Help Convince Me

[DanWright]

Originally Posted by randyintejas

good point. what is the insurance rate difference?

As I understand it, pilot experience and history are the driving factors. Check with your insurance dude.

[N9331v]

At just under a few thousand hours in tricycle retracts I felt I needed a challenge so I ordered the -7. I havent even flown in a vans or any tail wheel aircraft yet but what the heck they look cool. I also feel with proper training any competent pilot should be able to handle any tail wheel. The 7A nose gear takes interior room, looks odd, weak and just plane goofy to me.

[DanWright]

Originally Posted by pazmanyflyer

Don't forget the sexy factor! The 7's stance is sexier than the -A IMHO anyways. Chicks dig sexy!

If she digs aviation, then any plane is appealing. If she isn't into aviation, what are you doing with her?

Note: The women in my life all like airplanes. I am indeed blessed.

[gbrasch]

When I was in the decision phase I remember talking to Ken Scott about it. He asked what my prior experience was. Thousands of hours in one type, zero in the other. That answered my question on what to build. Hope that helps, Glenn

[dhall_polo]

Originally Posted by DanWright

Conventional wisdom is that there are two kinds of tail dragger pilots, those who have ground looped and those who are going to.

There are two types of Vans "A" pilots: Those who have flipped over, and those desperately holding that stick back every landing hoping not to.

[Smilin' Jack]

I for one love the looks of the RV 7 and that is the way I am going to head.

I have been doing a lot of researching while building my empenage kit.

I have the HS primed and ready to put together and the VS in the prime booth as of tonight. Hopefully by this weekend both will be finished and I will start on the Elevators and rudder.

It's has been a long time since I flew tail draggers but I did have about 2500 in draggers from luscombe's to Beech G18S which I flew in the late 70's on a cargo run for 6 hours a night for 2 years. Have always loved draggers but my corporate job they only have nose wheels.

I am right behind you... in the build. Starting this a little later in life than I wish.. Lord knows I should have been more diligent about getting my personal plane many years ago.

Best wishes which ever way you go, I am sure you'll be happy.

Smilin' Jack

[java]

I have nothing against either version. They both have their detractions (already raised) but the attractions are more subjective. They fly the same in the air, barring a knot or two in favor of the tail draggers. Don't let either camp scare you. Lots of buzz on nose wheel dangers for flip overs, but also a lot of them that seem to have no problems. The tailwheel dangers are easily identified (similar to tailwheel challenges since the beginning of flying).

The only thing I don't like seeing is someone choosing a nose wheel option purely because they have never flown a tailwheel (the opposite doesn't seem to occur), even though they would like a tailwheel. Both are valid options for pretty much anyone, IMHO.

You will spend way more hours building than it would ever take to transition into either configuration. Pick what revs your motor!

[Lou]

Go get a tailwheel checkout from a good TW instructor and then decide. A good instructor will have you flying on the crosswind days once your ready and won't give you the endosement until you have those crosswinds comfortably under control.

Just like your nose wheel training, it will take some practice to increase your ability to handle the higher crosswind components. But you can build up to that. It's alot of fun learning and the TW time will teach you to handle both types of aircraft with more landing precision. It's a win win situation.

The TW RV's are a bit more well behaved than some of the TW aircraft but poor pilot technique is what will usually cause the aluminum to get scraped up, not the gear configuration.

Perhaps getting checked out in a cub or 140 first and then if your sold on the TW, get some instruction in a TW RV to make the final decision. You'll have a blast. Watch the taildraggers at your local airport when the wind kicks up. That will take some of the scare factor out as you watch the landings and takeoffs. Everyone does just fine.

[JonJay]

If you choose to go tailwheel, do yourself a big favor and get some time in an antique or classic dragger, something that makes you work for each landing, coordinate your turns, keep your ailerons and elevator in the correct position while taxiing in wind, embarras you when you get stuck weathervaned into the wind, and a host of other "techniques" required of those machines. RV's are really, really forgiving tail wheel airplanes, right up to the point that they bite you!
The skills you can learn will make you a better pilot in any aircraft, even if you decide to go trike with your RV.

[Ron Lee]

Originally Posted by dhall_polo

There are two types of Vans "A" pilots: Those who have flipped over, and those desperately holding that stick back every landing hoping not to.

Darn. I forgot to worry about flipping my 6A a few days across when I landed easily in a 16 knot/gusting 26 knot crosswind. That is almost as bad as forgetting to get a cherry slurpee at Death Valley.