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09-17-2012, 11:39 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Moscow, Russia
Posts: 44
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Empty weight of RV-9A
I've weighed my completed and painted RV-9A. Its empty weight is 1190 lbs. I've been quite unpleasantly surprised. So, the maximum empty weight stated by Van's is 1075 lbs. Please, share by your experience with the weight of RV-9A.

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Alexander Kochetov
RV-9A
Flying
Last edited by Alex_K : 09-17-2012 at 11:47 AM.
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09-17-2012, 11:45 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mahomet, Illinois
Posts: 2,195
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Just two weeks ago my 9A weighed in at 1104 - unpainted but including unusable fuel. (the latter admittedly isn't much ... < 1/2 lb or so)
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Terry Ruprecht
RV-9A Tip-up; IO-320 D2A
S. James cowl/plenum
(Dues paid thru Nov '18)
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09-17-2012, 12:03 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Port Orange, FL
Posts: 1,020
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Yes, Van's published empty weight is 1028 lb - 1075 lb. I assume it is the range when you build using the options they suggested. With mods, interior, paint you may add different amount of weight to it.
My 9A has two 860 batteries, FP prop, interior, and paint. It weights 1155 lb. You are not much more than mine.
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Ted Chang, VAF #681
RV-9A #91048, flying since 8/2006. 2,050 hrs.
2018 Due paid
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09-17-2012, 12:08 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tuttle, Oklahoma
Posts: 2,563
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My 9A came in ALL UP with paint and full Classic Aero interior and zero fuel at 1107. I also have the ECI IO-340 but do not have the constant speed prop. I would say the constant speed prop and all its components are contributing substantially to your increased empty weight. Also I note your picture does not show your main gear wheel pants. They should be installed and included in your calculation. They will add some weight to your final number. Another note, make sure you have your canopy closed ( slider or tip-up) in the flight position. Having the canopy open would not necessarily alter your overall weight numbers but it can drastically skew your weight you would see on the nose gear and ultimately affect your CG data. Ok, go ahead, ask me how I know.  Another observation, it looks as if you have cowl plugs in place for the air intake and possibly in the air inlets behind the prop. I am sure these do not weigh much but, none the less, should not be in place when you weigh the plane. After all you do not fly with them so make sure they, along with any other items you would not be flying with, are not on the airplane ( i.e. gust locks, etc.)
Last edited by RVbySDI : 09-17-2012 at 12:13 PM.
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09-17-2012, 12:41 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVbySDI
Another observation, it looks as if you have cowl plugs in place for the air intake and possibly in the air inlets behind the prop. I am sure these do not weigh much but, none the less, should not be in place when you weigh the plane. After all you do not fly with them so make sure they, along with any other items you would not be flying with, are not on the airplane (i.e. gust locks, etc.)
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I fly with mine - where do you put yours? I pull mine on preflight and throw them in the baggage compartment.
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Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid 
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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09-17-2012, 12:46 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,452
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Weight
Mine, fully painted, basic interior with seat and carpets, no side panels, very light composite panel (dynon glass, with ipad, av80r and v10 comm), catto prop was exactly 1100lbs all done. I cant see how anyone can build it lighter than I did really.
Now mine is true weight with fire extinguisher, belts etc etc all in the plane as it would be for flight. No cheating.
I have heard rumour of people saying they are 1050 etc...simply dont believe it.
On the other hand, many builders are so worried about a pound here or there would be great...simply eating a little less would be the easiest way to lower the gross take off weight! 
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Rick Woodall C-GSTT "ghost"
9a -TMX io-320, catto three blade, dual dynon hdx with a/p. 900+ hrs in 8 yrs flying.
Flew to Osh 11,12,15,17,19. SNF 2013. West to Cali /Washington/Vancouver/crossed the Rockies north to Red Deer east to Moosonee and over to maritimes. South to Jekyll Isl, cedar key, and Key West etc. 6 trips and 17 islands of the Bahamas. Flown turtles and dogs for Pilots n Paws too. Love our Rv's
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09-17-2012, 12:53 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tuttle, Oklahoma
Posts: 2,563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by airguy
I fly with mine - where do you put yours? I pull mine on preflight and throw them in the baggage compartment.
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Well, I knew I should have gone into more detail about the observation. Yes indeed they would be in the baggage area so just like my comment about the position of the canopy being open or closed, this will affect the CG calculations more so than the overall total weight. Additionally, as I suggested in my original post, these should not weigh very much anyway so not too sure how vital the difference would be.
Having said all of that, I still believe it better to not weigh the airplane with cowl plugs in the cowl openings. Put them in the baggage area if need be and weigh the airplane then. The weight & balance measurements should be made in the flight configuration not in the hangar storage configuration.
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09-17-2012, 01:43 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mahomet, Illinois
Posts: 2,195
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickWoodall
...On the other hand, many builders are so worried about a pound here or there would be great...simply eating a little less would be the easiest way to lower the gross take off weight! 
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Rick really hit the nail on the head when it comes to discussion of TRULY gross weight. 
__________________
Terry Ruprecht
RV-9A Tip-up; IO-320 D2A
S. James cowl/plenum
(Dues paid thru Nov '18)
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09-17-2012, 02:40 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Posts: 602
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Mine was 1084 lbs. Have IO-320, fixed pitch, no paint, fairly full electronic panel and probably a couple pounds too much of Bondo and flox. Heavily applied paint can add a whole bunch of weight. I was hardly fanatical with weight control, but still surprised that, unpainted, I came in higher than the painted prototype.
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Jeff Rosson
Repeat Offender
RV14 - Working on Empennage/Tail Cone
RV9A - Completed! First flight on July 18, 2012!
Based at Merritt Island, FL (KCOI)
VAF Number: 1170
----
Star Trek Quote: "Logically, it could work. Also, logically, there are a hundred variables, any one of which could put us in a worse position than we're in now." Mr. Spock in Return to Tomorrow
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09-17-2012, 03:11 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Geneva, AL
Posts: 491
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Mine is 1068# with an O-320 and a Catto prop, unpainted. Panel is dual dynon's D-100 and EMS-120, SL-30 and GTX-327. Flightline complete interior and crow belts.
I have a little mod to the baggage bulkhead to accomodate golf clubs. Other than that, it's standard.
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Paul Rose
RV-9A 91300
N417PR
SERFI 2013 Awards
Inspection Complete!!! 7/7/12
First Flight 7/22/12
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