What's new
Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

Thoughts on the small number of RV14 & RV14A currently on the market

D

Daynasdad

I'm New Here
Hello All

I am relatively new to the Vans scene. I have been watching RV14s and 14a’s for sale on the online sales sites. I am only aware of four that are on the market. All four are priced between 260k and 330k,low time, well equipped. All four seem to have been available for a while ( multiple months). I would think that there would be interest in these airplanes. Is the entire market soft/ slow ? I wonder how many have changed hands since they came out? Are folks who can afford them choosing other options/brands ? Your thoughts?

Thanks
Mark
Great Lakes 2T1A
Cessnas…
 
The 14 is relatively young, not as many examples built. It’s a desirable aircraft (the one I want ultimately). However, like all other aircraft the value is still misconceived after the 2020 nonsense.

Prior to then you could purchase cheaper, or even money to building. I think the market is slowly getting back to that. I believe thats true of the entire market.
 
Price out a 14 with QB kits, fact. (TB) Lyc engine, panel, professional paint, interior, shipping, etc. and other "extra's" it's unfortunately close to 265k and then add 2,000 hrs. of time to do it right.

BTW a 10 is close to 375k plus 3,000 hrs. and that compares to a Cirus at 900k to 1.1 m and I prefer the 10 to cost of scheduled maintenance.
 
Last edited:
In general I disagree with the thought that RV-14’s (and RV’s in general) are still overpriced. Upfront, they represent tremendous value and utility compared with many near peers, and are much newer airplanes than most everything else out there. The price range outlined is basically in-line with the cost to build. I believe a kit+engine+panel+interior+paint was just shy of $300k in 2021 dollars to build an RV-14. My estimate comes to similar today at $277k; that assumes $7k for interior, $50k for panel (could easily double that) and $40k for paint.
 
dmattmul said:
Price out a 14 with QB kits, fact. (TB) Lyc engine, panel, professional paint, interior, shipping, etc. and other "extra's" it's unfortunately close to 265k and then add 2,000 hrs. of time to do it right.

BTW a 10 is close to 375k plus 3,000 hrs. and that compares to a Cirus at 900k to 1.1 m and I prefer the 10 to cost of scheduled maintenance.
Click to expand...
Good and acurate feedback!
 
Jjackh10 said:
I think the market is slowly getting back to that. I believe thats true of the entire market.
Click to expand...
Unless and until the price to build one comes down, I doubt they price of these RVs will change much. As others have said, to build one easily reaches near the price of those on the market.
 
F18Sailor said:
In general I disagree with the thought that RV-14’s (and RV’s in general) are still overpriced. Upfront, they represent tremendous value and utility compared with many near peers, and are much newer airplanes than most everything else out there. The price range outlined is basically in-line with the cost to build. I believe a kit+engine+panel+interior+paint was just shy of $300k in 2021 dollars to build an RV-14. My estimate comes to similar today at $277k; that assumes $7k for interior, $50k for panel (could easily double that) and $40k for paint.
Click to expand...
I understand… that’s why I don’t see why these new beautiful planes don’t get snatched up right away when they’re asking price is basically just the cost of the materials…ie free labor and little to no profit
 
Daynasdad said:
I understand… that’s why I don’t see why these new beautiful planes don’t get snatched up right away when they’re asking price is basically just the cost of the materials…ie free labor and little to no profit
Click to expand...
Ah. Fair question. In general it’s a slow time of year to sell a plane-weather impacts moving a plane, holidays limit pre-buy mechanic availability to etc. I also think the market in general has slowed a bit.
 
F18Sailor said:
The price range outlined is basically in-line with the cost to build. I believe a kit+engine+panel+interior+paint was just shy of $300k in 2021 dollars to build an RV-14. My estimate comes to similar today at $277k
Click to expand...
They aren't competing with the cost to build. They are competing with the cost of a lesser plane which is "good enough". If people can't afford to build or buy at those prices, the planes will sit.
 
Truth is, for most of the evades of kit aircraft, they sell for the cost of materials - building hours are free! If you really have to get your minimum wage times the hours spent, then the plane is going to be on the market for a very long time…..
 
Ironflight said:
Truth is, for most of the evades of kit aircraft, they sell for the cost of materials - building hours are free! If you really have to get your minimum wage times the hours spent, then the plane is going to be on the market for a very long time…..
Click to expand...
One other factor, we also don't know about the quality of the planes that have remained on the market for a long time. I am not assuming they have some issues but one wonders why some get sold quickly and one stays on for months and months.
 
dmattmul said:
Price out a 14 with QB kits, fact. (TB) Lyc engine, panel, professional paint, interior, shipping, etc. and other "extra's" it's unfortunately close to 265k and then add 2,000 hrs. of time to do it right.

BTW a 10 is close to 375k plus 3,000 hrs. and that compares to a Cirus at 900k to 1.1 m and I prefer the 10 to cost of scheduled maintenance.
Click to expand...
Ok. I can buy a new Toyota for$50k. How ami i going to sell it for $75k after i use ot for a few years. If the build cost is 265, i think a $325 sell price is high. I get it in the 10 market due to limited alternatives. But the 14 is not all that different than a 7, yet goes for double the price. Maybe that is why they sit on the market for a long time.
 
It’s seems clear to me from the number of completions in the time it’s been on the market that the 14 is a bit of a black sheep suffering from too much mission overlap with existing models.
Especially so when you consider the quality of the kit and documentation etc.
It’s only really a game changer if you just dont fit in a 7.
If you have 300k burning a hole in your pocket looking at a 14, the smartest thing you can do is buy a 7 and have enough cash left over for decades of running expenses.

If the 14 performs a mission for you that the 7 absolutely won’t, then you are trapped with the low supply problem and only really have 3 options. Build one yourself, negotiate with the ones for sale now and hope you get a motivated seller, or wait for a change in circumstances (yours, or the market).

Personally, having built many, any good quality new flying RV you can buy for parts cost is a good deal. I don’t consider that expensive at all.
 
One thing that hasn't been mentioned, is that not a lot of people have a spare $300K laying around. Possibly financing for an Experimental might be a little more difficult to obtain. If I remember correctly, the 14's were out selling all other Van's kits, 4-1. To me the best value is to find a project in progress and finish it. The 14 is probably the easiest to build.
 
I did a pretty extensive look at the RV-10 market for property tax reasons last fall. My conclusion was that most relatively new, well equipped (not maxed out) RV-10's are maybe $300K airplanes. Apples and oranges, but the RV-14 is less airplane, so I'd expect the market to reflect that. And then you bring in quality issues, paint schemes, an inflexible seller (nope, no pre-buy...what you see is what you get), the guy who doesn't really want to sell but listed the airplane to appease a family member, etc., all of which may result in an aircraft being on the market for a while.

My belief is that many/most reasonably priced, well built airplanes sell locally to friends and acquaintances who have seen the airplane, know its quality , know the builder, and know the airplane's history. Which may mean that if it shows up on Barnstormers, the locals are avoiding it for a reason.
 
lr172 said:
Ok. I can buy a new Toyota for$50k. How ami i going to sell it for $75k after i use ot for a few years. If the build cost is 265, i think a $325 sell price is high. I get it in the 10 market due to limited alternatives. But the 14 is not all that different than a 7, yet goes for double the price. Maybe that is why they sit on the market for a long time.
Click to expand...
The 14's success like the 10 is the size. Most over 6'2 feels cramped. Personally, I would have loved to fly a 7 (and have) but after an hour of flight I'm not comfortable and wanted something comfortable and 170 knot in cruise and not something where I and my passenger took turns adjusting our shoulders to fit inside the cockpit. Look how many kits Anti Splat has sold in their "Almost 14" mod. My airframe needed to travel Ohio to Florida at least twice a year and the 7 was not going to cut it. Why spend even 175k for a newer airframe one is not comfortable in? Just comparing an automobile depreciation (with almost unlimited availability (supply/demand) to an airplane is probably not a decent comparison. In 2020 I was looking to purchase a new 182 (I am very comfortable in a 182) and the cost was in the 550-600k range. Now the same 2020 182 with in the 100 hrs/year range is almost the same price. A little different than a 2020 Toyota I'm pretty sure or any other automobile than was mass produced (and mass availability).

And yes, agree that if the build cost is 265 asking 325 after 3 or 4 years is excessive for an experimental yet some are selling for this but as more show up on the market pricing will most likely and has fallen. Look at 14's where builders are willing to spend 10-15k (I know of 2 currently) to modify it into a 14A. Why because of the nemesis supply/demand curve.
 
Last edited:
lr172 said:
Ok. I can buy a new Toyota for$50k. How ami i going to sell it for $75k after i use ot for a few years. If the build cost is 265, i think a $325 sell price is high. I get it in the 10 market due to limited alternatives. But the 14 is not all that different than a 7, yet goes for double the price. Maybe that is why they sit on the market for a long time.
Click to expand...
Larry, you did the pre-buy inspection on the 7A that I sold about 4 or 5 years ago. (And you did a great job). The primary reason that I sold it was after too many knee operations it was increasingly difficult for me to get in and out of.

After a few years had lapsed, I got the RV fever again but I didn't get any more limber. The 14A longerons are a couple inches lower than the 7A. I tried one on at Oshkosh and although it wasn't pretty, it was easier for me to get in and out of. Those few inches difference in height made a difference.

I started window shopping for a 14A three years ago. They were all expensive. There were a couple that were ridiculously expensive that I ruled out immediately.

That aside, there were those that I did not care for because it was overkill on the panel with the equipment I would never use, which made it pricey. There were those that I did not care for the paint scheme and/or colors. There was one that the seller bought from an insurance company after a "minor" cockpit fire, to flip. That one had quite a fairy tale associated with it.
There was another one that had some relatively minor damage that was, let's just say self-inflicted by the builder.

There was one that you started a pre-buy on for me. ( I'm a repeat customer of yours because you do a great job). I had you terminate it early on because of two minor engine issues that were easily correctable. But as I stated at the time, for the amount of money being asked, I should not have to start off with having repairs made.

There was one that was just what I needed that was not painted yet, built by a repeat offender, gone over and signed off by Vic S. It was underpriced.
I called 2 hours after it was posted and ended up in second place.

Well there is a happy ending to my saga. Last October I found an absolutely beautiful 14a built by an A&P/IA and technical counselor, just a short drive away, being sold by a very knowledgeable and great guy. It is equipped with everything I could possibly ever need.
The logbooks were impeccable.
It was a lot of money - More than twice the price of what I sold my 7A for. Granted, rv prices have risen in the last few years.
It didn't need a thing. It's not easy, but EASIER to get in and out of than my 7A. I bought it immediately and I'm thrilled with it. Absolutely no buyer's remorse. I waited until the right one came along.

So if you are a buyer, wait for the right one. If you are a seller, it only takes one interested buyer.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20251118_184155870.jpg
    PXL_20251118_184155870.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 156
  • PXL_20251114_222147995.MP.jpg
    PXL_20251114_222147995.MP.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 151
  • PXL_20251117_174046858.MP.jpg
    PXL_20251117_174046858.MP.jpg
    2.2 MB · Views: 159
lr172 said:
Ok. I can buy a new Toyota for$50k. How ami i going to sell it for $75k after i use ot for a few years. If the build cost is 265, i think a $325 sell price is high. I get it in the 10 market due to limited alternatives. But the 14 is not all that different than a 7, yet goes for double the price. Maybe that is why they sit on the market for a long time.
Click to expand...
Airplanes aren't Toyotas. The value of an airplane more closely tracks with the appreciation model for real estate than the depreciation model for cars. That's because airplanes and real estate don't typically wear out and go to the crusher after 10-20 years. I don't see why Vans should be any different than Cessna in this regard.
 
Vansconvert said:
Larry, you did the pre-buy inspection on the 7A that I sold about 4 or 5 years ago. (And you did a great job). The primary reason that I sold it was after too many knee operations it was increasingly difficult for me to get in and out of.

After a few years had lapsed, I got the RV fever again but I didn't get any more limber. The 14A longerons are a couple inches lower than the 7A. I tried one on at Oshkosh and although it wasn't pretty, it was easier for me to get in and out of. Those few inches difference in height made a difference.

I started window shopping for a 14A three years ago. They were all expensive. There were a couple that were ridiculously expensive that I ruled out immediately.

That aside, there were those that I did not care for because it was overkill on the panel with the equipment I would never use, which made it pricey. There were those that I did not care for the paint scheme and/or colors. There was one that the seller bought from an insurance company after a "minor" cockpit fire, to flip. That one had quite a fairy tale associated with it.
There was another one that had some relatively minor damage that was, let's just say self-inflicted by the builder.

There was one that you started a pre-buy on for me. ( I'm a repeat customer of yours because you do a great job). I had you terminate it early on because of two minor engine issues that were easily correctable. But as I stated at the time, for the amount of money being asked, I should not have to start off with having repairs made.

There was one that was just what I needed that was not painted yet, built by a repeat offender, gone over and signed off by Vic S. It was underpriced.
I called 2 hours after it was posted and ended up in second place.

Well there is a happy ending to my saga. Last October I found an absolutely beautiful 14a built by an A&P/IA and technical counselor, just a short drive away, being sold by a very knowledgeable and great guy. It is equipped with everything I could possibly ever need.
The logbooks were impeccable.
It was a lot of money - More than twice the price of what I sold my 7A for. Granted, rv prices have risen in the last few years.
It didn't need a thing. It's not easy, but EASIER to get in and out of than my 7A. I bought it immediately and I'm thrilled with it. Absolutely no buyer's remorse. I waited until the right one came along.

So if you are a buyer, wait for the right one. If you are a seller, it only takes one interested buyer.
Click to expand...
Glad to hear that you found "the one!"

I certainly understand the 14 is different and has a unique place in the market and can see how supply/demand forces elevate its price for a certain segment of the market. I just have been a bit baffled how they could sell for $325. Many things happen for non obvious reasons. Kyle is probably right that many of these offered at these price points are selling nowhere near them. One of our challenge is that there is no real source for final purchase price.
 
Desert Rat said:
Airplanes aren't Toyotas. The value of an airplane more closely tracks with the appreciation model for real estate than the depreciation model for cars. That's because airplanes and real estate don't typically wear out and go to the crusher after 10-20 years. I don't see why Vans should be any different than Cessna in this regard.
Click to expand...
I understand that. But for many years, the EAB market has priced most planes near the value of the components, in todays dollars, if modern and in good shape, with heavy discounts when they are not. Significant premiums above that have been somewhat uncommon. And that seems to have held with the inflation of late. My point, poorly construed, was more about selling well above current component cost. I meant that a toyota that sold for 50 is really worth 35, so how do you sell it for 75, when a new one is only 55.
 
I'd agree that planes don't diminish value the way cars do, usually only the value of an overhaul vs time on engine, so something like $25-35 an hour, and a max of the price of an overhaul, $50k-70k as a budget figure. So I can see how our EAB planes are the value of the equipment only, so pricing a 14 in the range above ($260k-330k) seems reasonable, as mine is at a material cost of about $280k without paint right now (but have everything else).
 
Kyle Boatright said:
My belief is that many/most reasonably priced, well built airplanes sell locally to friends and acquaintances who have seen the airplane, know its quality , know the builder, and know the airplane's history. Which may mean that if it shows up on Barnstormers, the locals are avoiding it for a reason.
Click to expand...
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! I sold my -8 only because a friend asked me to sell it to him. It now resides in a hangar about 50' away from mine. The good ones are rarely advertised
 
lr172 said:
Glad to hear that you found "the one!"

I certainly understand the 14 is different and has a unique place in the market and can see how supply/demand forces elevate its price for a certain segment of the market. I just have been a bit baffled how they could sell for $325. Many things happen for non obvious reasons. Kyle is probably right that many of these offered at these price points are selling nowhere near them. One of our challenge is that there is no real source for final purchase price.
Click to expand...
Larry, I agree with you on the ultra expensive advertised prices. Those were the ones I never gave a second thought to.

And I think those are the ones that have the top-of-the-line custom paint jobs and/or more capable avionics in the panel than most pilots would ever need. Apparently it is important to builders to go that route but that's not for everybody. These "price leaders" are available for a long time.
 
Could the number of 10's and 14's coming out of build shops be adding to the asking prices? I have heard this can add $80K-plus to the cost an owner is trying to recover, plus the up-charge for the quick-build kits.
 
Presently there is a Sling LSA for sale for $279K (2023, 360TT, from South Africa factory) and another for $312K (new from build shop). Methinks Vans is still the better value ...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Most good RVs never get advertised, they are sold to a friend of a friend or go to a "wanted" ad.
Aircraft that hang around in the classifieds do so for a reason, too expensive, poor construction, very specialised features, not really for sale, etc.
If you really want a 14 look harder!!
 
I am going to sell either my currently flying RV14, or my currently under construction RV14A. They are both loaded w/all the premium additions such as Behringer, Oregon Aero, ER tanks Garmin 750, AFS latest EFIS, wingtips, ETC. It basically has everything you can add.

I’ve been reluctant to actually add up all the receipts, but I expect to see somewhere north of $300k. I will sell one and then when the RV15 project is completed, I will sell the other as i think the RV15 and RV10 will be the keepers. The RV14 is a great plane, but I can’t fly every day of the week and I don’t like leaving them idle long. Any seriously interested buyers should check with me every few months.

Thor McIlrath
KAWO
Arlington, Wa
 
It should also be mentioned that the RV14 has the Thunderbolt and carbon fiber everywhere i could such as wheel pants, etc. and it was completed April of this year and has 80 hrs TT as of now. Since this was my second build, I feel like the quality of the build was a little better, but i have nothing other than a sense and nothing concrete as everything seems very harmonious and perfect.

Thor Mcilrath
 
Vansconvert said:
Larry, you did the pre-buy inspection on the 7A that I sold about 4 or 5 years ago. (And you did a great job). The primary reason that I sold it was after too many knee operations it was increasingly difficult for me to get in and out of.

After a few years had lapsed, I got the RV fever again but I didn't get any more limber. The 14A longerons are a couple inches lower than the 7A. I tried one on at Oshkosh and although it wasn't pretty, it was easier for me to get in and out of. Those few inches difference in height made a difference.

I started window shopping for a 14A three years ago. They were all expensive. There were a couple that were ridiculously expensive that I ruled out immediately.

That aside, there were those that I did not care for because it was overkill on the panel with the equipment I would never use, which made it pricey. There were those that I did not care for the paint scheme and/or colors. There was one that the seller bought from an insurance company after a "minor" cockpit fire, to flip. That one had quite a fairy tale associated with it.
There was another one that had some relatively minor damage that was, let's just say self-inflicted by the builder.

There was one that you started a pre-buy on for me. ( I'm a repeat customer of yours because you do a great job). I had you terminate it early on because of two minor engine issues that were easily correctable. But as I stated at the time, for the amount of money being asked, I should not have to start off with having repairs made.

There was one that was just what I needed that was not painted yet, built by a repeat offender, gone over and signed off by Vic S. It was underpriced.
I called 2 hours after it was posted and ended up in second place.

Well there is a happy ending to my saga. Last October I found an absolutely beautiful 14a built by an A&P/IA and technical counselor, just a short drive away, being sold by a very knowledgeable and great guy. It is equipped with everything I could possibly ever need.
The logbooks were impeccable.
It was a lot of money - More than twice the price of what I sold my 7A for. Granted, rv prices have risen in the last few years.
It didn't need a thing. It's not easy, but EASIER to get in and out of than my 7A. I bought it immediately and I'm thrilled with it. Absolutely no buyer's remorse. I waited until the right one came along.

So if you are a buyer, wait for the right one. If you are a seller, it only takes one interested buyer.
Click to expand...
Vansconvert,
A well stated post.
Daddyman58
 
Just a reminder, what is listed as the selling price is not necessarily what they are selling for. Those listing planes for sale really have no knowledge of what they are selling for, only what others list them at. Airplanes on the market a long time may because they are not willing to deal (for many reasons).
 
I would hazard a guess that quite a few 14/14A’s were built for the experience by repeat offenders with intent to sell. It offered a new build experience.
As others mentioned, outside of the comfort for larger pilots or when not flying solo, the 14 offers nothing over a 7.
The 14 cost a lot more to build and nobody wants to sell for less than the cost of the parts if they can help it.
I also believe the 14’s suffer some for being larger. Wide wing spans can inhibit hangar utility. Heavier machines can’t just be pushed around on the ramp as easily.
The 14’s trade in a thin market.
Add all that up and I think it makes sense why they may sit for a while before the right buyer comes along.
All of this is 100% conjecture.
 
JonJay said:
As others mentioned, outside of the comfort for larger pilots or when not flying solo, the 14 offers nothing over a 7
Click to expand...
I would say those are different airplanes, not that one is better than the other. Just different.
Example: One can put 2 Brompton folding bikes AND some extra language into 14, you would not do that with a 7
On the other hand, from my limited experience I can say that 7 rolls much easier than 14

Referring to $300K asking price for a 14, I would say it might be a very reasonable offer for a well built aircraft.
As someone who built a 14 I'm of course biased. Having said that, IMHO 14 is a refined design
 
F18Sailor said:
In general I disagree with the thought that RV-14’s (and RV’s in general) are still overpriced. Upfront, they represent tremendous value and utility compared with many near peers, and are much newer airplanes than most everything else out there. The price range outlined is basically in-line with the cost to build. I believe a kit+engine+panel+interior+paint was just shy of $300k in 2021 dollars to build an RV-14. My estimate comes to similar today at $277k; that assumes $7k for interior, $50k for panel (could easily double that) and $40k for paint.
Click to expand...
Jesus people paying $40k for paint??
 
SwimmingDragon518 said:
Jesus people paying $40k for paint??
Click to expand...
The frugal builder demographic is declining. When Van's published the RVator there were stories every few issues about how someone had scrounged their way to a $32K RV-4 or a $35K RV-6. There hasn't been much encouragement of that kind of frugality in a couple of decades. Since then, Sport Aviation and Kitplanes (and the vendors who place glossy ad's) have pushed everything upscale. Way upscale.

You can still build relatively inexpensive aircraft, but you'll have to paint it yourself and settle for avionics that would amaze Apollo Astronauts but would be 5 year old tear-outs from someone who's gotta have the latest/greatest.
 
RV7Guy said:
One thing that hasn't been mentioned, is that not a lot of people have a spare $300K laying around.
Click to expand...
Yep...with the big price increases from Van's, Lycoming, and Hartzell in the past few years, the cost of building--and corresponding asking prices for completed RVs--have become way more expensive compared to the average person's earning power. Factor in higher interest rates for those who want to finance and there's gotta be a dwindling number of buyers out there who can pay top dollar no matter how nice the airplane is. One caveat: the stock market has been on a 3 year bull run, so those with investments are doing pretty well despite crazy price inflation on everything. If there's a big downward market correction it's going to be hard for a builder to recoup their investment especially for recent -10's and -14's.
 
czechsix said:
Yep...with the big price increases from Van's, Lycoming, and Hartzell in the past few years, the cost of building--and corresponding asking prices for completed RVs--have become way more expensive compared to the average person's earning power. Factor in higher interest rates for those who want to finance and there's gotta be a dwindling number of buyers out there who can pay top dollar no matter how nice the airplane is. One caveat: the stock market has been on a 3 year bull run, so those with investments are doing pretty well despite crazy price inflation on everything. If there's a big downward market correction it's going to be hard for a builder to recoup their investment especially for recent -10's and -14's.
Click to expand...
Not just 3 years. With the exception of 2022, the stock market has been on a bull run since 2009.
 
czechsix said:
Yep...with the big price increases from Van's, Lycoming, and Hartzell in the past few years, the cost of building--and corresponding asking prices for completed RVs--have become way more expensive compared to the average person's earning power. Factor in higher interest rates for those who want to finance and there's gotta be a dwindling number of buyers out there who can pay top dollar no matter how nice the airplane is. One caveat: the stock market has been on a 3 year bull run, so those with investments are doing pretty well despite crazy price inflation on everything. If there's a big downward market correction it's going to be hard for a builder to recoup their investment especially for recent -10's and -14's.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you are correct, but I hope to be recouping my investment with lots of grins. 😆
 
Daynasdad said:
I understand… that’s why I don’t see why these new beautiful planes don’t get snatched up right away when they’re asking price is basically just the cost of the materials…ie free labor and little to no profit
Click to expand...
$ price. Not a lot of people have this kinda cash laying around. Insurance drove up the prices of certified AC and killed the market. The same thing is likely to happen here.
 
The used RV market is longer those that want an RV but don’t have time or ability to build one to now being people that want a Bonanza or Cirrus but don’t have the money to buy one.
 
plehrke said:
The used RV market is longer those that want an RV but don’t have time or ability to build one to now being people that want a Bonanza or Cirrus but don’t have the money to buy one.
Click to expand...
Interesting theory. I’ve found those that want a certified aircraft are not interested in amateur built airplanes for any price. I tried to convince a buddy he could buy a nice RV10 instead of the old 182 he ended up buying and putting $200k into interior and avionics.
We’ve made a couple trips together and I remind him how slow he is as I pass him by, of course with a courtesy aileron roll off his wing. ;) (the 10 would have to just tip a wing, but you get the idea)
 
Wouldn't sell my 14A for 500K!!! I built it exactly the way I wanted it, painted to suit my taste, and with 800 hrs in the last four years since completion, I couldn't be happier.
Easily the nicest flying aircraft I've owned...great speed, exceptional range, and I get to see the world upside down from time to time. I've been to forty nine states, Canada, and the Bahamas, and I can't wait for my next adventure. What an airplane!!!
Juliette
N8181J aka "Rosie"
 
After over two decades away from general aviation I decided to get helicopter ratings in 2015. Something about that faint odor of avgas/oil fumes/exhaust embeded into an aircraft cabin after many years of flying got back into my blood and reignited in me the call of GA. I realized that I could never afford a helicopter and that as my desires grew a helicopter would not fit the "mission".

In 2017 I began researching the airplane I flew when I was young, the Varga Kachina, eventually leading me to the current owner of the actual tail number I flew in the mid 80s. He sold the plane to me in 2023! First airplane I ever owned. And I quickly learned about the difficulty of getting work done and finding available A&Ps to do that work especially on an "orphaned" airframe. By 2024 I was burned out by the A&P woes and in summer 2025 I sold the plane. In just over two years of ownership, the airframe was only available to me for flying for eight months. The rest was spent waiting on the A&P and/or "approved" parts for mostly minor issues. I learned by fire the modern travails of owning an FAA certificated aircraft. See the Mike Busch article titled "Worth the Squeeze" in AOPA magazine, March 2025.

In 2020 my sig. other and I began to lay out our dreams for retirement and a good x/c airplane seemed to be in the plans. It's hard not to start with a Cirrus based on publicity and visibility. We quickly learned that the price of entry was WAY too much. And that was before I knew about getting mx work done on a certificated aircraft. So we arrived at the RV-10. I joined this forum and began absorbing as much info as I could. I remember in the 2021 time frame seeing many nice-looking/equipped RV10s in the classifieds selling for up to $250K and I thought that was WAY too much. Here we are almost five years later and -10s are going for near $500K.

As I thought about our mission the age-old question kept coming up... "how many times are the extra two seats actually used?". We refined our mission. A comfortable 2-seat airplane that we could get in and comfortably go to far away places at 160-170 knots true but at the same time be economical for the local pancake and hamburger runs. The extra two cylinders of the 540 engine began to look like 50% more potential for problems and cost to operate. We decided on the RV-14! I am 6'2" and 200 lb. and the extra inches in the cabin is very welcome by both of us.

In 2023 I began actively looking for an RV-14A. Taildragger was out of the question mainly for insurance purposes, especially as I am no spring chicken. Additionally, there are times after a long day of flying where I may not be able to be on the sharp edge demanded by a challenging taildragger landing. I do notice in online classifieds that the RV-14 (taildragger) usually sits listed for a much longer time frame than the "A". Many of the listings I have seen promise the mod from tail to nose gear. And I suspect that by the time the plane sells, it goes for at least a bit less than the list price. The long-term insurance and training hassels have to be costed out somewhere.

It took me two years, but in August 2025 (when I was just about to give up) a listing popped up for what appeared to be exactly what I was looking for. The cabin and panel were laid out exactly as I would have done it if I built it myself. It had a nice (but not premium) paint job and a nice interior. I had the pre-buy and transition training done in a week and flew away in my new RV-14A. Without being specific I paid somewhwere between $250 and $300K. I got what I wanted and based on two years of watching the market I feel it was a fair price. It is not a perfect airplane by any means but the small issues are being ironed out one by one with the exceptional help available on this forum.

Incidentally, during the two years I spent pining, I encountered two different RV-14As that were recently completed by their builders. Both were unpainted with a bare interior. Both were decently equipped with Garmin gear. Both pilots quoted "ballpark" costs at $220-230K. Again without paint or interior. In December 2024 I spec'd out a kit, engine and prop on the Vans site and got a bare cost of $175K. No panel, no paint, no interior.

I don't see any way an RV-14 gets built and painted today for less than $260K. A builder also has to accumulate tools and building space which incur costs that they will try to recoup even before their sweat equity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top