Intervention needed? Might sell RV-8

[wera710]

Mike S...LOL...you remind me of the guy who went by me on Summit Point Main last year. Tiny little 914 with a big fat driver in the saddle., Idles by me on the long straight doing about 130 mph. I did a classic warner brother double take, tried to push the peddle to the floor (it was already pinned) and had to bail at 136 mph when we hit the brake markers for turn 1! Was like..W.....T.....F...OVER? LOL.

Turns out his little 1700 pound cheese wedge had a 320 hp Cayman motor stuffed in the back. Pretty awesome. Can't imagine it with a Chevy!

Cap...on the GT4...sigh. Missed that list and couldn't swing it anyway. On the RV4, yeah, makes a lot of sense. The 8 is really perfect for me though, at this age. I just always wanted a big slow Military trainer. Its a bucket list thing. Just like a good Biplane. Useless half the year here in the east, but I WILL own one at some point. Might be a Hatz. Might be an N3N. All comes down to my circumstances at that time. Here, today, its just an issue of having an opportunity to buy a really clean, really straight PT-26 with a solid rebuild record. Sigh. What I really need is partners. Two would do. ;-)

[Berchmans]

Please note three aircraft, including the RV8 and Citabria in single hangar...
[IMG][/IMG] More planes actually make your unit costs go down...

[Bartman]

good grief that's making use of ALL hangar space

[Fhuber]

Scott, You already have a cool warbird, it's a 357th P-51. I bet folks come up to check out your aircraft where ever you fly it. The PT-26 will require a bigger hanger and will be more expensive to maintain and operate. The PT-26 will severely limit your range of action. You will be soon be missing all the fun flying opportunities you currently have with the other RV guys in your area. Just moving that aircraft in and out of your hanger by yourself will be a big chore. The CAF idea someone else posted sounds like a good alternative to owning. I would keep your RV-8.

Frank

[wera710]

Frank, I think you summed it up best of all. The size of the PTs, I like, but the hanger issue is definitely problematic. I cannot afford a bigger hanger and a PT would give me inches to spare.

Maintenance cost. I've been trying to find information on specifically that. Sadly the web is woefully short on PT ownership specifics and long on History.

As far as the LOCAL RV guys, lol...most have -12s now...and frankly, I just cannot fly that SLOW. Hmm..one point for the PT!

Ah well. Maybe I jsut need to rethink aircraft ownership altogether. There is the whole ADS-B BULL S*** being shoved down our throats. Wish GA pilots would just revolt on this one and refuse to equip. I live under a mode C vale but almost never fly near B or into C...yet I am going to be expected to fork over $4000 or so by, the time its all done and installed, just so some wanker who spends all day flying with his head inside his cockpit, oogling over his glass panel can "see" me. Maybe I just need out completely, or to buy an non-electric exempt aircraft. FAA has completely lost it on this one. They are killing the joy of SPORT aviation.

[Toobuilder]

There is nothing special about an RV other than the fact that it does many things well. There are so many RV's out there that they have long ago lost their ramp appeal (except to other RV people), and are often referred to as ramp fleas. They are homebuilt spam cans.

If you dont need all the capability offered by your RV-8, I'd encourage you to dump it and get something that you want just for the cool factor. If that turns out to be a mistake, sell it and get something else.

When shopping for my Rocket, I was nearly swayed by a nice T-28 for sale at a good price. Despite the fact that I knew I would go bankrupt trying to keep 1425 HP fed, I was very tempted. Sometimes the heart wants what it wants. Life is short. Give in.

[Arlen]

Originally Posted by Toobuilder

Sometimes the heart wants what it wants. Life is short. Give in.

Each of us is just one diagnosis -- any day now -- from never being able to fly again.

Get the plane you want and can afford, and have fun!

[David-aviator]

Scott, if you dump the 8 you will wish you had not.

It may not attract the attention an old, rare flying machine, but sooner than later you will miss the 8's flying qualities.

I came near parting with mine over an eye medical issue but am mighty please I did not. Flying the 8 is better than just about anything at this point in life. It ranks right up there with breathing and having a cool beer at the end of the day.

[Toobuilder]

Originally Posted by David-aviator

...Flying the 8 is better than just about anything at this point in life...

Better not ever fly a Rocket then

I have an -8 in my hangar (which is right next to my house, BTW), fueled, insured, and completely ready to go at a moments notice.

It has not been flown in 7 weeks now.

It hasn't been flown because there is a Rocket sitting right next to it.

Despite the fact that I can fly from my front yard and the -8 really needs the exercise, every time I'm in it I keep thinking that I could be in the Rocket instead.

The -8 is a fine airplane - but there are plenty of fine airplanes out there.

My goal is to own ALL of them before I die.

[AndyRV7]

I was agonizing one morning in my work cafeteria about getting a chocolate muffin or an apple turnover. My work buddy looked at me and said "why not get them both?"

My life has been so much less complicated since then!