Who has the lighest RV-7?

[David-aviator]

Not qualified for the poll but THE 8 has same wing as 7

Bare bones VFR, came in at 1029.

The 7A with Subby H6 engine came in at 1256.
(perhaps the heaviest 7A)

[kevinsrv7.com]

Originally Posted by N941WR

My -9, with the longer wing was 990 lbs with all the fairings, oil, etc. on its first flight.

The -7, with the shorter wing should be able to be built lighter.

Bill, wow 990lbs, and that's with a bigger horizontal stab and elevators also.

[kevinsrv7.com]

Originally Posted by jay bell

I will replace my PC680 with an EX680 when the time comes
Jay

I agree, I think that ION battery is in my future as well.

[KRviator]

My -9A is 981.5 Lbs. TIp-up, OX-340S, Sensenich GA prop, 8qt oil, Shorai battery, unusable fuel, pilots seat cushions and a headset I forgot to take out. No gear fairings though. Polished with vinyl stickers for highlights.

N941WR, was that weight with the O-290 or the O-360? ISTR you had an O-290 in it initially?

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by KRviator

....
N941WR, was that weight with the O-290 or the O-360? ISTR you had an O-290 in it initially?

You caught me. That was with the O-290d2.
1068 lbs with the O-360, leather side panels, autopilot, paint, fully primed, and some other options.

Both setups had Catto props, dual P-mags, smallest starter available, manual trim, dual brakes, 60 amp alternator, Tip-up tail dragger, and VFR. That's about it.

[Aero_Octaveus]

Originally Posted by jay bell

I built my 7-A to be reasonably light, but comfy for long cruising. It weighed 1079 lb this annual including unusable fuel, 6 quarts oil, fire extinguisher, headsets, and necessary junk in glove box.
IO-375 with Catto three blade prop and tip up canopy
3 colour Jet-Glo paint, full leather interior
Sky view, back up analogue, and full lighting
Monster retread 6 ply tires

Jay

It is a really nice paint job Jay. I didn't know that 'all in' you were tipping the scales under 1100#. Nice. Hmmm, I might need to pick your brain a bit, get some ideas.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvd5RDmDIP...0/IMG_4074.JPG

[alex48]

You guy are making me feel as if I screwed up somewhere. Not painted yet and wheel pants are not on, it came in 1093#. So I am figuring final would be around 1120#. At 1093# weight and balance is little toward the back of the airplane. Now I have to gain about 10# so it will be perfect.
Hartzell constant speed prop, o-360, Dynon Skyview, 430W, Nat audio panel and Val backup comm. So, my question is unless the scales are off how can you possibly shave off 100#. The first time we weight the plane we also came under a 1000# but after rechecking the calculations we found the mistake.

[N941WR]

Alex, what options do you have?
Change that heavy CS prop to a FP Catto and you will drop about 80 lbs. Remove the 430, it's antennas, and wires and you will drop a bunch more weight.

[Snowflake]

There was a guy in Florida trying to sell an RV-7 as an LSA a while ago... Engine placarded to not operate above X RPM, light interior, etc. Don't remember the empty number but the gross had to meet LSA limits... 1200lb?

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by alex48

You guy are making me feel as if I screwed up somewhere. Not painted yet and wheel pants are not on, it came in 1093#. So I am figuring final would be around 1120#. At 1093# weight and balance is little toward the back of the airplane. Now I have to gain about 10# so it will be perfect.
Hartzell constant speed prop, o-360, Dynon Skyview, 430W, Nat audio panel and Val backup comm. So, my question is unless the scales are off how can you possibly shave off 100#. The first time we weight the plane we also came under a 1000# but after rechecking the calculations we found the mistake.

Don't get too worried about it.....
The reality is that none of the weights claimed so far mean anything (for comparison purposes anyway) until each of the airplanes is weighed on the exact same set of scales.