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05-03-2012, 08:03 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
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I think Dan and Bob have described the IFR flying with RV7 perfectly. That has been my experience pretty much. I hand fly the practice approaches but utilize the A/P in IMC conditions. The A/P coupled to my GRT EIFS (I have TT) preforms flawlessly and I can comfortably take it down to the minimum and each time I am perfectly lined up with the center line.
__________________
Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
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05-03-2012, 08:06 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 310
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Does the cruising speed van quotes for the 9 with the O320 require a cs prop? Or can you just use a cruise prop?
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05-03-2012, 08:49 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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Quote:
Originally Posted by propsync
Does the cruising speed van quotes for the 9 with the O320 require a cs prop? Or can you just use a cruise prop?
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The CS prop allows both better climb rates and cruise speeds. With a FP prop you select one prop that fits your mission. You can get a FP prop that cruises faster than the CS or climbs faster but not both.
With a climb prop, the O-320 RV-9(A) will still climb better than your C-177 and go a lot faster.
BTW, you can read about the -9's peformance on the CAFE Foundation website.
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
Last edited by N941WR : 05-03-2012 at 08:54 PM.
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05-04-2012, 06:33 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 231
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Why do people suddenly think 9's are slow? With 3 blade Catto mine easily went 1800+ fpm in climb and I cruised anywhere in the 155-165 ktas range depending on how much fuel I wanted to burn. O-320 fixed pitch prop. Power the same, a 7 is a tad faster and the 9 climbs a tad better from my experience. They are not much different in those regards. The fuselage is the same and like Bill said you really only really need a 7 if you fly aerobatics. For full disclosure mine had dual electronic ignition and 9:1 pistons which Craig Catto said should be good for 165-170 horse and the prop was pitched for that. It could easily meet or exceed all of Van's numbers from his site. Flat out down low I did four way speed runs at 200 mph.
Van's employees have said many times the 9 is the first to get picked going to Oshkosh and Sun n Fun. Might make you think when they have the option of either one and are not paying the gas bill they still choose that one. Must not be too slow compared to the others.
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05-04-2012, 08:58 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Great airplane.
Scott's dead on!
I've flown a bunch of different -9's..plain vanilla VFR up to dual GRT's and all the bells and whistles for serious IFR flight, and they're simply a joy!
Outrun that Cardinal by a huge amount! Besides, fly a -9 for a few hours and you'll be throwin' rocks at that Cessna
I had a -6A for 5 years and 500+ hours and often hand-flew it IFR or relaxed and let the TruTrak autopilot do a better job
Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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05-04-2012, 11:13 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
Posts: 879
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AP for IFR
Others have mentioned autopilots. I take it one step further for IFR.
I consider an autopilot an absolute must for IMC. Just flying the airplane is no big deal. But when you toss in all the other IFR duties, hand flying an RV is a handful, due to the great maneuverabilty we value so much 
__________________
Dennis Glaeser CFII
Rochester Hills, MI
RV-7A - Eggenfellner H6, GRT Sport ES, EIS4000, 300XL, SL30, TT Gemini, PMA6000, AK950L, GT320,
uAvionixEcho ADSB in/out with GRT Safe Fly GPS
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05-04-2012, 05:25 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 39
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Do the Van's planes have an autopilot?
I've heard the oft cited anecdote that the Van's staff prefer the 9 when they travel to shows. I have read that Van believes in building simple planes. Does anybody know if either the 7 and 9 they they have to choose from is equipped with an autopilot. It seems that a lot of this ongoing discussion assumes that the 9 is a little easier to fly cross country if it is being hand flown, and that the preference for the 9 might be influenced by whether the plane autopilot equipped?
I am still vacillating between the two, which is why I am interested in this data point.
__________________
Joe Pringle
Paid =VAF= dues through 2013
First Solo June 5, 2012. Plugging away on my Private license.
RV 7 Preview Plans in Hand (although I'm strongly considering the 14)
Sport Air Sheet Metal Workshop Completed
RV tools acquired. Practice airfoil completed.
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05-04-2012, 07:11 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 231
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{Referring to the Van's Aircraft airplanes...Mod-DH}7a, 9a, and 10 all have autopilots. Or did last I saw them.
Last edited by rv7boy : 05-08-2012 at 05:49 PM.
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05-04-2012, 07:56 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SlowJoe
I've heard the oft cited anecdote that the Van's staff prefer the 9 when they travel to shows. I have read that Van believes in building simple planes. Does anybody know if either the 7 and 9 they they have to choose from is equipped with an autopilot. It seems that a lot of this ongoing discussion assumes that the 9 is a little easier to fly cross country if it is being hand flown, and that the preference for the 9 might be influenced by whether the plane autopilot equipped?
I am still vacillating between the two, which is why I am interested in this data point.
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I flew my -9 for the first 150 hours without an AP. While it is more stable than the -7, it is no 172 or PA-28 by any stretch.
Once I installed the AP I found it gave me more time to scan for traffic, eat a snack, or do whatever.
Where I really liked it was flying over the top of controlled airspace because I no longer had to worry about dropping down into one.
I still hand fly the plane on local flights and some longer ones but I like the option of turning it on and letting it at Mr. Garmin take me to my destination.
Oh, and I'm VFR only.
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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05-04-2012, 08:21 PM
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Forum Peruser
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austinville, Alabama
Posts: 2,458
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Autopilot is an option
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott DellAngelo
7a, 9a, and 10 all have autopilots. Or did last I saw them.
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Only if the builder or owner installed one. 
__________________
Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
KDCU Pryor Field
Pilots'n Paws Pilot
N79599/ADS-B In and Out...and I like it!
?Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;
it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
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