Why wont Vans build us a Rocket??

[rv72004]

I know the Rocket is a fantastic total performance plane. Why has Vans never put one out ?? Would it not be a good seller?
Lets face it most of us yearn for one .........

[Ron Lee]

but not for a Rocket

[jrvssgl]

I agree. Not all of us want six cylinder fuel consumption. However I am one that does!! I think Vans would be quite surprised at how much interest there is for pilots wanting to launch, and I too am surprised that there is not an RV-?, to fill this niche.

[Ironflight]

You might as well ask "Why won't Cessna build you an RV?" Becasue it is not what they do....

[frankh]

Thats on an MPG basis the 6 cylinder rockets were better than 4 banger RV's..At least running LOP.

I can't believe its a big market though..Although my next 2 seat RV might have an IO540 in it..

Frank

[Bob Axsom]

Richard VanGrunsven is a very wise and conservative aircraft designer and manufacturer. His decisions are very good so far. I suspect he wants to produce an RV-11 motor glider much more than a rocket but the emerging crop of customer built RV-12s with all of the new product problems it surely will have must be focused on at this time. The way it is introduced into the fleet cannot be handed off to anyone but the best people in the company. How this goes will determine the reputation and the future of the company. Van's Aircraft is not a hobby business anymore ... but you know all that, you're just wishin' and hopin'. If you have a sincere desire to build a rocket I would hold off for an anouncement of a resumption of production by Mark Frederick (F1BOSS in this forum) and jump on the first availability. He has hinted at a new model with a carbon fiber wing. He is definitly aiming at the high end market and from my view is a very good man to depend on for a great airplane.

Bob Axsom

[APACHE 56]

Originally Posted by rv72004

I know the Rocket is a fantastic total performance plane. Why has Vans never put one out ?? Would it not be a good seller?
Lets face it most of us yearn for one .........

I think is more a matter of ROI. Look at how all of us went orgasmic over the Stewart P-51 but that burned out rather quickly as it was a niche market product. The Rocket/RVX is the same. Sure it will garner enthusiastic responses adoring crowds but that is irrelevant when it comes to business. Vans tacit motto is: Show me the money.
Don

[Neal@F14]

Originally Posted by rv72004

I know the Rocket is a fantastic total performance plane. Why has Vans never put one out ?? Would it not be a good seller?
Lets face it most of us yearn for one .........

Ahhh, an RV-7 driver yearns for a Rocket while this Cherokee driver yearns for an RV-7 We all wish for more than what we've got, I guess.

Van's themselves don't really need to directly offer a Rocket, since there already exists someone offering ways of building a Rocket (http://www.harmonrocket.com), or a Super 8 Fastback (http://www.showplanes.com/RV8Conversion2.htm).

I've never been in a Rocket but I have ridden in a Super 8 Fastback before. It was phreakin' awesome. Still I yearn for a -7 which is still far out of my financial reach.

[Bevan]

Why won't someone build a P51 mod kit for an RV8? I think that would have a lot of interest.

Bevan
RV7A

[N941WR]

Would that be a side-by-side rocket or a tandem rocket?

As already stated, ROI is what it's all about. Van's does not build niche aircraft, per say.

Kind of funny how well three aircraft on the other end of that spectrum are doing, the RV-12, RV-10, & RV-9.