High empty weight

[Jerry Cochran]

There is a -6a out there that has an empty wt listed as 1195 lbs. This seems very high even given the fact that it has an angle valve engine, CSP, leather, and so forth... I don't recall one this heavy before...

Thoughts from anyone?


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[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by Jerry Cochran

There is a -6a out there that has an empty wt listed as 1195 lbs. This seems very high even given the fact that it has an angle valve engine, CSP, leather, and so forth... I don't recall one this heavy before...

Thoughts from anyone?


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Since you asked................mine is 1172. It's a very spirited machine, light at the touch, trims very well...........and is as fast or faster than some, with the same engine & lighter weight.

Mine isn't a lightweight, but I prefer the leather seats and constant speed prop. Includes weight of the oxygen tank behind the seat. O360 A1A & Hartzell 2 blade C/S. 1850 lb. gross BTW--- there are several I know of, that are heavier.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[Jerry Cochran]

Thanks Larry, that's good info. I've also seen a number of 6a's listed around 1050 empty. of course with 320's, wood or composite props, basic panel, cloth.

Great aircraft either way for sure.


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[Bavafa]

My 7A one could say fully loaded, though not a direct comparison to a 6A, came out to 1168 lb painted with base/clear coat type paint.

[Jeff Vaughan]

My 7A unpainted 1120 lbs
Painted 1136 lbs

For kicks I weighed it with all the stuff in it I normally fly with. Some tools, extinguisher, maps, bottled water, hand held radio etc.. etc.. 1167 lbs

Simple paint job, Flight line interior

[Vlad]

Originally Posted by Jerry Cochran

Thoughts from anyone?


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Bathroom scales maybe?

If I remove my full leather interior and Big Bear Clock I could go easy under 1000 ##. Unpainted, no primer, Catto, O320.

[gerrychuck]

Originally Posted by Jerry Cochran

There is a -6a out there that has an empty wt listed as 1195 lbs. This seems very high even given the fact that it has an angle valve engine, CSP, leather, and so forth... I don't recall one this heavy before...

Thoughts from anyone?


.

I am currently shopping for an A model RV, and have looked at the ad for this aircraft; I have to say the weight freaks me out a bit. Great looking plane, but awful heavy. Very interesting to hear from others with comparable planes and their perspective on the issue.

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by gerrychuck

I am currently shopping for an A model RV, and have looked at the ad for this aircraft; I have to say the weight freaks me out a bit. Great looking plane, but awful heavy. Very interesting to hear from others with comparable planes and their perspective on the issue.

In light of the "other" thread, currently running..........in which gross weights are a major subject........

---What if the RV6 wing just turned out to be a lot stronger than original estimates---

Perhaps Van's aircraft was just very conservative....way back then. Afterall, his designs were simple panels and light. Most didn't have C/S props either.

I wouldn't freak out, one bit. But that's all I'm going to say...

L.Adamson ---- RV6A

[N941WR]

An RV-6 with an EW of 1196 is one of the heaviest RV-6(A)'s out there.

In looking over a copy of Dan's W&B list, there are only two heavier RV-6's (four if you toss in RV-7(A)?s) out there.

That significantly reduces your useful load, if the aircraft's GW is based on Van's number.

Having had the pleasure to fly the exact same airplane with two different engines and two different EW's, the handling difference between the two is significant.

Just like in cars, but more so; the lighter it is, the better it feels.

[Kyle Boatright]

Originally Posted by N941WR

An RV-6 with an EW of 1196 is one of the heaviest RV-6(A)'s out there.

In looking over a copy of Dan's W&B list, there are only two heavier RV-6's (four if you toss in RV-7(A)?s) out there.

That significantly reduces your useful load, if the aircraft's GW is based on Van's number.

Having had the pleasure to fly the exact same airplane with two different engines and two different EW's, the handling difference between the two is significant.

Just like in cars, but more so; the lighter it is, the better it feels.

I agree with this sentiment. Heavier weights compromise the delightful handling of the RV series, particularly at low speeds. My -6 is a vastly different flying airplane at 1225 lbs vs 1675, which is the heaviest I've flown it.