Modification Suggestions

[MFMarch]

AOA and heated pitot tube.

[rocketman1988]

I wouldn't consider a heated pitot a mod, though. Given the general mission profile if the -10, I would consider it mandatory...

[Auburntsts]

So without getting into whether one should or shouldn’t add a particular mod (as I have already commented on that aspect) here's a list off the top of my head:

Windshield/windows
Camlocs for cowl in lieu of stock hinges
Overhead console (OHC)
Aluminum eyeball air vents
Center door latch
Additional rear NACA vent(s) to supply air to OHC
Front seatbelt hanger
Inertial reel seatbelts
Upgraded seatbelts (Crow, Hooker, etc)
External power receptacle
Belly Cargo pod
MATCO Front axel
MATCO NW511.25 nose wheel
5052 rigid fuel lines
TEFLON Brake and fuel lines
Parking Brake
Tunnel side access panel
Main gear axel extension
Main gear fairing bracket
Aluminum windshield fairing
Nutplates/screws for fairing attachment vs blind rivets
Door seals on frame vs on stock location (on the door)
Front seat rail mod
Rudder trim
Static vents
Oil cooler air butterfly shutoff valve
Upgraded fuel selector valve
Alt static air
Alt fuel vent
Windshield defrost vents with fans
Baggage tiedowns
Baggage door strut/stop
Instrument panel
Door handles/locks (exterior & interior)
Door lift struts
Gear intersection fairings
Door pin blocks
Click-Bond nutplates vs riveted nutplates on fairings
Torx head #6 & #8 screws vs Philips (primarily for fairings)
Beringer wheels and brakes
Rudder Strobe/Nav light mounting ring
Engine Plenum vs baffling
Engine Cowl (Sam James vs Stock)
SS heat boxes vs stock aluminum
Step insert
Fuel vents
Rudder pedal extensions
Brake pedal long bolt mod
Brake return spring on master cylinders
Fuel caps
Oil door hinges and latches

[ppilotmike]

..doesn't mean you should. Take it from me, besides the cost, modifications add time, lots of time, to your build, and may not live up to your expectations as "improvements." That's not to say that there aren't good aftermarket products out there, but tread lightly, do your research and make the decision that's best for you and the family you intend to fly in it.

[rocketman1988]

If you choose to implement every available option, you may never finish the build!!!

[N427EF]

Probably the only mod I consider required is the machined main gear axle extender. Lots of the other mods are nice to have, but I don't consider them required. The Matco nose wheel mods are nice, the center door latch is nice, etc, but I don't consider them safety of flight issues as some do.

I agree!

Aren't you glad you have an "experimental" category airplane?
You actually get to build the airplane however you want, whether anyone considers a mod "mandatory or required".

Here are my modifications and I consider none of them mandatory.
-Overhead console and rear NACA inlets, ducting fresh air into the console.
-Electric shut off valve for rear inlet air.
-McMaster Door seals (very nice)
-Rudder trim
-Parking brake
-Oil cooler air butterfly shut off valve
-Windshield defrost fans/avionics cooling fans
-Baggage door strut
-Step inserts and access to remove step
-Stainless steel heater boxes
-Door pin aluminum blocks
-Hidden oil door hinge and flush latch mechanism.
Probably a couple more I can't think of but I have yet to find a issue with my RV-10 that would make me reconsider some of the modifications.

[David Paule]

Originally Posted by rocketman1988

I wouldn't consider a heated pitot a mod, though. Given the general mission profile if the -10, I would consider it mandatory...

Nuts - if the plane is day VFR. Otherwise, sure.

My Cessna 180 has one and in the 31 years I've been flying it, it just doesn't get used. Save a pound and a circuit for something else.

Dave

[rocketman1988]

I think most of the -10s are IFR XC cruisers. Flying IFR without pitot heat is, well you said it...nuts.

[Bill Boyd]

Originally Posted by Auburntsts

So without getting into whether one should or shouldn’t add a particular mod (as I have already commented on that aspect) here's a list off the top of my head:

Windshield/windows
Camlocs for cowl in lieu of stock hinges
Overhead console (OHC)
Aluminum eyeball air vents
Center door latch
Additional rear NACA vent(s) to supply air to OHC
Front seatbelt hanger
Inertial reel seatbelts
Upgraded seatbelts (Crow, Hooker, etc)
External power receptacle
Belly Cargo pod
MATCO Front axel
MATCO NW511.25 nose wheel
5052 rigid fuel lines
TEFLON Brake and fuel lines
Parking Brake
Tunnel side access panel
Main gear axel extension
Main gear fairing bracket
Aluminum windshield fairing
Nutplates/screws for fairing attachment vs blind rivets
Door seals on frame vs on stock location (on the door)
Front seat rail mod
Rudder trim
Static vents
Oil cooler air butterfly shutoff valve
Upgraded fuel selector valve
Alt static air
Alt fuel vent
Windshield defrost vents with fans
Baggage tiedowns
Baggage door strut/stop
Instrument panel
Door handles/locks (exterior & interior)
Door lift struts
Gear intersection fairings
Door pin blocks
Click-Bond nutplates vs riveted nutplates on fairings
Torx head #6 & #8 screws vs Philips (primarily for fairings)
Beringer wheels and brakes
Rudder Strobe/Nav light mounting ring
Engine Plenum vs baffling
Engine Cowl (Sam James vs Stock)
SS heat boxes vs stock aluminum
Step insert
Fuel vents
Rudder pedal extensions
Brake pedal long bolt mod
Brake return spring on master cylinders
Fuel caps
Oil door hinges and latches

Not bad for "off the top of the head!" I printed it off for future reference, in fact.

One pair of additions I think I'd make: stainless steel foil over Fibrefrax on both firewall and forward/center belly skin.

I'm not there yet, but definitely going to do this to my 10 in honor of Dan Horton's great work.

[rocketman1988]

Matco Brakes...