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09-18-2013, 07:43 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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Empty weight on my 6 is 999lb. VFR steam gauges and a D10A, leather seats, no paint.
Don't know what it cost to build, but I paid more than 30K for it... :P
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Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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09-18-2013, 07:53 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: CAD
Posts: 249
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when i read this the first thing i think about is safety. as long as one does their do diligence in obtaining good used parts, awesome! long will be forgotten of that good deal when something stops working and all you think about is surviving. keep it light and safe!
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RV9.... Tail done. Inspection done! Wings pre-cover MDRA inspection done. Closing them up now. Fuse underway.
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09-18-2013, 09:26 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 551
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An easy answer
I think this discussion is just about as silly as the nose vs. tailwheel argument. The real beauty of an EAB is the freedom to make it what we want. We get to define what "fun" is.
My RV4 is 940 lbs empty weight. I want it light and fast. I want to fly upside down at will and the flight has been no "fun" for me unless there is 3 Gs on the G-meter when I land (on my GRASS strip). The main "instrument" in my panel is an Ipad.
So you can see, I have my idea of what is fun, but I certainly wouldn't want to dictate that to anyone else, or taunt any builder into light and cheap. Heck, I've even been told that your EAB doesn't have to be a Van's aircraft to be fun.
Long live EAB!!
Jim
N444JT
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09-18-2013, 09:40 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 710
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I'm not sure we need to be encouraging folks to build RVs for under $30K. While many could do so without compromising safety, I have great concern for those who would cut corners and end up with a dangerous aircraft.
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09-18-2013, 09:49 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: orlando
Posts: 187
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lighten up (get it)
I really doubt that this thread is going to cause anyone to do anything differently than they have already done or are planning on doing in the future! It was a fun topic that I'm enjoying. Always someone crashing the party.
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Bill Whidden
52FA email for permission to land 
Harmon Rocket 11 Flying
Super Explorer Flying
bwhidden@totallymod.com
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09-18-2013, 10:02 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
Posts: 747
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The trend
I think the question asked by the OP was based upon the fact that many of the homebuilts being built today are equiped with the latest, greatest expensive equipment, engines and props.
The only reason I have ever shared my goals is to encourage builders that do not have the resources to build a 100K airplane. I contend that building and owning can still be a relatively affordable sport.
I also notice some that some of the expensive airplanes are completed but then offered for sale a year or two later. I can't help but wonder if some of those people could have kept their airplanes if they had less money tied up in the finished product.
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Robert Williams
Lee's Summit, MO
RV-8 - Empennage & Wings Done
Working on Fuse
O-360-A1A
1946 Cessna 120
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09-18-2013, 11:40 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
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I finished my 6A last year. The weight was 1,018 lbs, and I had about $35,000 in it. Got a good used 0-320 for $7,000 that needed some top end work and accessories. Bought a fixed pitched Sensenich. Have not painted it. Had about $8,000 in the panel for Phase 1. It is night VFR. The kit prices were lower in the 1990's when I started, but some things are cheaper. I think you could do it for $40K today.
One of the nice things about building is that you can pay as you go and not have to borrow the money. I didn't count the money I spent on a shop, or, the improvements to the plane once I started flying. For me it was all worth it. Building was fun... flying is great! John
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09-18-2013, 12:07 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,412
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I've done everything I could to keep the weight down, consistent with strength and safety. My RV-8 weighed about 1100lbs with steam gauges plus a Dynon D-10a.
I have a bare interior with Oregon Aero seats, polished aluminum, and a wood prop.
My goal was $35,000, but I honestly lost count, it's probably over $40,000.
I may end up painting it, the sun's reflection off the wing can be a real distraction!
I think it would be pretty difficult to build an RV-7 or RV-8 under 1,000#.
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Scott Emery
http://gallery.eaa326.org/v/members/semery/
EAA 668340, chapter 326 & IAC chapter 67
RV-8 N89SE first flight 12/26/2013
Yak55M, and the wife has an RV-4
There is nothing-absolute nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing around with Aeroplanes
(with apologies to Ratty)
2019
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09-18-2013, 12:23 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Maple Grove, MN
Posts: 2,333
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In 2001 I finished my plane. If I leave out the engine, prop and instrument panel, it came in at just under $30k. I did all the work, including painting, meaning nothing hired out. Every receipt was kept and added up. The basic long build kit was something like $15k, and the misc. stuff was somewhere near $14k. One would have to get a lot of free stuff to build one for under $30k, or use creative accounting 
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Alex Peterson
RV6A N66AP 1700+ hours
KADC, Wadena, MN
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09-18-2013, 12:27 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 110
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If I wanted under 1k pounds and under $30k I would've built a Sonex!
All kidding aside, I'm building my -7 to be a (hopefully) very capable IFR cross-country machine that I can use for occasional acro. Since I love technology, used steam gauges aren't going to cut it for me. I'm guessing I could get close to $30k with all the fun stuff I'd love to put in the panel!
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RV-7 builder
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