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05-14-2015, 07:40 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Madison, AL
Posts: 338
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RV-12 vs. RV-9A
I built and put over 500 hrs on my 9 but needed to switch to LSA to keep flying so I bought a flying 12 with a partner and am nearing completion on my 12. As other have said it depends upon your mission. My 9 had a 160 HP with a constant speed so I do miss the climb, speed and acceleration kick but the 12 is just as fun to fly, has better visibility and access and is cheaper to operate. It does take me longer on cross country's and I typically fly lower but what is wrong with logging more time. With that said, if it was not for the medical issue I would have kept the 9. I would be completely happy with the 12 if it had a constant speed prop and a Lycoming. I tell folks that compared to other planes they are both sports cars with the CS 9 being a Corvette and the 12 a Miata.
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Scott- 2020 donation
New RV-7A N579RV, only 80 hours now without 2020 fly-in destinations
Built RV-12, 328 hours-sold, purchased RV-12 sold, Built RV-9A, 536 hours-sold, Not completed RV-7 sold, Built Kitfox sold
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05-14-2015, 08:48 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 34
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I don't own a plane but have been following this forum for a while and asked myself the same question a couple times. IMHO(and that's all that it is) if you plan on traveling, I think your better off going with a 6,7,8 etc. I believe it opens up a lot more options and destinations. They make the spontaneous day trip more attainable and longer trips easier to do. If you plan on spending most your time flying local then the obvious choice is the 12.
As far as cost difference, I think you're looking at around $30hr for just fuel burn difference, running both planes at the top end. obviously the 12 being cheaper. You have to consider your time into this figure. 2 hours to get to your destination or 3? The spread gets further apart the further you fly. To me, the cost difference in fuel alone and considering my time isn't worth going with the 12. But that all reverts back to your mission, mine will be 90% traveling.
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05-14-2015, 12:33 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
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Removable wings
I haven't seen any comments on the 12's removable wings. How often does that feature come into play for 12 owners and is it worth the loss in baggage and fuel capacity? When I think about removing and reinstalling the wings on my 6A for whatever reason, I get weak in the knees.
John
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05-14-2015, 12:52 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 306
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Wing removal
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpowell13
I haven't seen any comments on the 12's removable wings. How often does that feature come into play for 12 owners and is it worth the loss in baggage and fuel capacity? When I think about removing and reinstalling the wings on my 6A for whatever reason, I get weak in the knees.
John
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You don't need to get weak-kneed with removing/installing the RV-12 wings--it just isn't that useful. I have removed the wings for the following:
1. Transporting to/from hangar and workshop
2. For inspection
3. When I needed to cram an extra plane in the hangar
Though I have removed/installed the wings single-handedly, and a few handy-dandy mechanisms have been used, ala sailplanes, its more comfortable to have two people on the task. Thus, removing the wings after each flight and re-installing before the next flight is not generally made for the solo flier. You can also find various posts on trailering the RV-12.
Rob
__________________
Rob Reese
RV-12 #120332 N73HR
Austin, TX
TangoFlight Mentor
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05-14-2015, 02:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 459
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Wing removal
Particularly useful for annual inspections - really makes putting fuse up on saw horses possible. Access to the baggage area / fuel tank is easier. Assume it would make painting somewhat easier as well but that should be a one time benefit.
Few -12 owners regularly remove the wings from what I've seen. Might contribute to more wear and tear but I'm just speculating.
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05-14-2015, 03:43 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,647
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpowell13
I haven't seen any comments on the 12's removable wings. How often does that feature come into play for 12 owners and is it worth the loss in baggage and fuel capacity? When I think about removing and reinstalling the wings on my 6A for whatever reason, I get weak in the knees.
John
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I seldom need to remove the wings, but I'm the envy of all the other RV owners on the field for those times when I do. While you might fit more fuel in the wings, you would still be limited to 1320lb gross weight, so you're unlikely to gain much by re-locating the tank. For an LSA, 50lbs of baggage is a fine and the baggage compartment is easily big enough for that. It's all a question of compromise but I really like the design of the 12.
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rgmwa
RV-12LR 912ULS
120346
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05-14-2015, 05:03 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Barneveld, NY
Posts: 189
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I am building a -12 but have flown the factory -14 and a few -12's. I ended up buying a factory built S-LSA that is very similar to the -12 in about every respect. It also has the 100 HP Rotax. I was actually surprised when I flew the -14 at the factory as I expected it to be a little more roomy than it turned out to be. The -12 is obviously a different plane. Some have made comments about doing long cross countries in it. The guys from Synergy can certainly talk to that. Chris from Synergy has flown the factory built -12's cross country to Oregon to Florida a few times. I spoke to him about it and he said it was comfortable and not a problem. I fly my Gobosh S-LSA on long cross countries frequently and have no issues with it. Sure, I would love to have more speed, but it is all a trade. I do feel the bumps a little more and the -12 would be the same. I have flown my S-LSA to Oshkosh several times, even racing it against a RV-12 in the Air Venture Cup air race last year. I am in a holding pattern with mine right now, trying to decide if I want to finish it. This is mostly driven by the fact that I already have a flying plane that is very similar.
Funny that I am actually sitting in Seattle on my way to the AOPA fly in in Salinas CA. I am going commercial after starting out this morning to take my plane from Colorado to CA. It is totally doable. I decided against it because of IFR conditions along the route and thunderstorms. These would be an issue regardless if it had been the -12 or any other RV, unless it was IFR capable with an appropriately rated pilot, which I am not.
Carl
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Private Pilot
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05-14-2015, 05:31 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Windsor, California
Posts: 924
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I love my RV-12 -- flew it 160+ hours over the past 13 months. Fun to fly, cheap to operate, good cross-country speed/comfort, great visibility, and roomy. If it weren't for ROTAX's disgraceful handling of the float issue, I'd be 100% satisfied. I have over 600 hours in other RVs (-6,-9A, -4, and Harmon Rocket) and my -12 is every bit as much fun as they are (minus the aerobatics capability). The removable wings are nice to have if you want to trailer the fuselage home for the Annual or major mods or put the plane in long-term dead storage off airport  . In reality, I suspect that a very small percentage of -12 operators actually use the removable wings feature on a regular basis.
__________________
David Heal - Windsor, CA (near Santa Rosa)
EAA #23982 (circa 1965) - EAA Technical Counselor and Flight Advisor; CFI - A&I
RV-12 E-LSA #120496 (SV w/ AP and ADS-B 2020) - N124DH flying since March 2014 - 940+ hours (as of September 2020)! 
V AF donation through June 2021.
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05-14-2015, 06:33 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
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I have a Cherokee 180 as well as my RV-12. I built it as a hedge against medical issues as I get older. I think the statement about mission is spot on. My wife loves to load her baggage and be in Las Vegas two hassle-free hours later in the Cherokee. I love to enjoy the Arizona skies solo on the weekend in my RV-12. They both have their place.
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