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05-01-2015, 10:02 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 37
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Close to starting building: 2 seats or 4 seats?
Greetings everyone, lurker turned poster!
I am currently debating between an RV-10 and an RV-14. Was wondering if there was anyone who bought a 2 seat RV and regretted it inasmuch as they wished they had bought a -10; or anyone who had bought a -10 and wished they had gone with something that only had 2 seats. Also, what is your reason for wishing you had gone the other way, and did you later?
Cheers and fly safe!
__________________
Jim Anderson
RV-7: #74811
N54WW
Way I remember it, albatross was a ship's good luck, 'til some idiot killed it.
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05-01-2015, 11:41 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hobbs, NM
Posts: 239
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Don't forget the sexy factor! There is a reason that Corvettes have two seats!
Seriously, mine (7A) isn't flying yet. I do have a Cessna 182. I've been flying it since the late 80's. I rarely carry passengers in the back seat. You just need to look at the reality of who you are and how you intend to fly.
In my humble opinion, there are a lot of folks out there who overbuild and rarely or never make use of the capabilities they have added. On a short daytime flight with a friend in his 7A, I pointed out that his heading was appearing wrong on a glass instrument he had. He pressed a few buttons then gave up and said he will need to go read the manual. Two years later, same issue, guess what? Still didn't know how to operate the instrument. He also had steam gauges and knew how to use them. In other words, we get excited and sometimes tend to overbuild and over-complicate. Another friend completed a -7 about six years ago with a full IFR panel. Even though he is instrument rated, he has never flown it on instruments. Once finished, some use their planes to fly near the home airport or go get a breakfast on weekends. Others make use of all of the gadgets and take some really ambitious trips, then I have seen others complete, park in a hangar, and let their work of art gather dust (sad but true). The joy of building/flying is a passion that takes many forms.
Give yourself a reality check, then lay out some goals. When I get absolutely honest with myself, I am a fair weather pilot, fly in a 300 mile radius the majority of the time and almost always carry one passenger but rarely two or three. Ideally I would like to think I have Chuck Yeagers genes, but that's not the reality. I also have a few genetics that would align me with a big chicken at times! That is reality!
I chose to build because A) I am fascinated with the building process and enjoy it almost as much as flying (note that I may waffle on this statement once it's flying!) B) I could get a repairmans certificate and save a chunk of change every year (unlike the Cessna) C) I can configure it just how I want it D) Fixed pitch/constant speed/fixed gear - This plane has great numbers regardless E) Two seats - fits the majority of my flying F) cheaper way to have a new aircraft built just like I want it
I started my bird in 2004 with a 7-8 year hiatus. To date, no regrets with any of my decisions so far but lots of excitement. Whatever you choose, keep it fun! Welcome to home building! I didn't get to build today so spent my energy writing this. Sorry so wordy.
__________________
Ben
RV-7A Tip Up Airworthy on 12/20/2016
RV-10 Emp 95% complete - sold
RV-14A Empennage Done waiting on front fuse kit to show up.
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05-01-2015, 11:44 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Mateo, CA
Posts: 1,419
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Don't forget: Aerobatics (== 2 seat). Before my RV I hadn't realized they would be so fun. It totally killed any interest in me for a straight and level $100 burger lunch.
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05-02-2015, 06:02 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: X35 - Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,679
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As has already been stated, aerobatics is one deciding factor. If it's a must, then your decision is already made. You can do some nice aileron rolls in a -10, and I know one guy who loops his when he's alone, but there is certainly not the safety margin as there is with the "aerobatic" models.
Aerobatics aside, there is one big distinguishing factor that the -10 has. It has doors. I was flying with a guy the other day in his -7A. He said his wife wishes it had doors. Not that doors are the key, but that the -10 is MUCH easier to get in and out of than the 2-seat models, especially for my 250Lb frame.
Regarding the -10, it is much bigger. It has adjustable and reclining front seats. It can carry two people and enough stuff to fill a large SUV. It can early carry 2 people, but it can also carry more. The others can carry 2, but can't carry more, ever.
I have never heard a -10 owner say they wish they had just built or bought a 2-seater. Not once. I have heard a lot of 2-seat owners say they wish they had built/bought a -10.
Mission is a big part of the decision, as others have said. Budget is another big part. It would be interesting to see the actual price difference between a -10 and -14 in total cost with the same instruments. I'm guessing they will likely be within $20k of eachother, equally equipped.
__________________
Jesse Saint
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05-02-2015, 06:32 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,788
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Decide on your mission, then decide on the configuration. This assuming you have the time to build either configuration
__________________
Bill Peyton
RV-10 - 1125 hrs
N37CP
First Flight Oct 2012
Aviation Partners, LLC
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05-02-2015, 06:38 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill.Peyton
Decide on your mission, then decide on the configuration.
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Like Bill said, our opinion on what you should build is irrelevant. One way to make your own choice is to look at your logbook to remind yourself how many times there were more than 2 people in the plane and whether that is important to you to accommodate it (or could it have been dealt with differently). My experience (including a Mooney) was more than 2 in the craft was rare so we built a 2 seater.
__________________
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.
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05-02-2015, 07:31 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Brooksville, MS
Posts: 745
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Everyone is different
Each person enjoys things from a different perspective.
I love aerobatics!!!! Loops, rolls...etc.
I have in my hanger or tied down in my back yard an RV-10, RV-8, Fisher Classic, Cessna 172. all of them are airworthy and ready to go. Guess what! the RV-8 flies the least. All it takes is firing it up.
The -10 probably sees the most time with the open cockpit, ~65mph Fisher Classic coming in second. I have never had the Classic upside down...now imagine that and I consider it the most fun to fly. One of the drawbacks on the -8 is lack of instrumentation.
if you build a -14 you will wish you had a -10. If you build a -10 you will wish you had a -14......the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence!
__________________
Weasel
RV-4 715hr Sold 
RV-10 "School Bus" -   +1600hr counting
Fisher Classic Cassler Power VW sold
RV-10 N7631T 820hr Sold
RV-8 700+hrs
Carbon Cub 200 hr Sold
One-Off Super Cub 100 hr
SERFI AWARDS
http://weaselrv10.blogspot.com/
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05-02-2015, 08:10 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
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Welcome
Welcome James.
Whatever you decide, all Vans models are sweet airplanes.
__________________
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.
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05-02-2015, 09:50 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,408
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I had a 10, and am building an RV-14A as I found I enjoyed the long trips with myself and just one other on board much more than when we were four. The four on board were usually all pilots so that could be part of the problem. I'm also trying to save a little on initial cost and in fuel burn. Of coarse I'm not flying yet so perhaps I will regret the move.
[QUOTE=Jesse;979692
I have never heard a -10 owner say they wish they had just built or bought a 2-seater. Not once. I have heard a lot of 2-seat owners say they wish they had built/bought a -10.
__________________
Thanks Ron
RV-10 SOLD
RV-14 Flying
AirCam flying
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05-02-2015, 09:28 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 37
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Thanks everyone for the inputs! I wasn't trying to see what I should do so much as see how many others had wished they had chosen differently. Looks like I'll be using my whiteboard a lot while I wait for my motorcycle to sell. Pros/Cons of each aircraft and what mission I truly want to fulfill.
Quote:
Originally Posted by drone_pilot
Don't forget the sexy factor! There is a reason that Corvettes have two seats!
Give yourself a reality check, then lay out some goals.
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I hadn't thought of that before, the sexy factor is important! With university graduation coming up in December this year I have been doing a lot of goal setting, that's why I'm here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinh
Don't forget: Aerobatics (== 2 seat). Before my RV I hadn't realized they would be so fun. It totally killed any interest in me for a straight and level $100 burger lunch.
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Never flown aerobatics really, doing my PPL in a DA-40. May have to find someone in my area to give me a ride and see how I like them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse
Regarding the -10, it is much bigger. It has adjustable and reclining front seats. It can carry two people and enough stuff to fill a large SUV. It can early carry 2 people, but it can also carry more. The others can carry 2, but can't carry more, ever.
I have never heard a -10 owner say they wish they had just built or bought a 2-seater. Not once. I have heard a lot of 2-seat owners say they wish they had built/bought a -10.
Mission is a big part of the decision, as others have said. Budget is another big part. It would be interesting to see the actual price difference between a -10 and -14 in total cost with the same instruments. I'm guessing they will likely be within $20k of eachother, equally equipped.
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Looking at the kit prices I would imagine them to be within $20k to $30k of each other. I guess being young and single the "mission" could change at any time; marriage and kids can change a lot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weasel
if you build a -14 you will wish you had a -10. If you build a -10 you will wish you had a -14......the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence!
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Always seems to go that way, seems like the right answer is to build both!
__________________
Jim Anderson
RV-7: #74811
N54WW
Way I remember it, albatross was a ship's good luck, 'til some idiot killed it.
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