Hard to say
pilot28906 said:
I have been reading the forums for over a year, but this is my first post. I want to build an RV7A and wanted to know if the 7A performs aerobatics OK? Is there any problems with the free castoring nose wheel? Also, how does the RV's in general handle turbulence compared to Cherokee's and Cessna's? Thanks for all the helpful info in the forum; I have learned much by reading every ones posts.
John
My question to you is are you an aerobatic pilot? If you are than its not an Extra 300 or Citabria; it's a RV and it flys FUN acro well. So the only real way to answer your question is you need to go up in an RV and actually fly one. The nose wheel, tail wheel makes no difference to acro.
RV's are loved for their handling. Responsive and light controls but not too twitch. Good balance between pitch and roll forces. All this good for Acro. If you are a novice and what to learn to fly a RV in aerobatic maneuvers, I'll tell you this. it's easy. May be too easy? You will have great confidence and think you are better than you are. By that I mean the RV will do a roll or loop with ease with feet flat on the floor if you want, due to the design of the "Frise" type ailerons. Not ideal technique but it illustrates my point. In a Citabria, Cub, Stearman you need to put some very large movements and coordinate the rudder well to make it fly well. A RV will make even a new-be think they are topgun.
So to answer the question it's excellent for gentleman's aerobatic. By that I mean loops and rolls for example. It does not do snap rolls well (without stall strips). Personally I don't like snap rolls. Also it is clean. You can't do a split-S from cruise or you will exceed Vne. I set up at 135-140 mph for most maneuvers (100-110 mph for split-s) and fly my routine until I can't stand it anymore. Max 3 g's during most maneuvers if you do it right; If that all sounds greek, than leave it at, IT's FUN!
RV's are known for Acro, Short, cross country all in one plane and the reason they are popular. Also compared to fiberglass kits the RV kit price is lower up to a factor of 5.
Now if you are a real hardcore ultimate Acro pilot and want to fly Acro competition, the RV is not great for that. Its too fast an clean to stay in the "Box" easily. Some do fly RV's in the sportsman class. I never did but my friend did. He made mods to his RV-4 like inverted fuel/oil and did OK. He was just learning acro and new to competition, but a year later he got a second plane, a dedicated "Zlin" acro plane, in partnership with friends. If you want to airshow acro get a Pitts or an Acro kit, like a One-Design or Giles.
Turbulence. A RV is better in turbulence because of the "short" solid stout wing. A RV just feels more solid in the bumps. A Cessna flexes, and I had a door pop open due to turbulence and airframe flexing once in a Cessna. I can tell you about a fellow builders experience and what his wife said after she transition to flying in their new RV. She felt more secure and safe in the RV, because it felt so solid in the bumps. Remember the higher the "wing loading" the better a plane flys through turbulence.
Both questions are hard to answer because you don't mention you flight time, experience and if you have any RV time. But if the answer to the latter is NONE, you need to schedule a Demo flight. It is like trying to discribe sex, you just have to try it. BTW, they call the Demo flight by many names, like the $60,000 ride, but bring your check book; you will likely be buying a kit after you first ride. Good Luck George
