Empty weight comparison

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Weighed the airplane yesterday in a build that was always mindful of Van's' admonition: "The more weight you put in, the more fun you pump out", so I was spartan on priming only structural parts, parts that would have paint, and parts that were impossible to get to to remove. Dual G3X, weighed with everything added: wheelpants and fairings, all upholstery etc. No fuel, of course

Left: 320
Right: 316
Nose: 156
Total: 792

That was a little chunkier than anticipated.

 

[Amadeus]

That was a little chunkier than anticipated.

Sounds about right. Mine is 810 with paint.

 

[rv12is]

Yours sounds like a close comparison to mine. Dual G3X, autopilot, most parts primed (some fully primed, others only mating surfaces), full interior, and no paint. However, I don't have wheel pants installed yet.

Left: 309
Right: 311
Nose: 156
Total: 776

 

[CTCole]

Could be worse. Mine has the same equipment, fully primed on all surfaces & painted: 813 lbs. I wanted the priming after seeing what corrosion can do on 50-year-old planes (I'll never live long enough to see this plane anywhere near that). Still climbs very nicely.

 

[jsalley]

Mine (which is equipped identically to yours) came in at 786. I primed everything that’s internal, and primed/painted the cockpit, but no exterior primer or paint yet.

First flight today - still smiling!

 

[rcarsey]

My plane after completion (no paint. primed everything except the inside surface of the wing skins) was:

Left: 319.8
Right: 322.5
Nose: 149.0
TOTAL: 791.3

This did NOT include wheel/strut fairings. It DID include all interior carpets, 2 headsets, POH.

This was the IFR version, which has dual G3X screens, AP servos, audio panel, IFR navigator, 2-bladed prop, XM/UAT receiver/antenna.

 

[henrysamson]

RV-12iS (mating surfaces primed, cabin interior primed and painted, fiberglass cowlings and fairings painted, metal skins bare) with dual Garmin G3X IFR package, wheel pants, full interior carpet, two bladed prop, two headsets and POH:

Left: 315.9
Right: 325.7
Nose: 151.2

Total: 792.8

Inspected on Thursday (11/13/25). Waiting for weather.

 

[unladenswallow]

I'm based in Europe so I used metric units in preference to stone age units (don't ask me what my weight is in lbs, I don't know). My painted RV12iS with single VFR Dynon avionics plus backup EFIS, 3 bladed prop, park brake and carpets but no spats weighed in at:

Left: 149.9kg
Right: 147.7kg
Nose: 66.0 kg

Total 363.6kg (which according to Google is 801.6 lbs).

 

[Amadeus]

I'm based in Europe so I used metric units in preference to stone age units (don't ask me what my weight is in lbs, I don't know).

We in the United States are in awe.

 

[unladenswallow]

We in the United States are in awe.

What really gets me is that all the legacy training aircraft over here (Pipers, Cessnas etc.) have the fuel tank capacity placarded in USG and the fuel flow gauge (if fitted ) in USG/hr; whereas fuel has been dispensed here in litres at least since I started flying nearly 50 years ago. At least with EFIS I can now switch to units that I am accustomed to.

Although I guess the fuel price is less scary when expressed in litres and not USG.

 

[G JWTP]

My iS. Fully primed, fully painted, full internal fit out and external spats.
VFR G3X touch with G5 as a back up, autopilot. No ELT ( not required in the UK/ Europe). But I did fit a Pilot Aware ( Google is your friend here).
3 blade prop.

Front: 149
Left: 324
Right 336

Total 809 lbs

John.

PS if you want to know why we all run on Unleadded Mogas, over here, at present 100LL avgas is approx $9.40/US Gallon, Where as Unleadded Mogas $7.40/ US Gallon.

 

[Dugaru]

No ELT ( not required in the UK/ Europe).

That’s a triumph of good sense. The things are a blight.

 

[flightdoc101]

My stripper ULS with single EFIS, AP, no strobe or position lights, full interior - 750#