I'm presently considering purchase of a RV. My expected uses would be:
1. Local VFR fun flying
2. Formation flying, if I can find the right group
3. Occasional XC trips to visit family/friends - IFR if equipped
4. Occasional recreational (non-competition) aerobatics
My questions to you experienced RV owners are:
A. What do you do with your RV?
B. Are you doing pretty much what you expected, or have you found unanticipated uses?
Thanks!
Many, many years ago, I was speaking with a company rep, Ken Scott at OSH or SNF. I probably had been flying my RV-8 less than 5 years at the time. He asked how many hours I had on the plane. I told him. He replied, "Wow, you fly a lot! What are you doing with it?" I looked him straight in the eye and I said, "Everything you guys designed it to do!" I've done it all with my RV-8.
I've done:
1. Local fun flights with no particular plan, low and slow.
2. Many many lunch outings (mostly BBQ), solo, with wife, with kid, with friends, and even with strangers. Sometimes close by and occasionally very far: TX for BBQ with my friends and even an impromptu 3+ hour leg each way for Maryland crab cakes.
3. Long trips all over the country and out of the country. I have flown down low to enjoy the countryside and up high at FL 190 enjoying 220+ kt ground speeds.
4. Serious, no kidding transportation back and forth to S. FL when my parents needed me. I would hop in it at a moment's notice and be with my parents in less than 3 hours.
5. Formation, lots of it: 2 ship, 4 ship, 30 ship and everything in between for game day, 4th of July parades and Memorial Day flyovers.
6. Gentleman aerobatics which led to competition aerobatics.
7. I fly day, night, VFR, IFR. I've been into 1500' grass strips and Class B airports such as Atlanta and Midway.
8. As far as unanticipated uses go, the prize goes to the countless hours of fun and bonding with my son Max. When I drove that first rivet in 1997 I didn't see that coming. He was born in 2004, The airplane first flew in 2007 and he's been flying with me since he was 4 years old. He's flying the RV now! He goes to Riddle and is a Commercial Pilot with Glider, SEL, and MEL ratings.
9. Like others have said, the RV has led to other things such as my partnership in an awesome F33A Bonanza for some serious traveling with the whole family and the purchase of my Extra 300S which has opened up an entire world of competition aerobatics.
It's almost limitless what you can do with your RV!