Can't believe I am having these thoughts....

[Brantel]

How crazy would a guy be to sell his awesome RV7 just so he could build a RV12 and reduce his fixed and operational cost of owning/flying an airplane as well as relieve the stress and anxiety of renewing his special issuance medical each year?

[rvator51]

I suspect that many guys have already gone "crazy". An alternative to going crazy might be to wait and see if the 2nd phase of the Pilots Bill of Rights gets passed as regards 3rd class flight physicals.

[comfortcat]

Hmmm..

How would this lower:

1. Fixed costs
* Are you planning on keeping this outside instead of a hanger? Maybe trailer it home every time?
* is insurance cheaper?
* maintenance costs at annual? You have the repairman's cert, right? and you can run automotive plugs in the plane. Are Rotax parts cheaper?

2. Operational costs
* You can run Mogas in the RV-7
* To save gas, fly your 7 as a slow as a 12 (throttle back)
* Oil changes for the Rotax might be a bit cheaper
* Fees for radio subscriptions, landing fees, are a wash.

My guess is that except for the Class3 medical. You would not gain much in the trade.

CC

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by comfortcat

Hmmm..

How would this lower:

1. Fixed costs
* Are you planning on keeping this outside instead of a hanger? Maybe trailer it home every time?

Yep, trailer it home or share a corner somewhere cutting anywhere from $2700 - $5400 annually out of the fixed cost. (New FBO contract, rumors are that rent is likely to double)

* is insurance cheaper?

Nope about a wash...

* maintenance costs at annual? You have the repairman's cert, right? and you can run automotive plugs in the plane. Are Rotax parts cheaper?

Yep have the card for the 7. I doubt Rotax part are cheaper but with a brand new engine with warranty at least I would get a few years of less cost.

2. Operational costs
* You can run Mogas in the RV-7

Some people do but I would not feel comfortable doing that without changing up the fuel system.

* To save gas, fly your 7 as a slow as a 12 (throttle back)

I do that most of the time now...when just buzzing around. Trips are a different matter however. I usually am WOT.

* Oil changes for the Rotax might be a bit cheaper

Undunno???

* Fees for radio subscriptions, landing fees, are a wash.

My guess is that except for the Class3 medical. You would not gain much in the trade.

This is a big part of the benefit however.

CC

Not saying I am committed to doing this, just musing the idea and rolling it around in the old pumpkin.

[DaleB]

If your trips are done WOT, would you be happy taking that much longer to get where you're going?

I don't even HAVE a medical, SI or no. I still made the decision to keep soldiering on with my 7 and roll the dice on the medical certification requirements changing by the time I'm done. I just couldn't see spending as much as my 7 will cost, to fly a 120 knot airplane day VFR only -- no matter how nice it is.

I also don't make my decisions based on resale value, but in this case it did become a factor for me. Right now it seems that completed, flying 12s are not commanding a very high price over what one would cost to build. I suspect that gap will narrow sharply or even go a little negative if the OF&C Brigade is able to keep flying their non LSA compliant airplanes without a medical. I don't think $30K for a Champ would be a very smart investment right now either.

I could be badly, tragically wrong on all of this. It matters not one bit, though, in your case -- you have your own set of criteria. So no, I wouldn't say you're crazy. Everybody's got different priorities and requirements.

[boom3]

Think of the money you could save just in panel upgrades.
Says the envious one with the outdated panel...

Seriously though on the medical front it's a worthwhile consideration. You never really know what life's going to throw at you.

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by DaleB

If your trips are done WOT, would you be happy taking that much longer to get where you're going? ---snip--- OF&C Brigade is able to keep flying their non LSA compliant airplanes without a medical. ---snip---

Don't know on the speed. I love to fly but I also like to go fast. I go WOT on trips just because the plane can go fast. Not saying I would not enjoy some low and slow as well....

What is the OF&C Brigade? I am out of the loop on that one...

[Tooch]

People buy these trailerable or folding wing planes with the idea that they will just take them home after a flight. Most never end up doing that or just don't fly as much. I had a friend with a Glastar with folding wings. He kept it at an airport in a hanger with the wings unfolded. It is great that the wings in a 12 come off easy but I would bet that there very few if any owners of 12's that trailer their planes to the airport every time they want to go flying. I may be wrong. Maybe some 12 owners could chime in on this.

[TomVal]

Originally Posted by Brantel

How crazy would a guy be to sell his awesome RV7 just so he could build a RV12 and reduce his fixed and operational cost of owning/flying an airplane as well as relieve the stress and anxiety of renewing his special issuance medical each year?

Brantel,

My 2 cents...

I believe you are a bit younger than me (my guess by at least 25 years). Think about how you plan to use your aircraft for the next 25+ years. As previously suggested, wait until we get a final ruling on the 3rd class medical issue then make your decision.

The -12 is a significant cutback in performance, perhaps slightly less expensive to operate, and trailering to and from the airdrome will eventually become a tedious chore plus most likely a two man job.

Best of luck in your decision.

Regards,

[rv7boy]

I can't believe you're having these thoughts either.

Originally Posted by Brantel

<SNIP>What is the OF&C Brigade? I am out of the loop on that one...

I don't know either, but I suspect "OF&C" starts with "Old Farts..."