What to build...what to build.....
I also find it laughable to compare the RV-10 to the Sling......
Back in the Stone Age when I was considering what to build, there were not many choices. I knew I wanted a tail dragger, fast and good-looking, and aerobatic. I had spent many years working on aluminum airplanes but had NO experience with fiberglass aircraft or construction. My choices were: 1) Lancair (what was I
THINKING?): not a tail-dragger; tight cockpit; retractable gear (complex); does not fly well when slowed up; fiberglass; expensive. 2) GlasAir tail dragger: roomier up front; fast; not bad looking; fiberglass, again; when the tail came down, everything disappears (not great visibility). Both of these were side-by-side and I was born and raised on tandem. 3) RV-4: tail dragger; cool-looking; fast but slow, when needed (not true with the other designs); aerobatic; tandem; familiar aluminum construction; less expensive than the other designs. And I had several friends who had built theirs and were flying, eager to take a prospective builder up for a ride!
Obviously, I chose wisely: my RV-4. Let's see: is Lancair still around? The company, no; the support group, yes. Hmmmmmm. Glasair.....Has evolved and now sells a pretty cool airplane that is NOTHING like the original designs. And how many Glasair taildraggers to you see on the ramp or at OSH? I have a friend that it was his first build and loved it. Until a friend wrecked it. Now he flies a Cabin Waco!
Vans: still around; still selling or supporting all of the aircraft (including the -6) it has designed. An
AMAZING community of supporters from first-time builders to people who
might (actually!) have been involved with the Space Shuttle!
Great, proven aircraft that have been build Worldwide with some in far-reaching places and active on this forum! Some have been flying their RVs for
decades! Fast but are very good at flying slowly; fun; friendly; still being sold. And more have been sold and flying than ANY other E AB aircraft!
Bottom line:
choose wisely! Vans has been around a LONG TIME and, likely, not going ANYwhere! The Sling might be a great aircraft/company but does not have the background (yet) that we enjoy as RV builders!
IMHO; there are, of course, pilots who LOVE their Lancair and Glasair aircraft. Don't know anyone who has a Sling that I could go fly if I hadn't made up my mind yet......RV flyers? Everywhere!