and can't help but notice that all of the spaceship panels we see here really don't add much to the actual capability of the plane.
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Ryan Winslow
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06-11-2011, 03:48 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sweden, 67" North
Posts: 68
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1989 When my dads RV-4 was completly done, he had spent 120 000 Swedish Kronor, its around 15 000$ But he was very dissapointed because the exchange rate on Dollars almost doubled from he ordered it untill he got the kit to the port in Sweden and had to pay for it  But as said earlier, that was back in the days when the kit price was a bit lower
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...9405414&type=1
__________________
Dennis Isaksson
G?llivare, Sweden
Grew up with an RV-4, SE-XIO
Now: RV-8, Showplanes Fastback. #83218 Under construction, SE-XXO
Engine and avionic installation in progress
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06-11-2011, 08:06 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bartow, Florida
Posts: 204
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cheap RV-3
My dad and I started our -3 in 1988, total kit price $5,300.00.  Bought an old Tri-pacer for $3,500.00, used engine and some of the instruments, re-sold the rest for $3,000.00.  Had engine re-built by airboat guy, $1,500.00.  (before your cringe, he's also a pilot, and today that same engine has compressions in the mid 70's).  By the time rdadios and instruments were added, the toal came to $10,250.00, flying. Still flys today, check out June 2006 Sport Avaition. Can you build cheap?, Yes you can, also you can load them up with all the latest and greatest. However I am like my father, When my -4 fly later this year, It will be paid for, and the total cost should be about $24,000.00 
__________________
Taz
Mike Bauer
Technical Counselor
EAA 229 President
RV-3 flying
RV-4 building
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06-11-2011, 03:14 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 187
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This would have to be one of the most interesting threads I've read, and now it's been around a while the naysayers seem to have given up on it so all the posts are useful. I'm working on the empennage on my 6, but have the wing and fuselage kit too, including all tools jigs etc so I'm under no illusion that there's plenty of expense to come, but not much more in the short term. So far I've spent under $13k(NZ), at the moment that's around $10k(US), normally it'd be about $7k(US) but the US/NZ exchange rate is unusually strong(or is that weak?). All kits bought more or less unstarted from original buyers, and quite a bit spent on freighting stuff to New Zealand.
Keep up the posts, it's great reading.
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