The partially completed emp is still under my bench.
Once I started doing more camping, the -7 became the clear winner in my book. If you can fit it in the airplane, you can take it. Much easier to fit it into the -7. The -7 is the most CG-friendly airplane I've ever envisioned.
Was gonna build the -8 mostly because it's the best "flight lead" airplane in my book. Rearward visibility in the -7 is not great. The -8 was going to solve that issue. One day I was highly motivated to solve it, and the next day...other things in life became more important. Am I seriously building another plane so I can see out the BACK?! Reality check...
The -7 serves my mission profile darn near perfectly. If I have to sacrifice a bit of visibility out the back of the airplane, and if that's the worst "squawk" that I can come up with...well...I can live with that. My free time goes toward other things. You've seen "Multiplicity," right?
I'm sure I'll build again, maybe in 10 years. 20? And I'm sure Van's will still be making the best kits around. There's no rush. Unless I wear this -7 out.