Dugaru
Well Known Member
Hi all --
I'm in the market for a used RV6-A, and would love some advice from the experts specific to finding good examples of this model. I've read the "Buying a Used RV" piece from Vans, and a few other articles, but wanted to really zero in on this specific plane.
As background to how I've ended up here bugging you all, I've got a little under 1,000 total PIC hours. After owning a Warrior for about 8 years, I've been partners in the past year in a taildragger Sportsman 2+2. It was built in their "Two Weeks to Taxi" program and we bought it used from the "builder." I love that plane. In addition to being a joy to fly, it also has aweome avionics (AFS 4500 & 3500, Garmin 530W, 430W, Vizion autopilot) that MORE than meet my "gentleman's IFR" needs. I was actually pretty happy with the steam gauges, S-Tec 30, and "classic" Garmin 430 in the Warrior.
Unfortunately, however, we're undergoing an amicable Sportsman-divorce because my partner (who owns 2/3) has to relocate due to work. Given the nature of the job change, which is a huge opportunity, I can't even get mad at him. Another Sportsman appears to be beyond my solo budget.
After doing some research, the RV6-A looks perfect for me. I'm already convinced that used experimentals can be a huge bargain for a bunch of reasons (the Sportsman certainly was). Two seats are all I need -- I almost never used the four seats in the Warrior. Some speed would certainly be nice, as the Warrior lacked in that department. And the other two-seat used experimentals available in quantity out there don't really appeal to me. For example, I've got a bit of Glasair time and it doesn't seem like a good plane to get old in, ingress/egress wise.
We flew the Sportsman for a while as a trike, and managed to shred a nosewheel pant, so I'm already used to some of the vagaries of castering nosegear. I think a trike RV makes sense for me, as (unlike my Sportsman partner) I fly a lot of cross country trips, at night and in gusty weather -- and I have only enough taildragger time to keep the insurance company happy. This was a solvable problem while I was splitting the Sportsman, because it was awesome in so many other ways, but if I'm going to own a plane solo, I figure I'd de-complicate my life.
Building really isn't an option, as I don't have enough time to build my own RV -- and in any event (another) buddy and I are already building a Zenith 801, at what can only be called a very leisurely pace, dictated by our various commitments.
So, enough about me, let's talk about solving my problems. I know enough to be dangerous about buying and owning airplanes, including buying used experimentals. I'm reasonably confident I've found the right plane for my mission. As I launch myself out again into the world of used experimentals, what should I be on the lookout for specific to RV6-As? Any known problem areas, places where some builders tend to screw up, etc.? Any other aspects of the used RV market that I ought to know about?
Apologies for the lengthy post, and many thanks in advance for any help.
Cheers
Doug Garrou
W96 - New Kent County, VA
I'm in the market for a used RV6-A, and would love some advice from the experts specific to finding good examples of this model. I've read the "Buying a Used RV" piece from Vans, and a few other articles, but wanted to really zero in on this specific plane.
As background to how I've ended up here bugging you all, I've got a little under 1,000 total PIC hours. After owning a Warrior for about 8 years, I've been partners in the past year in a taildragger Sportsman 2+2. It was built in their "Two Weeks to Taxi" program and we bought it used from the "builder." I love that plane. In addition to being a joy to fly, it also has aweome avionics (AFS 4500 & 3500, Garmin 530W, 430W, Vizion autopilot) that MORE than meet my "gentleman's IFR" needs. I was actually pretty happy with the steam gauges, S-Tec 30, and "classic" Garmin 430 in the Warrior.
Unfortunately, however, we're undergoing an amicable Sportsman-divorce because my partner (who owns 2/3) has to relocate due to work. Given the nature of the job change, which is a huge opportunity, I can't even get mad at him. Another Sportsman appears to be beyond my solo budget.
After doing some research, the RV6-A looks perfect for me. I'm already convinced that used experimentals can be a huge bargain for a bunch of reasons (the Sportsman certainly was). Two seats are all I need -- I almost never used the four seats in the Warrior. Some speed would certainly be nice, as the Warrior lacked in that department. And the other two-seat used experimentals available in quantity out there don't really appeal to me. For example, I've got a bit of Glasair time and it doesn't seem like a good plane to get old in, ingress/egress wise.
We flew the Sportsman for a while as a trike, and managed to shred a nosewheel pant, so I'm already used to some of the vagaries of castering nosegear. I think a trike RV makes sense for me, as (unlike my Sportsman partner) I fly a lot of cross country trips, at night and in gusty weather -- and I have only enough taildragger time to keep the insurance company happy. This was a solvable problem while I was splitting the Sportsman, because it was awesome in so many other ways, but if I'm going to own a plane solo, I figure I'd de-complicate my life.
Building really isn't an option, as I don't have enough time to build my own RV -- and in any event (another) buddy and I are already building a Zenith 801, at what can only be called a very leisurely pace, dictated by our various commitments.
So, enough about me, let's talk about solving my problems. I know enough to be dangerous about buying and owning airplanes, including buying used experimentals. I'm reasonably confident I've found the right plane for my mission. As I launch myself out again into the world of used experimentals, what should I be on the lookout for specific to RV6-As? Any known problem areas, places where some builders tend to screw up, etc.? Any other aspects of the used RV market that I ought to know about?
Apologies for the lengthy post, and many thanks in advance for any help.
Cheers
Doug Garrou
W96 - New Kent County, VA