Hi,
I'm new to VAF and this is my first post. I wanted to introduce myself and say hello. I've wanted to build an RV for a long time and about 10 years ago family and work had to take priority. But now I'm again able to consider the idea of building. I've got my PPL and kept current on Cessnas and for the last 2 years on the SportStar.
I had some questions specific to the RV-12; I think this is the best fit for me and despite reading all I can find on it, answers to these basic questions remain elusive. So I hope you don't mind my taking a bit of bandwidth here to post them. Rather than fire off a dozen posts, I'll try to get them all in this thread and hope for the best. Here goes:
1) RV-12 is Not a Quickbuild
I'm looking for confirmation that this kit arrives all in pieces, nothing built. Is the wing spar not even completed? I ask this question because I'm surprised at Vans' claim that this kit has an 800 hour build time.
2) Blind Riveting Only?
I'd also considered building the RV9/9A but noise would be a huge problem where I live. Besides the fact that I love the RV-12 and its miserly Rotax engine I'm hoping someone can confirm the noise levels building an RV-12 are considerably lower than a machine that needs a proper rivet gun. Are there any properly bucked rivets in the RV-12?
3) Torso Height
I can fit into the Sportstar with my headset quite comfortably but I cannot fit into a 2-seat Katana. The height from the seat to the Canopy is too small. I haven't been close enough to a '12 to sit in one. I measure 38.5 inches butt-to-head without a headset on.
4) Handling Qualities
OK - so it's been a dream of mine for a long long time to buy an airplane. Now that I'm able to, economically speaking, it'd be a mistake not to consider all the options. People are saying to me "why build when you can just buy a ready-made plane?". They just don't understand the allure of building, right? Still, it's a good question. I've ruled out Pipers and Cessnas because I'm looking for something sporty and fun to fly. The one ready-made plane I can't seem to shake is the Grumman Tiger. By all accounts it seems to be a very fun plane to fly. Is that just compared to the run-of-the-mill Cessna/Beech/Piper?
5) Building Space
I've got a basement room 12 x 20 which I plan to build everything except the fuselage in. I've got a single-car garage 10'3" x 19'4" for the fuse. A key question is, can I build the fuse to completion in a space that small? The published length of the RV-12 fuselage is 19'11" - so it just depends on what doesn't need to be installed with the engine to get it all to fit. Any thoughts you could share here would be greatly appreciated
6) Flaperons
I can research this myself, but curious if anyone could point me to something citing the pros and cons of flaperons. They are the one thing about the RV-12 that I'm not sure about. In a recent Kitplanes issue, Barnaby Wainfan went through the pros and cons of the V tail and that's the kind of thing I'd be interested in for the Flaperons. Presumably they are pretty safe and effective if the success of the Kitfox is anything to go by.
I'll stop there. I hope the post isn't too long. Thanks to all who have taken the time to read it.
I'm looking forward to the research and setting up shop as much as flying the end result, whenever that may be!
Regards,
RF
I'm new to VAF and this is my first post. I wanted to introduce myself and say hello. I've wanted to build an RV for a long time and about 10 years ago family and work had to take priority. But now I'm again able to consider the idea of building. I've got my PPL and kept current on Cessnas and for the last 2 years on the SportStar.
I had some questions specific to the RV-12; I think this is the best fit for me and despite reading all I can find on it, answers to these basic questions remain elusive. So I hope you don't mind my taking a bit of bandwidth here to post them. Rather than fire off a dozen posts, I'll try to get them all in this thread and hope for the best. Here goes:
1) RV-12 is Not a Quickbuild
I'm looking for confirmation that this kit arrives all in pieces, nothing built. Is the wing spar not even completed? I ask this question because I'm surprised at Vans' claim that this kit has an 800 hour build time.
2) Blind Riveting Only?
I'd also considered building the RV9/9A but noise would be a huge problem where I live. Besides the fact that I love the RV-12 and its miserly Rotax engine I'm hoping someone can confirm the noise levels building an RV-12 are considerably lower than a machine that needs a proper rivet gun. Are there any properly bucked rivets in the RV-12?
3) Torso Height
I can fit into the Sportstar with my headset quite comfortably but I cannot fit into a 2-seat Katana. The height from the seat to the Canopy is too small. I haven't been close enough to a '12 to sit in one. I measure 38.5 inches butt-to-head without a headset on.
4) Handling Qualities
OK - so it's been a dream of mine for a long long time to buy an airplane. Now that I'm able to, economically speaking, it'd be a mistake not to consider all the options. People are saying to me "why build when you can just buy a ready-made plane?". They just don't understand the allure of building, right? Still, it's a good question. I've ruled out Pipers and Cessnas because I'm looking for something sporty and fun to fly. The one ready-made plane I can't seem to shake is the Grumman Tiger. By all accounts it seems to be a very fun plane to fly. Is that just compared to the run-of-the-mill Cessna/Beech/Piper?
5) Building Space
I've got a basement room 12 x 20 which I plan to build everything except the fuselage in. I've got a single-car garage 10'3" x 19'4" for the fuse. A key question is, can I build the fuse to completion in a space that small? The published length of the RV-12 fuselage is 19'11" - so it just depends on what doesn't need to be installed with the engine to get it all to fit. Any thoughts you could share here would be greatly appreciated
6) Flaperons
I can research this myself, but curious if anyone could point me to something citing the pros and cons of flaperons. They are the one thing about the RV-12 that I'm not sure about. In a recent Kitplanes issue, Barnaby Wainfan went through the pros and cons of the V tail and that's the kind of thing I'd be interested in for the Flaperons. Presumably they are pretty safe and effective if the success of the Kitfox is anything to go by.
I'll stop there. I hope the post isn't too long. Thanks to all who have taken the time to read it.
I'm looking forward to the research and setting up shop as much as flying the end result, whenever that may be!
Regards,
RF