Chris...
I think now, having installed one, I should have asked - why? What's it going to get used for?
Unless your aircraft has full dual controls in the rear seat (stick, rudder and throttle and PTT) you cannot be taught formation in that aircraft... so there's your reason
Or are you now chickening out of learning this
Adam...
...and the view is much better
The usual comment from the RV-8 Rear seat is "what a fantastic view"... It's more comfortable back there, there's more room, and as above, the "standard" rear seat controls give a more than ample experience
The view is only limited on the ground... In addition, airborne, being behind the wing gives a better view of the ground.
I've now got ~80hours in the RV, varying from sitting in the back during the test flying, formation flying (up to formation aeros) from front and rear, including instructing, aerobatics from both seats, again including instructing. Flying from the back is not a real issue except:
- The lack of "extra" controls / switches. As you've been proposing, but very difficult to get many of them back there.
- The limited instrumentation. You can see the top ~4" and the side 6" of the main panel OK, and the side panels fine. The lower / centre of the main panel you will never see. We ensured, and it works (does it not Chris?), that Main ASI, Alt, 'g' and Sby Engine Insts can be seen / flown to from the rear. Dynon hard to see (top centre), GPS (bottom centre) impossible.
- Landing... I am still a low time taildragger pilot... I reckon I could land it from the rear, but only in extremis / emergency. Taxiing would be difficult! That said, I am not sure if it is any worse than a warbird type aircraft for view!
My
personal view is trying to equip an RV-8 to P1 from the rear seat, with a non-pilot in the front, is an interesting project, where the time and effort required far outweighs the (small) benefits
The "main" benefit does not seem to have been mentioned - that of limiting the CG movement between dual and solo. This does need to be considered during the build and wherever you end up will be a compromise. If your flying were to involve lots of aerobatics, maybe including formation aerobatics, and you needed to fly both dual and solo, then a rear seat P1 (like an Extra) would be of benefit. The stock RV-8 is hard work solo on stick forces, and needs care with a heavy pax in the rear v the Aft CG limits.