Avionics, are they needed from get go?

[DonFromTX]

Well I was basing it on that he wound up flying at $34k, and most of the completions are saying they spent closer to 80k (I can truthfully say on my project I have not had the courage to add up the receipts yet.) The purchase of the completed RV12 minus engine or avionics was under $20k which was a great help of course.

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Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

I need some help seeing how the math works out for that to be true Don.

The current prices of the basic RV-12 Airframe kit along with the prices list on the Viking web site for the engine and install kits adds up to about $48000. To that still needs to be added all avionics and engine & flight instruments, everything for the electrical system, etc. I think it is very conservative to say that at least an additional $7000 would have to be spent. That totals up to $55000. In round numbers, 1/2 of the current RV-12 complete kit would be about $35,000.
By my math he would have had to have bought the completed RV-12 airframe for only about $5000 for your statement to be true.

[Waterobert]

Thank you guys for lots of good information. I think that I will get fancy avionics regardless of the price, since it will make my life easier. RV-12 is supposed to be entry level plane, modest air speed, small economy engine, low operating cost etc. Maybe Van's will offer poor man's option for avionics, just to get more people building it. Flying is not cheap and that is fact off life until then.

[Bill_H]

Vans is not Sonex or Zenith. Those are your cheaper builder routes. I would advise having a knowledgeable builder show you the differences because they are quite surprising.

Regarding "get more people building it," The RV12 will likely be at 1000 kits sold and 500 flying around Oshkosh 2015. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=107021

[RFSchaller]

I built a Searey with a steam gage package for the 912. It cost $900 for sensors and Gage's 15 years ago. By comparison I think the standard Vans package is a bargain.