...and I see an RV-9a that looks nice. Pls share with me the thought process that
attracted you to the -9.
I have a bad back and can't deal with much over 3 to 4 G's before getting out of the plane is an issue.
I understand the lower stall speed which would be nice and been told the -9 is a great CC machine, but so was the -6a I built... I could easily enough extend the range by slowing down 10 kts or so...
With the -9, you don't have to give up any speed over the -6 or -7 to get the lower stall speed. In the event of an engine out landing, that lower stall speed could be a life saver.
Also loved the feeling of security the 6g wing gave...
Funny thing, I don't hear about the wings on the -9 falling off. In fact, I read about more -6 & -7 G overloads than the -9 and I know a number of -9's that are doing things Van's would not recommend.
For me, it was simply a replacement for my '41 Tcraft and I wasn't looking for an acro bird. When Van's came out with the -9A, I promised myself I would build one with an O-235, if they came out with a tailwheel version. They did and I did; well, I used an O-290, which was later replaced with an O-360. So, it is a little bit better than my old Tcraft.
Maybe Vic will chime in, he recently flew a -9A for the first time and was simply stunned.
While the -9 is a bit sluggish in roll when compared to the short wing RV's, it feels better balanced.
The -9's wing is just amazing! How about 174 mph / 151 knots True while burning 5.5 GPH? The plane was still climbing strong when I leveled out and was trimmed nose down at this altitude.