Prior flying life

[74-07]

My son and I have owned both. The 8 can’t be matched for “coolness” but in almost every other respect, the 7 is a better plane for us. Wife is happier, my son and I can keep an eye on the grandkids and, with our left hand throttle quadrant, it’s still like the military jets we both flew.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by Aggie78

The other models (6,7) will do everything within a knot or two of what the 8 will do except give perhaps give you the ?fighter pilot? look/vibe/savoir faire you may be looking for when the prop comes to a stop in front of the crowd outside of the FBO in Podunk, USA.

I mulled this over for a while before I bought, and while I enjoyed the sleek lines of the 8, when I asked the girlfriend I?ve been married to for the last 40 years what her thoughts were, she far preferred sitting beside...vs behind.

Putting her back there in an 8...while appealing to my P-51 Markedly-Long-of-Tooth-Fighter-Pilot-Walter-Mitty urges...would likely also definitely reduce her enthusiastic approach towards jumping in and hitting the road with me in it (one of my major ambitions for us with this purchase.)

Anecdotally, I?ve heard it?s also harder to keep the heat on back there for pax in the wintertime. A definite downer for being on the road with her.

Finally, with a pax back there the handling can definitely be affected...putting a 200 pounder back there for a demo flight will put the CG to a point where you need to mind things a bit more assertively...still a pussycat, but it bears watching.

I found a low-time, very well built 7, bought it, and have never looked back at the purchase with an ounce of regret. She loves our magic carpet, the trips it allows us to take and the places we go. She was right...side by side makes conversation and sharing sights on the ground as the world spins by much easier...Her name for our RV? Her ?Private Jet?!

Just another POV to make your choice more difficult...either way, whichever you choose you will greatly enjoy it!

Regards,

Rob S.

I agree 100%
Little to no performance and responsiveness are not given up when compared to the RV-8 (and 4).
The only real difference is the sight picture (symmetrical vis to both sides) and sitting on the center line.
I understand the whole left hand right hand thing and worried about it a bit but found that it doesn't take very long for the brain to get fully trained. now, after many hundreds of hrs spread among all the all RV models, I can jump from a 7 to an 8 and not even think about it. I would make that very low on the reasons list for going one way or the other.

[RhinoDrvr]

Current Hornet bubba here; I've got an -8. I love the tandem seating for formation and flying around solo. Now that the girlfriend comes flying with me, the -7 would probably be a little more ideal, but the reality of it is that about 90% of my flying is still solo, and the centerline seating is awesome for that.

[jask]

I flew tactical jets off carriers and of course my first choice was an 8. Of course, she didn't like and since she is also a pilot, she would had to be in the back. I weigh 230 and she weighs 120. CG dicates me in the front.

We sat in a 7 and she loved it. The decision was no longer a choice. In retrospect, I would now buy a flying 6. You can find good ones at a reasonable price or even a 6 pack and upgrade it.

[neck101]

Originally Posted by springer

I agree, even after many Bus years, my right hand works better.

I was "stuck" in Germany for 3.5 years while you were enjoying short 6 mth cruises on the Boat.

No boat for me (except as a student)...Marine Phantoms in Hawaii and Westpack (Orient).

[ronschreck]

I decided on the -8 after flying several other similar experimentals. Having flown fighters for 20 years (A-7, F-105, F-4, F-16) I knew I wanted the responsiveness and balanced controls that any RV delivers. It had to be tandem as I expected to be doing formation flying and aerobatics and I appreciated the roomy back seat for my non-pilot wife. Could have been happy with a nose wheel but too many others scoffed at that and I'm glad I put the wheel on the tail because it is cool! The -8 lends itself to a P-51 style paint scheme so that helped to sell me.

[RYOUNG]

Former A-7, A-10, F-16 pilot. I picked the RV-8 since I expect to be flying by myself 90% of the time. If my wife flew with me more often, I would have picked a side-by-side model.

[RV8iator]

I?ve read so many posts about the other half wanting to sit beside their other half I had to chime in.
We have over two thousand hours in our 8 and spousal unit loves her nest with nav capabilit, leg room and shoulder room galore. (not even considering the much better view).She?s ridden with cramped shoulders and half a view and much prefers our tandem.
The 6/7 aren?t any better or worse than the 8, just different. If you want the coolness and style of a fighter, the 8s your ride.
And Smokey, it?s a really good thing you opted for no training wheel.

[catmandu]

Neck,

Build what you want if you can afford that.investment of time.

If not, quickly find a good RV, any RV, at the right price, and fly the testicles off of it.

Find a better RV later if you have to, using the knowledge of your previous RV flying.

Rinse, repeat.

[Carlos151]

Originally Posted by ronschreck

The -8 lends itself to a P-51 style paint scheme so that helped to sell me.

The -8 looks great in a Navy Corsair paint scheme too. Hornets and Skyhawks in my past. The -8 is the only choice IMHO.