RV-12 Questions

[RomeoFox]

Hi Everyone,

I appreciate the time everyone took to read my post and to reply! Very interesting assortment of information and my main takeaways are:

• Find an RV-12 and try it
• Read through the many builder's logs to get a good idea of the process
• Really define the type of flying you intend to do with the plane and pick one based on that - I tend to stick around the patch, but that's mainly because of relying on rentals. Probably would be different if I had my own machine

Finding a nearby RV-12 might be challenging. True, Portland is about a 5 hour drive from here, so I'll work toward that. Maybe try the RV-9 at the same time...

I've been reading some builder's logs and I noted a couple of random points:

• On Tony Tessitore's log, in a couple of photos he appears to be using a pneumatic tool of some kind for riveting
• Mr. Tessitore also seems to have primed, if not painted the interior of his RV with spray bombs. I didn't know you could do that, but it would sure save building a tent to do it!
• I sure admire the discipline it must take to pause when you are right in the middle of an assembly operation and photograph it for the log. So many of the logs seem to have gotten this down to an art. I'm genuinely impressed
• These logs are a little deceptive to a noob like me in the sense that you get to see several months progress in the space of an hour's reading. Could give a false sense of the actual amount of time to complete the build
• It looks like a ton of fun

@Jack Tyler and @Bill H
Thanks for those links, very helpful.

On the schmetterling aviation site there are links to EAA instructional videos which are really great to see. Takes a huge load off my mind to know they exist

In general it sounds like canopy height won't be a problem - something to assess when I eventually find one to sit in.

@pietermk - The Tecnam was on my list of planes to try too. My main problem with the Advanced Ultralights, as they are called here in Canada, is that they are... ultralights. I like the '12 because it can be built under Canada's Amateur Built category and time flown in it can count towards some kind of rating. The SportStar I've been flying was also a Rotax-powered AULA. I never had a complaint with the engine except the spectrum of sound it generated was far enough outside my noise-cancelling Lightspeeds that they didn't dampen the sound as much as they do in, say, a Cessna.

I'm pleased to hear that nobody has outright said my limited space would be a showstopper. Quite to the contrary, in fact. I hadn't realized the fuse comes in so many pieces. I'm sure I could even build parts of it in my basement. I don't think I could do the final assembly at home, though.

Thanks again everyone - the information I got exceeded my expectations. I hope I'll be able to pay it forward

Regards

RF

[Bill_H]

I highly, highly recommend the tool kit from Cleaveland. Excellent choices and service. You WILL need a pneumatic rivet puller - that is what you see in some of Tony's and my pics (it's red). I did not need a pneumatic squeezer, some like it. You WILL need a small (9" bench size is fine) bandsaw with a metal cutting blade. You WILL need a bench grinder with scotchbrite wheel. There are other posts here about recommended tools.

[pietermk]

Originally Posted by RomeoFox

Hi Everyone,

@pietermk - The Tecnam was on my list of planes to try too. My main problem with the Advanced Ultralights, as they are called here in Canada, is that they are... ultralights.

RF

The tecnams are not ultralights, the are certified aircraft. have been flying since early 1990's. they have a crash case around the cockpit like in race cars. very safe planes

Peter

[RomeoFox]

Originally Posted by pietermk

The tecnams are not ultralights, the are certified aircraft. have been flying since early 1990's. they have a crash case around the cockpit like in race cars. very safe planes

Peter

Hi Peter,

Sorry, you are right. It's a statutory designation up here in the Cold Country; the little Evektor I was flying is every bit as much a plane (maybe more) as a C-152, but it's still considered an Ultralight here. Worse, according to my read on the regulations in Canada, if the manufacturer were ever to go out of business, there's a strong likelihood that your aircraft would become grounded - r possibly, it would have to be flown in the Basic Ultralight category.

RF

[sandpiper]

Quote - "The SportStar I've been flying was also a Rotax-powered AULA. I never had a complaint with the engine except the spectrum of sound it generated was far enough outside my noise-cancelling Lightspeeds that they didn't dampen the sound as much as they do in, say, a Cessna."

RF - Try a different headset. My Bose Aviation X headset that worked fine in many GA piston aircraft (except DHC-2 & C-185 with take offf power) didn't work well in my Rotax powered CT. A couple of years ago I went with Telex Stratus 50D's and like them alot. Since then other manufacturers have probably come up with even better alternatives.

In the end it usually comes down to personal preferences.