RV-12 as an E-AB & LSA

[Terrybrd]

I am building a RV-12 and fly with my friend that has the Sonex Waix and there is a big difference in the cockpits.
The Sonex is a lot more cramped and harder to get in and out of.
It flies good but I like the RV better.
Getting into the RV is a lot easier and you step from the wing right onto the floor. The Sonex you have to step on the seat and then slide into position and trying to get out can be a lot harder as we get older.
You have more room on the panel to install the avionics and skyview on the RV-12 also.
Like other have said--- see if you can sit in each one and see what you think.
If you can wait and can get to Sun-n-Fun in April you can probably check them all out.

[Bill_H]

I speak as a very meticulous mechanical engineer - but one who had never squeezed a rivet before getting the RV-12 kit. (I did make furniture though.) Build time 950 hours. Excellent result, see photos. A "quick build" RV-12 is almost an oxymoron!

The other posters are right - The time is in the Fiberglas and things like the canopy. I mean, me and one other guy skinned an entire wing in a short afternoon! Longerons are not difficult, search this forum for the word THWACK.

See pics of my RV12 going together here. Did essentially the entire thing by myself. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=d038dc92ef

[engineerofsorts]

I didn't keep an accurate track of how many build hours it took on my -12, I was in no great hurry, and being fully employed, took about three years to complete. That being said, actual assembly can go rather quickly with two people attacking the job. My oldest son was available one Saturday. We spent the morning hours completing some of the prep (primarily deburring) of wing parts, and then started about an eight-hour marathon session getting about 80% of one of the wings built, as seen in the attached time lapse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAcrO8Hf51U

Alternate engine installation could just about guarantee you significant additional build time--I found the RV-12/Rotax engine installation to be straightforward and a lot of fun.

[Texas Flyer]

I often see RV-12's flying, plus lots of other RV's, but I almost never see a Sonex flying. Wonder why?
In my opinion, if you can afford the RV-12, it is a much better value.
Plus, two big tall & wide pilots fit in the RV-12 and not the Sonex.
It appears people like building the Sonex, but don't fly them much.
I've flown in a couple of RV-12's. An RV-12 owner I know is 6'3" and his son 6'5"... big guys. They have flown from Dallas to Oshkosh together.
My friend has a nice Sonex that mostly sits in his hangar & the two of us don't fit in his Sonex. He is getting ready to sell it.

[rmartingt]

Originally Posted by Texas Flyer

I often see RV-12's flying, plus lots of other RV's, but I almost never see a Sonex flying. Wonder why?...
It appears people like building the Sonex, but don't fly them much.

Some guesses...
-Sonex hasn't been around as long as Van's; their first customer airplane flew in 2000. They just passed the 500 completions mark last year.
-Early Sonex-family kits are less advanced than we're used to with recent RVs (think RV-4/6 level), and there are many scratchbuilders (meaning fewer and/or longer completions).
-As many of us find out after completing RVs, the outflow of money doesn't stop. The operating costs for a Sonex vs. an RV aren't actually that different; the fuel burn's a little lower and engine maintenance (particularly on the VW-powered aircraft) won't run to the Lycoming level, but the insurance, hangar, other airframe maintenance, etc. are probably not much different. I suspect this bites people whose overriding consideration in choosing a Sonex is cost--they were able to scrape together the funds to build the airplane but they can't afford to operate it.