RV-7 vs RV-8

[The Wizzard]

I ordered the RV-8 empanage but am having second thoughts. All my friends are flying the 8 however I my want to teach a few others in the 7. I don't like the center mounted throttle of the 7. Does anyone know of a side mounted setup? I want to fly formation and acro and prefer to use my left hand for controlling power. Can you give me some pros or cons as to why one model or the other.

[Andy Hill]

Hi Dave...

As an RV-8 builder / owner / flyer I should be totally biased in favour of the RV-8. However, one or 2 of your points lead me to hesitate to say the RV-8 would suit you better:

however I my want to teach a few others

The RV-8 is a poor "basic instructional" machine. The rear seat instructor has limited vis in the crucial landing / takeoff phase, limited access to controls and by definition limited instrumentation.

The RV-8 is, however, a great "advanced instructional" aircraft e.g. teaching formation, aerobatics (within the CG / weight limits) to pilots proficient at flying. You can coach / feedback all aspects of their flying. I speak as an instructor, and have, largely inadvertantly ended up trying to "coach" people to fly an RV-8 who really needed, it turned out, to be "taught" to fly a taildragger. In both cases, they were sent off to hone / improve their TD skills in another type, and then successfully converted to the RV-8.

I don't like the center mounted throttle of the 7. Does anyone know of a side mounted setup?

I am sure it can, and has been done.

I want to fly formation and acro and prefer to use my left hand for controlling power

At one extreme, set aircraft up to fly from the RHS I fly numerous types (RVs, JPs, Extras, Bulldogs, Airbuses, Yaks) from Left, Right, Front, Back seat, and vary as a consequence which hand is stick and which is power, and have to say, hardly notice it.

Can you give me some pros or cons as to why one model or the other

Leaving aside your points, the RV-8 is, in my biased opinion, the way to go for sheer flying pleasure I do a lot of aerobatics / formation (instructing), and the SBS RVs I find limiting - especially since the low profile canopy limits your visibility across cockpit. As a consequence you want to sit as high as possible (arrange seating) but that is an issue if you wear a helmet which attacks the poor owners canopy As you say, the default quadrant arrangement of the RV-8 is preferable.

I am sure 99 other, and totally contrary, opinions will be coming along shortly...

Andy & Ellie Hill
RV-8 G-HILZ

[yakdriver]

Originally Posted by The Wizzard

I ordered the RV-8 empanage but am having second thoughts. All my friends are flying the 8 however I my want to teach a few others in the 7. I don't like the center mounted throttle of the 7. Does anyone know of a side mounted setup? I want to fly formation and acro and prefer to use my left hand for controlling power. Can you give me some pros or cons as to why one model or the other.

Leave the throttle in the middle and fly from the right seat if you just have to have right stick/left throttle. It is not hard to use left stick, you learned in an airplane with left yoke right?. Modifying it for left hand throttle creates other ergonomic problems like having to switch hands to change radio freqs etc. Also putting a dual throttle set up so you can teach is overly complicated and the guy in the left seat has left stick/right throttle. If you just have to have left throttle/right stick build an 8. JMHO Don

[msturgis]

I know Dan Checkoway had a left mounted quad in his -7.

[David-aviator]

I fly a 7 and love it, but real pilots sit one the center line of an airplane with the stick in their right hand and throttle on the left.

I had the throttle on the left but gave up on it because too much other stuff had to be operated with the right hand, like flaps, trim, and radio, which involved switching flying hands at the wrong time. The throttle is back center mounted and has been for some time.

If you decide to go with a left hand throttle with the 7, think about those items I mention. It can be done for sure, but I did not plan it well. The back seat throttle for the 8 is what I used. It was not perfect, but it worked for as long as I dealt with it.

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by yakdriver

Leave the throttle in the middle and fly from the right seat if you just have to have right stick/left throttle. It is not hard to use left stick, you learned in an airplane with left yoke right?. Modifying it for left hand throttle creates other ergonomic problems like having to switch hands to change radio freqs etc. Also putting a dual throttle set up so you can teach is overly complicated and the guy in the left seat has left stick/right throttle. If you just have to have left throttle/right stick build an 8. JMHO Don

I've done that, but the Dynon D10A is very difficult to read from the right seat. Lots of stuff to think about here....sitting in the middle is best.

When I win the lottery, I'm building an 8 even if I'm 80.

[yakdriver]

All of the airplanes I owned and most that I flew over the last 30 years were tandem. I really like my 7 with side by side as it is more fun with somebody next to you. Having someone to help with maps and navigation is way easier side by side. Don

[Crossbow]

Originally Posted by The Wizzard

I ordered the RV-8 empanage but am having second thoughts. All my friends are flying the 8 however I my want to teach a few others in the 7. I don't like the center mounted throttle of the 7. Does anyone know of a side mounted setup? I want to fly formation and acro and prefer to use my left hand for controlling power. Can you give me some pros or cons as to why one model or the other.

Ummm, about the teaching part of your post ....

while I am sure that there are several others around VAF that know more about this subject than I do, please keep in mind that Experimental planes cannot be used for Commercial purposes.

Therefore, I think that you can legally use an RV for Flight Instruction, and you can legally charge the student for your time as a Flight Instructor. However, you will not be able to charge the student for the airplane time (fuel, insurance, hanger fees, and other such things).

Therefore, please keep that in mind about your RV decision.

Thanks!

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Crossbow

Ummm, about the teaching part of your post ....

while I am sure that there are several others around VAF that know more about this subject than I do, please keep in mind that Experimental planes cannot be used for Commercial purposes.

Therefore, I think that you can legally use an RV for Flight Instruction, and you can legally charge the student for your time as a Flight Instructor. However, you will not be able to charge the student for the airplane time (fuel, insurance, hanger fees, and other such things).

Therefore, please keep that in mind about your RV decision.

Thanks!

Actually you can use an EAB for flight instruction AND charge the student. This is allowed, if the aircraft if maintained in a manner similar to what a flight school has to do (100 hour inspections, etc.) and the owner/instructor wants to jump the through the hoops with the FAA.

This is how Mike Seager and others are allowed to charge for their services.

The FAA made this exception some time back to improve safety, which it has done, IMHO.

[Crossbow]

Originally Posted by N941WR

Actually you can use an EAB for flight instruction AND charge the student. This is allowed, if the aircraft if maintained in a manner similar to what a flight school has to do (100 hour inspections, etc.) and the owner/instructor wants to jump the through the hoops with the FAA.

This is how Mike Seager and others are allowed to charge for their services.

The FAA made this exception some time back to improve safety, which it has done, IMHO.

Thanks much!

That is very good information indeed.