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  #1  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:23 PM
PilotAlan PilotAlan is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 7
Default XC question re tandem cockpits.

Hi all,
So, the wife wants something faster. This Thanksgiving trip to FL was awesome, but she is tired of 122 knots.

We are thinking of an RV8, but I haven't been able to find info online on flying long XCs, and cockpit management.
Where do you put water bottles, snacks, etc? With her in the back, where can she put her book, etc?
With a backseat or accessible baggage compartment, you stow stuff behind. What do you do in an RV8?

Thanks for the feedback. I'm new here. Name's Alan, I'm on the blue board with the same name.
Been flying for 25 years, 600 hrs, owned a Cherokee 180 for the last 6 years.
In the next year I'll be buying either a 6, 7, or 8.
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  #2  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:30 PM
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bird bird is offline
 
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Location: lake charles, La.
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Well the rear seat in an 8 is roomy, side pockets can be installed from the front to the back on each side and also storage on the back of the front seat can have storage. There is a front storage for things not needed during flight as well as aft storage. Oh an welcome to VAF!

Bird
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rv8 entire airframe at airport now, painting done, intersection and gear upper and lower fairings done, maybe order engine around first of year or before the next rate increase.
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  #3  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:33 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Welcome Alan.

(I must admit I have no idea what the "Blue Board" is.)

You have no baggage access in the -8. As for water bottles, books, etc., you can build in (or add) a cup holder for them.

Many -8 pilots will say their SO's really like the extra room in back.

However, my SO likes sitting next to me and having access to the baggage compartment.

I have to admit it is nice to keep a cooler back there and access lunch during long X/C flights.

Unless you are set on doing acrobatics, you might want to look at the -9. It is more of an X/C machine than the -6, 7, or 8; although, they do make great traveling machines as well. The only thing you give up with the -9 is the ability to do acro. Speed, climb, etc. is virtually identical.

Best of luck with your selection.
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  #4  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:36 PM
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Toobuilder Toobuilder is offline
 
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My wife insists on keeping an incredible amount of stuff in a small backpack that she somehow finds room for. Food, water, the iPad, etc. you will likely learn to manage with whatever room you have. She isn't going to make a submarine sandwich back there, but the -8 is surprisingly roomy with many side pockets, foot wells, and other nooks and crannies.
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  #5  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:43 PM
PilotAlan PilotAlan is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Denver
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bird View Post
Well the rear seat in an 8 is roomy, side pockets can be installed from the front to the back on each side and also storage on the back of the front seat can have storage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
(I must admit I have no idea what the "Blue Board" is.)
You have no baggage access in the -8. As for water bottles, books, etc., you can build in (or add) a cup holder for them.

Unless you are set on doing acrobatics, you might want to look at the -9. It is more of an X/C machine than the -6, 7, or 8; although, they do make great traveling machines as well. The only thing you give up with the -9 is the ability to do acro.
Thanks!
My wife and I are both broad-shouldered. I have a 52 inch chest. A Cherokee is marginal, even with her seat all the way back to offset us a little. So a 6,7, or 9 would be sub-optimal (although much shorter trip times would make up for some of it).

As far as the acro, like most of us, 75% of my flight time is solo.  So being able to do light acro would be an outstanding bonus that I'd rather not give up.

Thanks for the help,
BTW, the blue board is Pilots of America message board.
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  #6  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:46 PM
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Mike S Mike S is online now
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Default Welcome to VAF!

Quote:
Originally Posted by PilotAlan View Post
Hi all, ----------
I'm new here. Name's Alan,
Alan, to the good ship VAF.

I suggest you find a way to get your wife a ride in an 8, and a 7/9. Or, for the ultimate in comfort, a 10

Then let her decide which one to purchase.
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Last edited by Mike S : 12-09-2013 at 09:48 PM.
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  #7  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:49 PM
PilotAlan PilotAlan is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Denver
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toobuilder View Post
My wife insists on keeping an incredible amount of stuff in a small backpack that she somehow finds room for. Food, water, the iPad, etc. you will likely learn to manage with whatever room you have
Great! Not having experience, I was concerned with a backpack or similar impinging on stick movement. Looking at photos, it appears tighter than it now seems.

When flying solo XC, where do you stow the stuff that the rest of us throw on the empty passenger seat?
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  #8  
Old 12-09-2013, 09:54 PM
PilotAlan PilotAlan is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Denver
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike S View Post
I suggest you find a way to get your wife a ride in an 8, and a 7/9.
Then let her decide which one to purchase.
Always good advice. We've been married 15 years, so I've learned a few lessons.
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  #9  
Old 12-09-2013, 10:47 PM
xblueh2o xblueh2o is offline
 
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Location: SF East Bay
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If you are wide shouldered the 6,7,9 most likely won't work for you. Take a look at the 14, or the 10 if you think you might want 4 seats.
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  #10  
Old 12-09-2013, 10:49 PM
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skylor skylor is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 882
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PilotAlan View Post
Hi all,
So, the wife wants something faster. This Thanksgiving trip to FL was awesome, but she is tired of 122 knots.

We are thinking of an RV8, but I haven't been able to find info online on flying long XCs, and cockpit management.
Where do you put water bottles, snacks, etc? With her in the back, where can she put her book, etc?
With a backseat or accessible baggage compartment, you stow stuff behind. What do you do in an RV8?

Thanks for the feedback. I'm new here. Name's Alan, I'm on the blue board with the same name.
Been flying for 25 years, 600 hrs, owned a Cherokee 180 for the last 6 years.
In the next year I'll be buying either a 6, 7, or 8.
In my -8 I keep water bottles, pens, charts, etc on top of a couple of panels that are between the wing spar and the gear towers. They seem to stay there just fine. I also occasionally store things on the forward cockpit floor just ahead of the spar, but I have to loosen my shoulder straps a bit to reach those. My SO places a descent sized hand bag between the rear stick and the front seat-back. There is enough room there that it doesn't impinge on the stick movement. There is also a little room between the rear seat cushions and the rear cockpit cover panels to wedge water bottles, books, etc.

So far, this has worked well for cross countries, but our longest legs to date have only been a little over 2:15 flight time.

Skylor
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