1001001
Well Known Member
So, RViators, I have a question I am hoping I can get some advice on. I started flying a couple of years ago after putting it off for a decade too long. Back when, I got very interested in building an aircraft and learning to fly, but somehow convinced myself I didn't have the time or money (looking back, that is partly true and partly not). I find myself in a situation where I have a great space where I could build a plane (a restored barn that could probably hold about three active RV projects), some free time, and possibly enough money if I exercise proper discipline.
Currently I own and fly a Piper Warrior II in which I am working on my instrument rating. It's a great plane for its purpose, and I'll be sad to part with it some day, but it doesn't really fit my "mission," which is a cross country machine with moderate lifting capacity. My family is spread out and I do a fair amount of regional travel for my work which involves trips that are too short to justify an airline ticket but too long to drive comfortably all that often. I need a plane that will get me places fast and with the capacity to bring along some friends and family. The RV-10 seems like a good fit.
I am confident that I have and/or can develop the skills necessary to build an RV, but I'm not certain I can do it in a tight enough time frame to enable me to transition from the Warrior as soon as I would like. I see myself having the following options, and would like some advice, if any would care to give it. I intend to continue to fly the Warrior through my instrument training, although it is not as capable as I would like, lacking an IFR certified GPS installation (it does have a vfr-only GPS and a solid radio navigation package installed).
1. I could continue to fly the Warrior without an IFR GPS but this limits me as there is only one instrument approach to my home airport that does not require GPS--sadly, the localizer approach is NOTAMed as requiring GPS because the OM is out of service indefinitely and possibly permanently. The VOR approach does not authorize circling approaches. This option saves me the most money for building the RV, but limits me to a slow platform with so-so navigation.
2. I could spend about $18k (quoted from three different avionics shops) to install a GTN 650 and a new audio panel (the shops won't touch the GTN installation without scrapping my old KMA26) but this eats into my RV building funds quite a bit, and I'm not at all convinced that putting almost 50% of what I paid for the plane into an avionics upgrade is at all a good idea.
3. I could look for a well equipped affordable replacement for the Warrior that runs faster, such as an older Arrow or even a Mooney as a stopgap option, but my experience with the Warrior tells me I would probably end up spending a fair amount getting an "affordable" plane up to my standards, interfering with the time and budget for the RV.
4. I could just outright look for an RV to purchase and fly while building a -10. A hangar neighbor of mine has a -7A for sale, but it doesn't really fit my mission, nor am I yet comfortable with the idea of buying someone else's homebuilt (absolutely no offense to anyone intended).
5. I could drop the whole idea of building and look for a solid Mooney or something else, but I really haven't found the mix of performance, customizability, and technical advancement that a homebuilt offers in a certificated design. I'm sure I could probably buy and outfit an M20J more or less to my specs for about what I would have in an RV-10 eventually but I wouldn't be able to work on it, wouldn't be able to get the exact panel I want, would probably spend a bunch more on annuals and maintenance, and wouldn't have the experience of building my own.
6. ???
Can anyone offer some sage advice? In anticipation of some great VAF help, I'm preemptively making a donation to VAF -I've already found this to be a very informative site and I thank the creators and maintainers for their dedication.
Currently I own and fly a Piper Warrior II in which I am working on my instrument rating. It's a great plane for its purpose, and I'll be sad to part with it some day, but it doesn't really fit my "mission," which is a cross country machine with moderate lifting capacity. My family is spread out and I do a fair amount of regional travel for my work which involves trips that are too short to justify an airline ticket but too long to drive comfortably all that often. I need a plane that will get me places fast and with the capacity to bring along some friends and family. The RV-10 seems like a good fit.
I am confident that I have and/or can develop the skills necessary to build an RV, but I'm not certain I can do it in a tight enough time frame to enable me to transition from the Warrior as soon as I would like. I see myself having the following options, and would like some advice, if any would care to give it. I intend to continue to fly the Warrior through my instrument training, although it is not as capable as I would like, lacking an IFR certified GPS installation (it does have a vfr-only GPS and a solid radio navigation package installed).
1. I could continue to fly the Warrior without an IFR GPS but this limits me as there is only one instrument approach to my home airport that does not require GPS--sadly, the localizer approach is NOTAMed as requiring GPS because the OM is out of service indefinitely and possibly permanently. The VOR approach does not authorize circling approaches. This option saves me the most money for building the RV, but limits me to a slow platform with so-so navigation.
2. I could spend about $18k (quoted from three different avionics shops) to install a GTN 650 and a new audio panel (the shops won't touch the GTN installation without scrapping my old KMA26) but this eats into my RV building funds quite a bit, and I'm not at all convinced that putting almost 50% of what I paid for the plane into an avionics upgrade is at all a good idea.
3. I could look for a well equipped affordable replacement for the Warrior that runs faster, such as an older Arrow or even a Mooney as a stopgap option, but my experience with the Warrior tells me I would probably end up spending a fair amount getting an "affordable" plane up to my standards, interfering with the time and budget for the RV.
4. I could just outright look for an RV to purchase and fly while building a -10. A hangar neighbor of mine has a -7A for sale, but it doesn't really fit my mission, nor am I yet comfortable with the idea of buying someone else's homebuilt (absolutely no offense to anyone intended).
5. I could drop the whole idea of building and look for a solid Mooney or something else, but I really haven't found the mix of performance, customizability, and technical advancement that a homebuilt offers in a certificated design. I'm sure I could probably buy and outfit an M20J more or less to my specs for about what I would have in an RV-10 eventually but I wouldn't be able to work on it, wouldn't be able to get the exact panel I want, would probably spend a bunch more on annuals and maintenance, and wouldn't have the experience of building my own.
6. ???
Can anyone offer some sage advice? In anticipation of some great VAF help, I'm preemptively making a donation to VAF -I've already found this to be a very informative site and I thank the creators and maintainers for their dedication.