Questions to ask when defining "Mission"?

bottlerocket · #1 03-01-2014, 07:08 PM

Trying to have a real conversation with the wife about which RV (or other) to get so we can start setting some realistic goals. I personally like the 6 and 7 but I don't want to build some emotional attachment to a plane just because it looks fun to fly and can do loops to music (however cool that may be). I just want to ensure it will fill our needs and not be a gimmick. Any input is greatly appreciated!

wirejock · #2 03-01-2014, 07:43 PM

Christopher
Thank you for your service.
Assuming you are asking for questions, here are a few RV related.
As you include your wife, these would involve her.

1. What is your preferred seating arrangement?
2. What is the primary mission? Hamburger hops or cross country excursions?
3. How many plus the pilot with any regularity? Any kids? Will they ride often?
4. Do you want to do aerobatics? Formation? Racing? How often?
5. What are the height, width and weight of pilot and passenger?
6. Prebuilt or are you going to build? SB or QB?
7. What is the budget?

Once you answer them with the better half, buy the 7a! Kidding.
Good luck.

pilot28906 · #3 03-01-2014, 07:45 PM

1) Will you need more than two seats?
2) Will you be doing arobatics?
3) Will you fly mostly local or mostly cross country?
4) Will your flying be mostly VFR or IFR?
5) Do you have the time to build?
6) Do you have funds to purchase flying plane?

Just a few.

bottlerocket · #4 03-01-2014, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirejock

Christopher
Thank you for your service.
Assuming you are asking for questions, here are a few RV related.
As you include your wife, these would involve her.

1. What is your preferred seating arrangement?
2. What is the primary mission? Hamburger hops or cross country excursions?
3. How many plus the pilot with any regularity? Any kids? Will they ride often?
4. Do you want to do aerobatics? Formation? Racing? How often?
5. What are the height, width and weight of pilot and passenger?
6. Prebuilt or are you going to build? SB or QB?
7. What is the budget?

Once you answer them with the better half, buy the 7a! Kidding.
Good luck.

Ha! Yeah if I were single that would be the way I would go.

It has to be side-by-side, I do not fit in the tandem RVs. I'm not a small guy (6'4, 230). I'm really using this to try and decide between a 7a, 9a, and a certified (is that the proper terminology?) plane.

LifeofReiley · #5 03-01-2014, 08:09 PM

Economy... you will be hard pressed to find anything in the Certified Plane world that will match the RV7A or the RV9A for operation and ownership economy.

I Love my 7A!

bhassel · #6 03-01-2014, 08:13 PM

It sounds like the 14!

Bob

Kevin Horton · #7 03-02-2014, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottlerocket

It has to be side-by-side, I do not fit in the tandem RVs. I'm not a small guy (6'4, 230). I'm really using this to try and decide between a 7a, 9a, and a certified (is that the proper terminology?) plane.

Have you sat in an RV-8 or -8A? Each individual in an -8 has more room to himself than if the two of you are sharing the width in a -7. Whichever aircraft you decide on, be sure to spend a while with both you and your wife sitting in an example.

Smilin' Jack · #8 03-02-2014, 05:52 AM

After flying most of my life and wanting my own aircraft, I realized there are not many out there for the cost of an RV that will do a lot of different items extremely good.

First the RV has a great operating envelope. Both slow speed for approaches and landings and a cruise speed that you can go cross country and not spend all day getting there.

You can pick a model that has acrobatic ability and have some fun when you want to.

The fuel economy is great with a cruise speed of 185 mph or better and sipping around 8 GPH at altitude you can get better than 23 mpg. Better than my pickup truck and I am going in a straight line.

That being said you can not jump around inside the plane and with a 5 point harness even reaching into the baggage compartment is a twisting affair.

Yes you can buy 60,000 comanche's or Mooney's used but you'll pay for maintenance since you did not build it. And most of the time you'll find out that you only have 2 on board so rent an aircraft if you need more room.

I looked a lot and my RV7 fits my wife's and my goals perfectly. If I would get to 180 lbs my wife could buy more stuff on trips

2-230 lb folks you have to limit your fuel to carry any amount go baggage, work some weight balance stuff for various aircraft and you'll see quickly that even most 4 place aircraft will limit you either on range or passengers/cargo.q

If your bank account can support 600,000 go buy a cirrus or new cessna TT.

Jack

esco · #9 03-02-2014, 08:23 AM

Larry, John, & Jack touched on this: do you and your wife want to be airplane builders, or owners?

After you answer "mission" questions, suggest you consider opportunity costs:
A. how much time (hours per week, # of years) is this worth? what will we give up?
B. how much of us (see "New Builder Hints") is this worth?
C. how much money is this worth? what will we give up?

Good luck in your planning; you've already found a great resource in VAF and Doug's site.

Toobuilder · #10 03-02-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottlerocket

Ha! Yeah if I were single that would be the way I would go.

It has to be side-by-side, I do not fit in the tandem RVs. I'm not a small guy (6'4, 230). I'm really using this to try and decide between a 7a, 9a, and a certified (is that the proper terminology?) plane.

Both occupants will have more "personal space" in a -8 or a Rocket than the side by side models. And a guy of your size is not going to fit comfortably in the 7 or 9 if you have anyone bigger than an infant next to you.