why MPH instead of knots?

[Blw2]

Why does Van's publish performance specs in MPH instead of knots for the RV-12?

Are all the airspeed indicators set-up as MPH?

[Desert Rat]

That used to be very common. Quite a few old Cessna and Beech products that are still knocking around with the original mph airspeed indicators.

For the second part of your question; assuming you're going with a glass display, you can set it up however you like.

[rolivi]

200 MPH sounds faster than 160 KTS.

Also, many people don't know what knots are, and are not interested in hearing that unit.

The other comment about EFIS being your choice is true. For about a year I had my D-100 in KTS, but I switched it back to MPH because my backup analog ASI has MPH on the outer ring and KTS in the (harder to read) inner ring. I didn't want to squint or convert on the fly if my primary failed.

So, I just appear faster in MPH and really only use KTS when I look at the 430W for the GPS ground speed. [having typed this, I think I'll look for a setting there, too]

YMMV

[rcarsey]

I think most of us in the Van's world use knots. Like Rat said, MPH was tried.. but never caught on. I think because MPH is only really used in certain countries anyway.. everyone but us use metric.

However, because a lot of Cessna 150/152s were in MPH, there's an abnormally large number of pilots who expect MPH to be the norm.

[Desert Rat]

Originally Posted by rolivi

200 MPH sounds faster than 160 KTS.

Also, many people don't know what knots are, and are not interested in hearing that unit.

YMMV

The irony in this statement is that 200 mph is about 170 kts, not 160

[rolivi]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

The irony in this statement is that 200 mph is about 170 kts, not 160

All the more reason I don't convert on the fly!

[Desert Rat]

HA!

hope you don't think I was picking on you, it was just funny

[koupster]

If you're navigating with highway maps, MPH is appropriate.
If you're navigating with aviation charts or aviation databases, you may find knots more appropriate since all the distances are in nautical miles.
Granted, a 200 mph airplane sounds faster than a 170 knot airplane. It makes good marketing sense to quote speeds in MPH.

[PilotjohnS]

I like to think that knots are preferred because it seems when boat guys get tired of throwing their money into a hole in the water, they buy an airplane.

[rolivi]

Assuming this thread is now 100% folly:

Some people use MPH because their spouse is KNOT gonna fly in that thang.

[where's the rimshot emoji?]