My question is do you have to have a center stick on the RV-10? I own a Cirrus SR 20. But I'm thinking about building an airplane because there are somethings that I would like to do my way. I have two issues with the SR 20. 1st: No Air Conditioning 2nd: I would like a diesel engine, the delta hawk. So my question is, do I have to have a center stick or can I make it a side stick or yoke?
The real question you have to ask yourself is: Do I want to BUILD an airplane, or FLY an airplane?
Significant mods = increased build time. Too, if you expect to sell it some day "unusual" engines reduce sale price (although DeltaHawk may be certified and mainstream by then).
If you are specifically looking for a 4-seat kit airplane with a yoke, the
only one I know of that compares meaningfully with the -10 is the Ravin (patterned after the old Comanche 260). The retractable kit is a bit more than the -10; the fixed gear is similar but not as fast as the -10 (well, maybe at altitude with a turbocharged diesel). It is considerably heavier than a -10 empty, so won't climb as well on the same engine (apples to apples) but has an enormous useful load and enough fuel to fly 1800 miles un-refueled. It is also glass instead of metal - some folks do and some don't...
They are currently testing the Ravin with
Adept Airmotive's engine-under-development which, if it actually works, would be a pretty sweet engine in any airplane capable of this amount of horsepower.
But, all things being equal and assuming that like most of us your budget is not unlimited, the -10 has probably the best value and utility combination ever devised. Grass strips; STOL; good load/range/speed/rate of climb; simple to build and maintain. Given all of the above, you might consider simply "getting used to" the stick. For us ex-fighter jocks, your dislike of that sounds like someone who doesn't like chocolate - dat's just plumb un-American!