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  #1  
Old 04-22-2015, 08:43 AM
pastranafan5 pastranafan5 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: jonesboro, ar
Posts: 63
Default Which one? 7 or 7A?

It's time for me to order my fuselage. I really don't know which model to get. All of my flying has been in tricycle gear, but I'm going to be flying out of a grass strip, and I love how the 7 looks.
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  #2  
Old 04-22-2015, 09:05 AM
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AndyRV7 AndyRV7 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Hudson County, NJ
Posts: 1,092
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pastranafan5 View Post
It's time for me to order my fuselage. I really don't know which model to get. All of my flying has been in tricycle gear, but I'm going to be flying out of a grass strip, and I love how the 7 looks.
I loved the look of the 7 and wanted to be a tail dragger but I wrestled with the decision and self-doubts for a long time. In the end I bought an RV-7 and am SO HAPPY that I did.
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  #3  
Old 04-22-2015, 09:09 AM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
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I fly a 7A and I don't have taildragger experience.

The other day I went down to Rushford, MN for their chili feed and have a great time. But they parked me in the grass and when I finally made it to my spot -- through some rough grass -- I looked at just how close to the ground my prop blade is to the ground --- I'd guess about 5".

I taxied back out VERY slowly... one gopher hole and I'm out thousands of dollars.

I'm sure there are a lot of "A" owners who operate off grass strips and are perfectly happy and comfortable doing so, but, man, that's ZERO margin for error I saw on my setup. YMMV.
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  #4  
Old 04-22-2015, 09:53 AM
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wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
Default 7a

My choice was easy. Sweetie said, "you can build any plane you want as long as the wheel is in front." Happy wife, happy life, happy husband.
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  #5  
Old 04-22-2015, 09:55 AM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
Default

Build what you want. If you have to learn something new to fly it, well, welcome to the club.
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  #6  
Old 04-22-2015, 10:01 AM
schaplerrh schaplerrh is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Alexandria VA
Posts: 305
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I'm 100% with Dale. Tail dragging will keep you sharp!
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  #7  
Old 04-22-2015, 10:25 AM
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curtis curtis is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 384
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I agree, build the one you want and not what someone else suggest! Either model will serve you well. Both will keep you sharp if you elect to monitor your technique and don't allow bad habits to develop.
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  #8  
Old 04-22-2015, 10:25 AM
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bret bret is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Gardnerville Nv.
Posts: 2,828
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Ok, wants Popcorn.......I vote A wheel in front.
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  #9  
Old 04-22-2015, 10:57 AM
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Ghost two-six Ghost two-six is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 26
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In May I'll be coming up on 25 years as a CFI. I've done a good amount of BFR's in that time as well. I will say that of those BFR's I've seen a fair share of tricycle drivers that flat out really didn't know how to land an airplane or perhaps just completely forgot. If not for the gear design saving them we'd have been in a bad spot had they landed like that in a conventional gear aircraft.

Now I will say that the folks saying build what you want are absolutely right. There have been plenty of situations wherein I was flying a TW and wishing I was in a trike because in a trike I really wouldn't have to think about it and or work as hard or have even the faintest of doubts.

Thing about a TW is - you learn to feel in your butt EXACTLY when that airplane's gonna quit flying. You can land a trike without really ever knowing that. And believe it or not that "aeronautical proprioception" has helped me flying just about every fixed wing aircraft that I've ever been in - to include ones like the Boeing 777 and 787 which have artificial feel modules simulating what I'm supposed to be feeling.

So in summary - in learning to land a TW well you're gaining skill that's truly valuable. Just one man's opinion YMMV.
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Last edited by Ghost two-six : 04-22-2015 at 11:00 AM.
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  #10  
Old 04-22-2015, 11:25 AM
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grubbat grubbat is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ga
Posts: 662
Default It depends...

Do you get a cold sweat on the way to the airport wondering if the winds will cooperate? Do you worry that your destination will have a gusting crosswind? Does the thought of digging in a wingtip and cartwheeling down the runway send chills up your spine? Do you like to quickly firewall the throttle without any worry of p-factor and a quartering tailwind? Does your travels begin and end on pavement that is smooth as silk? Does the idea of taxing with limited forward viability give you nightmares? Does the thought of lower insurance premiums make your leg tingly? If so, you may be a nose-wheel driver.

However,
Do you fly off a bunch of gopher-hole grass strips with mud and other nose-grabbing gotchas? Does the thought of a slow-nose-over give you diarrhea? Do you like a challenge every time you fly? Do you want to throw-up every time you see a nose wheel plane? Does a taildragger just look sexy to ya? Do you interpret higher insurance premiums as a badge of honor? Do crosswinds beg to be conquered? Do you want to be a member of a subgroup of aviators who fear not the tail wheel? If so, enter into the tail wheel domain.

Seriously, its really comes down to you and your goals. Either one will give you lots of fun and enjoyment.

Good luck in your search!
cj
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