Choose RV-4 or RV-8?

[pierre smith]

Originally Posted by Depp vom Dienst

.

I only ask rhis since my wife (who is terrified of flying) says she does not want to stare at the back of my bald head!

....

My wife feels exactly the same....this way I can get an occasional kiss

Furthermore, Depp, if she said that, it looks like you'll have a travelling companion.....something quite a few guys on here would envy, based on their earlier posts. Then it begs this question...would you rather fly along solo in your -8 or fly with your wife by your side?

I'm fortunate because my buddy hangars his -4 in my hangar so I have access to it whenever I like. Down the road, you could find yourself in a similar situation....a -4 or -8 owner who'd trade airplanes with you for a day..it happens a lot.

Regards,

[newtech]

Originally Posted by Depp vom Dienst

I was wondering on my walk today if I would be trying your collective patience if I basically were to pose the same question but as applied to a -7 versus a -9. I can't see any great savings (or advantage) in the -9 and you are giving up the structural strength that make the -7 aerobatic.

I only ask rhis since my wife (who is terrified of flying) says she does not want to stare at the back of my bald head!

Sorry again for this being perhaps a stupid question.

I am building a -7A. Originally I wanted to build a -9A but many of the local RV fliers talked me into the -7A. In the middle of my project I had buyers remorse and wished I had stayed with the -9A because cross-country is going to be a very large part of how we are going to use the plane. Now that I am within a couple months of finishing up I am glad that I went with the -7A. I really like the idea that I will be able to go out and really play around with her, throw her on her back and all that (the plane that is).

The other love of my life is the biggest driving force in getting the plane done. She wants to go flying and plans to take flying lessons in it. That is the main reason for the nose wheel. I think it will be easier for her to take flight training in.

My wife and I plan on keeping the plane busy taking us to all of the beautiful parts of this country. I never considered putting her in a back seat, up front beside me was the only choice. One of the neat things is it looks like we are going to be able to swap seats. Doesn't get much better than that.

Steve Eberhart
RV-7A O-360-A1A, slider, working on the panel and getting ready to paint

[gvgoff99]

Depp, It looks like you are from Europe? I don't fly there but I understand that it is expensive to cross borders and do a lot of cross country flying without a large expense. If cross country flying will be limited and local flights the norm and your wife is "terrified" it sounds like a lot of flights will be solo. Straight and level local flights only goes so far and then is like chewing gum that has lost some flavor (IMO). The takeoffs and landings are always fun as they require some precision. Limited acro also requires some precision and prolongs the flavor. I do mostly cross country but the local flights are more fun to me with a little upside down thrown in. That would make the choice a 6 or 7. The interiors are virtually identical for the 6, 7 and 9. George

Originally Posted by Depp vom Dienst

Thank you to all who commented on my post. I really appreciated it.

I was wondering on my walk today if I would be trying your collective patience if I basically were to pose the same question but as applied to a -7 versus a -9. I can't see any great savings (or advantage) in the -9 and you are giving up the structural strength that make the -7 aerobatic.

I only ask rhis since my wife (who is terrified of flying) says she does not want to stare at the back of my bald head!

Sorry again for this being perhaps a stupid question.

[RV10Man]

Can't help but chime in here with a little bit of first hand experience in the 7 vs. 9 arena. My brother's 9A has a "run-out" O-320 FP, is pretty much plain vanilla day/night vfr airplane. My friend Bob, the guy who died Dec.'06 in Norman, OK, had a 7A, new IO-360 CS, Blue Mountain EFIS I. Not really anything fancy in the panel. Both airplanes weighed in within a few pounds of each other, the 9A was 1065 lbs. and if memory serves me correctly, the 7A was 1063 lbs. Both airplanes were hangered in my hanger, the 9A still is, at my house (private airpark) hanger rent is, I flew whichever airplane I wanted to whenever I wanted.
Now, below 10,000',with power settings comparitively set, FP, 2450 rpm, for the 9, & CS 2300rpm/19"mp. The 9 is faster, you can flight plan at 180 mph. The 7 would cruise at 170 mph. When flying side by side, we had to pull the throttle to 2200 on the 9 to keep from outrunning the 7. Above 10,000, the 7 was 1-1.5 mph faster.
When visiting with the folks at Van's at OSH, they said the 7 should be faster than the 9.
Never did any fuel burn calculations. The 7 definately would out climb the 9, no surprise there, & less ground roll. The 7 was REALLY quicker on the controls than the 9. The 9 j...u...s...t feels a tiny bit heavier on the controls, but feels great.
From MY OWN, unscientific experience, both airplanes are great. You can go fast with a little acro, or go a little bit faster without acro.
These are only my observations & mine alone from flying both airplanes.
You won't be dissappointed with either one.

Marshall Alexander
RV10 N781DM
QB fuse, fitting cabin top

[Depp vom Dienst]

Originally Posted by gvgoff99

Depp, It looks like you are from Europe? I don't fly there but I understand that it is expensive to cross borders and do a lot of cross country flying without a large expense. If cross country flying will be limited and local flights the norm and your wife is "terrified" it sounds like a lot of flights will be solo. Straight and level local flights only goes so far and then is like chewing gum that has lost some flavor (IMO). The takeoffs and landings are always fun as they require some precision. Limited acro also requires some precision and prolongs the flavor. I do mostly cross country but the local flights are more fun to me with a little upside down thrown in. That would make the choice a 6 or 7. The interiors are virtually identical for the 6, 7 and 9. George

Hi all:

Once again thank all very much for your informed opinions and patience.

So, based on all of your input, I have eliminated the -4 and the -9 from consideration, I am still stuck between the airplane that I really want (the -8 that looks way too much like a P-51D to resist! ha ha) and the one that makes much more sense for going cross country flying with my bride. The-7 is the most logical choice in this respect..

Simply said, the airplane I want is most definitely an -8. Life has been a compromise thus far so it would be nice to do at least one thing that isn't; That is, if I can afford it but it is not the logical choice.


Just a final thought to dispel the rumor: I am not in Europe, but in the USA. Sorry for the confusion. I just got back from Germany (National Guard deployments) recently and had lived there for a few years back in the 80's. Hence my German "handle". I sure would not want to put up with the GA restrictions that they have over there! I could not even find an EAA chapter to visit during my time over there this past year. The AOPA magazine had a very good story on this very sad topic (restrictions on GA in Europe) last Summer.
My sincere thanks to all of you again,
"Depp"

[panhandler1956]

Depp,
Glad to see you are going with the RV-8! Of course I'm a little partial!
I struggled with the -4 v -8 issue as well and after much help from folks locally and here on the forum I'm happy with my decision to build the -8. I actually like the looks of the RV-4, but like mentioned here it lacks some of the roominess and upgrades that the -8 has.
Also, I hate to admit it, but as a new builder (have rebuilt a couple of planes) I would have been frustrated without the fast progress afforded by a match-drilled RV-8 kit.

Have fun and be sure to use this forum often to help when you need it.

Regards,

[patrickbulanek]

Looking to buy -4, just don't know if enough back room in seat to sit someone comfortably. Should I just start shopping for an -8 instead? Any help would be appreciated.

[asav8tor]

Originally Posted by patrickbulanek

Looking to buy -4, just don't know if enough back room in seat to sit someone comfortably. Should I just start shopping for an -8 instead? Any help would be appreciated.

Size matters. Sir Mix-a-Lot would be better with an -8. YMMV. More info required.

[Calvin25]

I originaly liked the 4, but im building an 8 for the added room and XC.

I look forward to here what others have to say.

[pierre smith]

I'm right at 6', 190 lbs and I just do fit in the front with my buddy, who's 5' 10, 165 lbs in the back. It's comfortable enough for a couple of hours or so.

Do you have a SO you'd be putting in the rear? Size?

Regards,