What's new
Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

Anyone else notice?

Amadeus

Amadeus

Well Known Member
Sponsor
828 flying RV-12 with THREE MORE flying as of the last three days (Congratulations to Barry Doman, Eric Wingert & Jerre Hill) yet those of us enjoying these wonderful examples of flying machines are considered the red-headed step children in the forums. I just saw a photo of an RV-12 flying off the wing of the RV-1 on the final tour to the museum. I was warned that if I flew an RV I would become one of those annoying RV pilots - I see what those warnings were about. At least us -12 pilots have each other!

Vans Completed.jpg
 
Amadeus said:
828 flying RV-12 with THREE MORE flying as of the last three days (Congratulations to Barry Doman, Eric Wingert & Jerre Hill) yet those of us enjoying these wonderful examples of flying machines are considered the red-headed step children in the forums. I just saw a photo of an RV-12 flying off the wing of the RV-1 on the final tour to the museum. I was warned that if I flew an RV I would become one of those annoying RV pilots - I see what those warnings were about. At least us -12 pilots have each other!

View attachment 117631
Click to expand...
Yes, guilty as charged. My only excuse is that most -12's are not certified as EAB aircraft, so my mind doesn't lump them together with other RVs.
 
yes sorry! my first RV flight was in an RV-12 and the thought was “boy that was fun, imma get myself one of these full size RVs” 😅
 
When I graduated A&P school (4 years @ part time!) and started working in the field we would have the occasional light sport come in for inspection / service and I would tell the DOM “ I didn’t go to A&P school to work on lawn mower engines!” and refuse. 😂. Red headed step child, yep.
 
I think the days of looking down on SLSA and ELSA will quickly end in the next few years as MOSAIC takes off. Be hard to convince our RV-15 builders that they didn't build a real airplane when the SLSA models start rolling out the door in a year or two.
 
docjjrmd said:
I think the days of looking down on SLSA and ELSA will quickly end in the next few years as MOSAIC takes off. Be hard to convince our RV-15 builders that they didn't build a real airplane when the SLSA models start rolling out the door in a year or two.
Click to expand...
docjjrmd,
Agree.
Nobody hates the -12.
I simply believe that some builders drawn to the experimental world reach for speed as one of the "un-obtainum" items with certified machines.

My mind: hmmph, I cannot afford a Money Ovation, Bonanza, or Cirrus.
Wait a minute, lookey there, I can make something close on my meager budget and still have the near-speed.
When I first joined this forum, there were many postings of +200 Kts in flight.
Me again: I did that too.

I don't think the mission for the -12 is raw eye watering speed.

Just my simple, cheap brain musings,
Daddyman58
 
BobTurner said:
Yes, guilty as charged. My only excuse is that most -12's are not certified as EAB aircraft, so my mind doesn't lump them together with other RVs.
Click to expand...
We better get used to seeing more E-LSA/S-LSA's hit the market due to MOSAIC.

Plenty of 12's are certified as EAB. The airplane has no idea what letters are associated with its pedigree. The 12 is an awesome example that meets or exceeds it's intended mission. I assume the 15 will as well once Van's spits out a S-LSA version and my bet is that they will since the airplane is already being designed with those standards anyway.
 
Amadeus said:
828 flying RV-12 with THREE MORE flying as of the last three days (Congratulations to Barry Doman, Eric Wingert & Jerre Hill) yet those of us enjoying these wonderful examples of flying machines are considered the red-headed step children in the forums. I just saw a photo of an RV-12 flying off the wing of the RV-1 on the final tour to the museum. I was warned that if I flew an RV I would become one of those annoying RV pilots - I see what those warnings were about. At least us -12 pilots have each other!

View attachment 117631
Click to expand...
The 12 was my first jaunt into 'sport aircraft' and I loved flying it! Best bug smasher with incredible views and the wonderful economy of the 912iS. I couldn't find a SLSA version when I was buying, so I had to go down a different path. But anyone that gives a jab to the 12 hasn't flown one!
 
Daddyman58 said:
My mind: hmmph, I cannot afford a Money Ovation, Bonanza, or Cirrus.

Daddyman58
Click to expand...
Setting aside the red-headed step children jokes (which the OP set himself up for 🙃) and the fact that this _is_ an RV Forum…

I fly a Bonanza that can be purchased for <$75K. Any E-Series (1956 or earlier) would likely fall into this category. Bonanza speed, comfort, seating, reliability, design and construction, _Safety!_, prestige and cool factor, etc, etc. Are there a few challenges with ownership?..of course, there always is. However, the biggest challenge is being your own mechanic and anyone that can build an RV12 has the potential / capability. The FAA keeps making it easier to maintain your own aircraft.
 
rmarshall234 said:
Setting aside the red-headed step children jokes (which the OP set himself up for 🙃) and the fact that this _is_ an RV Forum…

I fly a Bonanza that can be purchased for <$75K. Any E-Series (1956 or earlier) would likely fall into this category. Bonanza speed, comfort, seating, reliability, design and construction, _Safety!_, prestige and cool factor, etc, etc. Are there a few challenges with ownership?..of course, there always is. However, the biggest challenge is being your own mechanic and anyone that can build an RV12 has the potential / capability. The FAA keeps making it easier to maintain your own aircraft.
Click to expand...
Why I bought my T-34A versus owning another RV-8. More than twice the cost but it also has that long list of Beechcraft reasons behind it.
 
I always loved airplanes, rode my bicycle to airports just to watch. I enrolled at Embry Riddle (a&p) fresh out of highschool. I will never understand the petty bickering, example: I hate rv's, I hate fabric planes, I hate turbines, I hate rotor craft, etc.. even here, when I first joined I received nasty remarks for not owning a RV. Mostly I received welcome replies.. I gotta go read the OP forgive me if I wandered off topic
 
It isn't limited to just the -12.

If you have ANY OTHER RV and there is an "A" following the number....

Being a pilot places one in an elite group. I never knew that so many pilots could be so insecure.
 
sansoneservices said:
I gave up conventional gear after a dozen fair to good landings. Ground looped and peed my pants (little bit).
My friends now call me "tricycle boy"
Click to expand...
I, too, have a tailwheel endorsement and fly both conventional and tricycle interchangeably. Don't really have a preference given that the tricycle gear aircraft I fly (RV-12, DA-40) both have castering nose wheels requiring rudder and differential braking to taxi. Never detected a difference between tricycle and conventional in the air, either. Well, the Cub is less forgiving of "lazy rudder" in the air.
 
AeroDog said:
My first thought after strapping into a -6 was "Wow, this is a lot tighter than a -12."
Click to expand...

A close friend is instructing my daughter in the RV-12 I built. He was interested in an RV-6 that was for sale locally, this particular one has a builder pedigree that makes it special in my opinion and would have been a great airplane to own. He told me after he sat in it that it made him feel claustrophobic and was way too small.

This dude owns 2 Pipers and gets to fly all kinds of cool planes, but he loves my RV-12. He's scouring the market right now for an SLSA -12 to buy to instruct in.
 
Amadeus said:
Thanks for illustrating the attitude I was referencing!
Click to expand...
it’s hard to tell if you are upset or amused. hopefully the latter. I have an A nosedragger and it does not bother one bit if a tail wheel looks down on me. We are not in grade school anymore 😃
 
All the U.S. military aircraft I've flown have had the training wheel in front, so I don't really care about that. The reason I bought my RV-8, and not an -A model, was because I didn't like the thin tube that holds that front wheel and I fly off a grass runway. Heck, even my current plane has the training wheel in front, and I don't think anyone would say those who flew it and currently fly it aren't real pilots.
 
Daddyman58 said:
Aerodog,
Aren't the cockpit dimensions the same?
Daddyman58
Click to expand...
Nope.

Even compared to the 7A, the 12 is bigger. More wingspan, slightly less length and it is a bit taller. The cockpit is bigger but some room is taken by the fuel tank. Lots more room between seats and panel. The canopy shape also allows for much more headroom. The 9A does have a slightly longer wing.

Cracks me up when people refer to the 12 as smaller than its predecessors. Slower and lighter, yes but smaller, not always.
 
Daddyman58 said:
My mind: hmmph, I cannot afford a Money Ovation, Bonanza, or Cirrus.
Wait a minute, lookey there, I can make something close on my meager budget and still have the near-speed.
When I first joined this forum, there were many postings of +200 Kts in flight.
Me again: I did that too.

I don't think the mission for the -12 is raw eye watering speed.

Just my simple, cheap brain musings,
Daddyman58
Click to expand...
Money is a replacement for Mooney.... It's just never mentioned by the owuers...
 
Brantel said:
Nope.

Even compared to the 7A, the 12 is bigger. More wingspan, slightly less length and it is a bit taller. The cockpit is bigger but some room is taken by the fuel tank. Lots more room between seats and panel. The canopy shape also allows for much more headroom. The 9A does have a slightly longer wing.

Cracks me up when people refer to the 12 as smaller than its predecessors. Slower and lighter, yes but smaller, not always.
Click to expand...
Brantel,
Noted.
Daddyman58
 
I have one of those 200 mph cruisers, yet find the RV-12is to be a lot of fun to fly. And yes, compared to the 6-7-9, it is much more comfortable for those of us with long legs and size 14 shoes.

Nothing new really. The J-3 Cub is often called a small airplane, when in fact it has a 35 foot wingspan, enough to warrant caution dragging one into a standard 40ft t-hangar.

Still have one remaining RV-12is "super quick build" kit to move. Somebody make an offer!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top