VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Model Specific > RV-7/7A
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-04-2015, 06:39 PM
thoma015 thoma015 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 114
Default What else did you consider

Hello everyone, I have been lurking for a while and finally decided to post. Depending on the outcome of some news I am set to hear about in 2 weeks, i could start my first build. So I am in the very (pre) early stages of this, but I wanted to get your insight. What other home built airplanes did you consider to fulfill the mission you get with the 7 (other than other vans models)? I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and want to thank you in advanced for all the help.
__________________
-Hawk

Last edited by thoma015 : 04-04-2015 at 07:10 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-04-2015, 06:52 PM
scrollF4's Avatar
scrollF4 scrollF4 is offline
Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
Default

Hi Hawk,
First off (on Mike Starkey's behalf), welcome to the good ship VAF.

I started wanting to build a Titan T-51...still do. However, I want my bride to fly with me, and she does NOT want to fly in the back seat of anything. She wants to sit beside me.

I then looked at the RV-7 and the Mustang II. I actually like the looks of the Mustang II more, particularly the wing's shape. Performance is close. However, I reasoned that I should pick an aircraft kit whose chances of successful completion are highest. Like all Van's kits, the RV-7 construction is well proven and, in my case, achievable. In addition, RV's have huge amounts of support. Therefore, I selected the RV.

The more I build, the more I've come to truly love this design, particularly with the options I selected (tipper, tricycle, etc). I believe when we finally get "Kelli Girl" airborne on our future XC flights, we'll find that traveling in the RV is more comfortable than the Mustang II.

On a side note, I thought briefly about a Glassair. Fiberglass kicks my butt, so I took less time thinking about it than it took to type this paragraph.

Hope that helps.
__________________
Scroll

Sid "Scroll" Mayeux, Col, USAF (ret)
52F NW Regional/Aero Valley Airport, Roanoke TX (home of DR's Van Cave)
"KELLI GIRL" N260KM RV-7A tipper
Catch her on YouTube's "Because I Fly!" channel

Exemption waived.
Proud and grateful 2020 -=VAF=- Contributor
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-04-2015, 07:03 PM
wirejock's Avatar
wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
Default Welcome

Welcome Hawk
Like Scroll said...
Pre-punched & proven with lots of builder support= greatest possibility of success.
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-04-2015, 08:56 PM
Aero_Octaveus Aero_Octaveus is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 216
Default Reasearch!!

The big factor for me was that I only can have one plane (for now), so it had to be one that could be good at everything. Short trips, Long trips, aerobatics, etc... I had my eye on the glassair ii, iii and the Vans.

Then I had to factor in build method. Aluminum suited my build situation much better. I only had short blocks of time (sometimes only an hour a night) and I wanted to work in my garage for as much as I could. Fiberglass often requires you to commit a few more hours in a given work period. I also wanted a splashy paint job. So that ruled out fiberglass (Fiberglass planes can only be primarily white)

I also liked the thought of Aluminum. There is just something to it that I was attracted to. I think it is the material of the golden age of flying and I wanted to experience what those plane builders where doing. So then Vans was it for me.

I looked at all the other models, and for me I settled on side by side just because I like the idea of having someone sit beside me on long flights. (Although tandem models are a bit faster...darn).

Had I not be set on a side by side or pre-punched, I might have looked into a Harmon Rocket II (Which is a modification of a Van's Kit) ....Wow that plane gives me goosebumps!!!!

Inline with Wirejocks comments about great support...The 7 is very popular so they is a ton of build logs and aftermarket parts, engine choices, props, etc. for the plane which is always a bonus!!

The toughest decision for me was either the 7 or the 7A. I'm still agonizing if I made the right choice.
__________________
Garet Hess - Edmonton, AB
RV-7A - Emp and Wings Done. Working on fuse

http://garetsrv.blogspot.ca/
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-05-2015, 06:44 AM
rzbill's Avatar
rzbill rzbill is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,692
Default

My selection process lasted 30+ years. Dad wanted a T-18. When Polen's Mustang was on the cover, I wanted one of those. The six cylinder Glasairs stole my heart in the 80's but I could not afford one so I came really close to ordering a Q-200 kit. Life changed, flying on hold, raised kids. Got back into flying and was flipping a coin between a Cozy and an RV. I wanted a glass bird but my shop was a full basement in the northeast. I knew my wife would not like the epoxy fumes in the winter, plus all the sanding dust. So..metal it was and is.
__________________
Bill Pendergrass
ME/AE '82
RV-7A: Flying since April 15, 2012. 850 hrs
YIO-360-M1B, mags, CS, GRT EX and WS H1s & A/P, Navworx
Unpainted, polished....kinda'... Eyeballin' vinyl really hard.
Yeah. The boss got a Silhouette Cameo 4 Xmas 2019.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-05-2015, 06:57 AM
Joker Joker is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 56
Default

It might also be helpful to look at resale values of various planes. Not that you build with the intent of selling, but I think it's a pretty fair measure of a plane's value.
__________________
Bud Newhouse
RV8
Lunken Airport
Cincinnati
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-05-2015, 07:14 AM
DaleB's Avatar
DaleB DaleB is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
Default

I looked at the Velocity. They're pretty cool, but they seem to need more (and better) runway than I thought I'd have everywhere I wanted to fly. I didn't like the landing speed/distance or climb performance as much as the RV. I also am not a big fiberglass fan, and the baggage space seemed to be very limited.

I looked at the Glasair Sportsman. I REALLY like the 1000# useful load, and I might even be willing to give up the cruise speed to get it. But honestly I like the look of a low wing airplane better... and they are certainly not cheap to build. Cavernous area for packing bags though. If I couldn't have an RV it would probably be my second choice.

More recently, when I was thinking of going LSA, I looked at the Bearcat LSA. The kit offered is kind of bare bones - buy the kit, then figure out all the hardware and parts you need that you don't have, then go buy all that, rinse, repeat.

Nothing that I looked at was going to cost less in terms of cash or time or work than the RV7. And none of them would do what the RV7 will.
__________________
Dale

Omaha, NE
RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
Fisher Celebrity (under construction)
Previous RV-7 project (sold)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-05-2015, 07:36 AM
Greg Arehart's Avatar
Greg Arehart Greg Arehart is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delta, CO/Atlin, BC
Posts: 2,391
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aero_Octaveus View Post
(Fiberglass planes can only be primarily white)
Why is this?

Greg
__________________
Greg Arehart
RV-9B (Big tires) Tipup @AJZ or CYSQ
N 7965A
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-05-2015, 08:00 AM
60av8tor 60av8tor is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 759
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aero_Octaveus View Post
(Fiberglass planes can only be primarily white)
Is this accurate? Isn't the Cirrus fiberglass? Perhaps they use some sort of process - always thought they were painted. I've always really liked their schemes on the newer planes.

__________________
Jon
RV-7A purchased flying - Sold 6/16
RV-10 empennage delivered 1/22/14 (325JT)

Build: http://hhav8or.blogspot.com/

Last edited by 60av8tor : 04-05-2015 at 08:03 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-05-2015, 08:11 AM
Kyle Boatright Kyle Boatright is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,218
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Arehart View Post
Why is this?

Greg
Temperatures. If glass airplanes get hot, the structure weakens. So you paint them white so they stay cooler sitting out on the ramp in a sunny/warm climate. There is a very large temperature difference between a white airplane and a dark airplane in those circumstances.
__________________
Kyle Boatright
Marietta, GA
2001 RV-6 N46KB
2019(?) RV-10
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:24 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.