Changing GW

[Jr Hampton]

If one were looking at an RV to purchase and wanted to increase the gross weight, how would one go about it. Me and the Mrs are overweight. yes Im trying to loose some weight.

[Snowflake]

Me and the Mrs are overweight.

I think you have your best solution staring you right in the mirror.

[R. Daniels]

I just had that chat with our very helpful FSDO inspector two weeks ago about that very issue. I was looking at a '7A for a buyer. The airplane had been loaded down with all the gadgets and heavy engine but the builder had only bumped his gross by 50 lbs. I weigh 215 and the buyer weighs 185 lbs. With full fuel we were going to be 30 lbs. over gross for the trip back home after the purchase. That meant no baggage at all. It actually meant the buyer would have to fly back home commercial. Per FSDO, the process would be to note the increase in gross in the log book, put the aircraft back into Phase I for 5 hours. Demonstrate the aircraft performance at the new gross weight including stall speed at VS and VSO. Make a new logbook entry putting the aircraft back into phase II with the new established gross weight figure ( considered of course, a MAJOR CHANGE). Replace the data plate with a new one indicating the new gross. According to FSDO, that's it. He stated there is NO additional paperwork necessary.
Check with your local FSDO office first.

[flyboy1963]

I'm sure you've considered this, but even without flying, try SITTING in the plane you are interested in, for an hour or two.
You might just find that the weight thing isn't really the crucial element, you want to be comfortable, and able to manipulate all the controls easily.
....maybe you want to look for a -10 or -14??? Can you climb in and out with some ease? I found a Glastar to be a nice fit for some folks, as you can kind of put one foot in, grab one of the overhead structural tubes, and use that to help transfer in and out.
just my silly opinion, worth exactly what you paid!

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by R. Daniels

Replace the data plate with a new one indicating the new gross.

That part is interesting, since gross weight is not one of the required pieces of information that has to be on the required data plate.

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

That part is interesting, since gross weight is not one of the required pieces of information that has to be on the required data plate.

Or is that because if you use the old EAA Data plate the information on it has to be accurate?



And still for sale by Spruce -

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/.../nameplate.php

Or even the VAF Data Plate -

[Neal@F14]

...or you can just leave the non-required fields blank on those plates.

[Smilin' Jack]

How many of the RV group have increased their gross weight above Van's published figures?

Jack

[Mel]

The data plate does NOT need to be changed to show a new gross weight.
Only a logbook entry and new W&B documents in the aircraft.

As a matter of fact, the data plate should never be changed. Even with a "model change", a new data plate is installed next to the original.

[YellowPeril]

Consider the source.

Read the bit in the inset "Who Owns the Margin?"

http://macsblog.com/wp-content/uploa...andbook_v6.pdf