VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

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

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV General Discussion/News
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #11  
Old 05-22-2015, 09:12 AM
precession precession is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 146
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmcanty3 View Post

I find that as builders, we tend to waaay over-think things. Sometimes you gotta go with your gut. And if your gut is quite prominent, perhaps go with the -14!
Now that's a good one right there.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-22-2015, 09:22 AM
kamikaze kamikaze is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 353
Default

I've been waffling over the 9 vs 14 ... I'm back at 9 ...

Mostly because of the money ... the price of a 14 just keeps going up ... the price on the finish kit is eye popping! I could do it, but it would be stressful, and I want this to be fun of course ... worrying about money would be no fun.

Also, I could easily build a nicer 9 overall due to the availability of more options, parts, after market add-ons, etc. The platform is overall much more mature, there is much more accumulated knowledge and experience out there. As a first time builder who hasn't built much else in his life, that has major value.
__________________
J.F.
Sling 4 empennage kit on order!
Future EAA 245 Member (Hopefully)
Current Piper Warrior PA-28-151 Owner/Pilot
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
http://www.sling4.ninja
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-22-2015, 02:25 PM
T.S. T.S. is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 46
Default CH 18

Roger,
You may want to check out EAA Chapter 18. Many RV's and builders with experience close to your location.
PM if interested in details.
TS

Last edited by T.S. : 05-22-2015 at 02:29 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-22-2015, 10:24 PM
N941WR's Avatar
N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
Default

Now, if we can only talk you into dropping the "A"!
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-24-2015, 02:14 AM
Z-EDD's Avatar
Z-EDD Z-EDD is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Posts: 200
Default Is the 14 really easier?

+1 on what Bret said. I am mid way through my wings and I have to wonder how they could possibly have made the -14 any easier without taking all the fun out of it.

Also remember that there are a couple of thousand -7s flying, but nobody has yet actually built a -14 fuselage other than Vans. With a -7 there may be a few issues with the manual but they are well known and well documented. I have not had to ask a question yet, a search on VAF has solved every problem I have had. It is hard to beat that kind of accumulated wisdom.
__________________
Ed Fleming
RV-7- Nearly there!
Harare, Zimbabwe
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 05-26-2015, 06:37 PM
Mike H Mike H is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Savannah
Posts: 806
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Z-EDD View Post
+1 on what Bret said. I am mid way through my wings and I have to wonder how they could possibly have made the -14 any easier without taking all the fun out of it.

Also remember that there are a couple of thousand -7s flying, but nobody has yet actually built a -14 fuselage other than Vans. With a -7 there may be a few issues with the manual but they are well known and well documented. I have not had to ask a question yet, a search on VAF has solved every problem I have had. It is hard to beat that kind of accumulated wisdom.
Yes, it is easier. No, I do not find that having better designed and fabricated parts takes any fun out of the build.

Several RV-14 builders must be building aluminum canoes in their garages if there are no RV-14 fuselages being built outside of the Vans factory.

The remark concearning the manuals and the fact that the -7 is well documented is comical if you have seen any of the newer plans such as the -10, -12 and -14. There is no need to research the pool of accumulated knowledge when building a -14, just follow the clear and concise instructions step by step.
__________________
Mike Hammond
A&P IA PPL ASEL
RV-14A kit S/N 140170
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 05-26-2015, 07:15 PM
bhassel's Avatar
bhassel bhassel is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 963
Default

Just the 14 canopy alone is worth a bunch. The refinements to the 14 over the other kits sounds like the next evolution in Van's kits is here. The 14 gives you the opportunity for a total package build like the 12. I started a 9 (may finish it someday), but once the 12 is built, I'd love a 14!

Of course only Wilbur and Orville probably know where Van's headed next and what awaits our building future.

Bob
__________________
Bob Hassel
NM


Subscription Paid for 2020

Home is where the hanger is...
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 08-07-2015, 11:05 AM
Arizona Aviator Arizona Aviator is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 20
Default

I, too, am new to this (this is my 2nd post), and I am evaluating which model would be best for me ... the 7 or the 14.

Is the 14 seen as an eventual replacement for the 7? (like how the 7 was a replacement for the 6, best I can gather)

If so ... how long after the RV-14 taildragger comes out would Van's keep supplying empennages for the RV-7? I see the RV-6 empennage is no longer available ... the same thing would eventually happen with the RV-7. It would be problematic to start in on an RV-7 and then have the empennage be "NLA".
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-07-2015, 11:39 AM
flyboy1963's Avatar
flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
Posts: 2,416
Default But the pool is HUGE!

Steve, I've thought the same.....what if....Van's goes under, like a zillion other kit manufacturers.
well, if you were taking the usual 5.83 years to build a kit, say a -7,
I'd say you'd have a LOT of half built tail kits still out there.
RV7 - 4,119 kits shipped = 1,209 completed to date ( 2012 estimate)

heck, you can buy a new empennage for a BD-5, ( on eBay) even tho it was last in production in 1975....just because they shipped about 5,000 of them, and they are still hanging in garages around the world!
the -6 emp was discontinued thru a design revision, the -7 improved spin recovery, so became the defacto standard 'bolt-on'.

plus, you 'start' on the empennage, so you'd have that covered. ...and Lots of aftermarket parts. ...more than any other kitplane.
Can't get a cowl, or wheelpants? the market gives you choices like the Sam James versions.
__________________
Perry Y.
RV-9a - SOLD!....
Lake Country, BC

Last edited by flyboy1963 : 08-07-2015 at 11:42 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 08-07-2015, 01:00 PM
rvbuilder2002's Avatar
rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arizona Aviator View Post
If so ... how long after the RV-14 taildragger comes out would Van's keep supplying empennages for the RV-7?
The RV-7 design was basically doing a bit of modernizing and updating of an already great airplane (RV-6, still the most popular kit ever sold) so that is why the RV-6 was phased out.... the RV-7 is largely the same airplane.

The RV-14 is a side by side 2 seat approved for aerobatics, but other than that, it is a very different airplane. The RV-7 will likely always be available as long as there is market demand, which I think it will always have since it is a bit more of the economy kit when compared to the RV-14.

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyboy1963 View Post
the -6 emp was discontinued thru a design revision, the -7 improved spin recovery, so became the defacto standard 'bolt-on'.
The RV-7 is not promoted as having a better spin recovery than the RV-6.
They RV-7 with the updated tail, has ~ the same spin recover as an RV-6 with an RV-6 tail.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.

Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
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 02:00 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.