smokyray
Well Known Member
X Marks The Spot!
What do get when you cross and RV-4 with an RV-6? The RVX or “X” as I call it! Over the past twenty years I have been privileged to help build and re-build three marvelous personal aircraft. Markedly different, but marvelous nonetheless.
High admission price:
What I have seen in recent years is a trend. The rise in cost of aircraft to double what I spent in 1996 dollars to finish my RV-4. Some instrument panels cost more than my airplane! My HR2 was a rebuild and a wonderful airplane, but with a healthy appetite and costly support structure. Flying has to become less expensive or it will simply become a luxury of the wealthy. Having lived in Japan and seen their version of GA or the lack thereof, rest assured the alternative is gloomy. Ken Krueger and Ken Scott at Vans agreed when they built their mini masterpiece, the KK-1. The ONEX and Thatcher CX-4 all follow this concept.
The Mission:
Why the X? Mainly to practice what I was preaching and get a cool airplane out of the deal. A low cost, fun, efficient airplane. Building a viable, efficient and fun personal machine for low dollars isn’t a new idea. Bernie Pietenpol coined the concept, John Thorp perfected it and Dick Van Grunsven, John Monnett and others have refined it. So how can you keep costs low, performance high and investment sound in today’s economy? Answer: scrounge! Yes, you have to shop around, search for used items for some things, new for others, lower your sights on expensive things and get back to basics. What is your mission? Do you really think you’re going to be shooting an ILS to minimums every day after flying all day on Autopilot? I sure don’t want to but this seems to be the current mentality. Do you want to do aerobatics? Do you land on grass? How long is your average flight? Do you really need an IO-360 and constant speed prop? Do you need an autopilot, dual EFIS and Bose stereo? Would you like to burn Mo-Gas when and if 100LL goes away? When it really gets down to it, you don’t need much fluff to have fun. The lighter the weight, the better they fly.
It Begins:
The X began as a search for RV projects to assemble and build a very low cost, efficient fast back RV-4. After purchasing a project through Cornerstone Ministries, the X began taking form. My costs started with the engine. With some searching I was able to find and re-build an 0-320A for a total expenditure of $6500. I have always liked the “A” as it is slightly lighter and less costly than other 0-320’s and has a hollow crank if C/S becomes an option later. The prop with extension, $1800. Panel? The MGL Enigma at $1500 was a bargain when you looked at total capabilities and future growth potential. Interior appointments? Paint is all you need and it weighs little if you keep it to one coat. Exterior paint? Keep it simple. One color is plenty. Vinyl graphics are reasonable, Vans agrees, all their prototypes have vinyl over solid paint color. I had the luxury of two friends who restore cars and helped me really put a nice automotive finish on the X.
You can too.
Time Out:
Just as the pieces were coming together, 9-11 intervened. My part time job as an F-16 pilot suddenly became full time and I was deployed off and on for the next four years. While away my Dad and my friend Arvil conspired to combine my RV4 bits with a RV6 fuselage to complete what would become a very cool airplane. This required re-jigging the wing, removing one center section bay and attaching and RV-4 empennage to the 6 aft fuselage.
Time to Fly:
Upon returning from overseas, I visited Arvil’s shop and behold, the X! It looked slightly different than a stock six, something I couldn’t put my finger on. It was the dimensions, slightly smaller tail, shorter wings, very RV-4-like. Hmmm, I really like it. Three months later all the ground testing completed, nothing was left but the test flight. I taxied out of Arvil’s back yard onto his 1200’ turf strip between soybean fields; applied max thrust and we were off. Immediately upon getting airborne I noticed myself slightly over controlling the X, in pitch and a bit in roll, it is sensitive! Climb was reminiscent of my 150 HP RV4 and the Catto 2 blade FP prop was nearly perfectly matched. After several flights to adjust rigging and tweak the engine monitor she was settling down as a real performer. The combination of lightweight, tight fairings and the proper prop paid off. We had a winner!
Cost? All tolled, well under $30K out the door. Still expensive in my book, but less than half the 100K+ of the modern RV. Knowing what I know now, we could even do it cheaper the next time around.
The bottom line? My twenty-year-old RV grin is unblemished, maybe a bit refined!
Epilogue:
Since building and flying the X I have several new airplane concepts bouncing around my cranium. Originally I wanted to name the X the “RV-5” but Van actually built one back in the early 80’s. It was a single place, VW powered machine that never took off, so to speak. However comma, I believe the RV-5 concept is sound, a low cost, efficient airplane for the future. With many new 80-100HP engines now on the market including the Revmaster, Great Plains VW, AeroVee, UL Power and Rotax. Lycoming and Continental also have revived their early models into lightweight contenders. Avionics have also come a long way with the MGL Extreme mini EFIS, Dynon and others. More aptly, there is an APP for that. There is an iPhone App for engine monitoring and even flight instruments. Seats? I believe one or even one and a half reminiscent of the Sonerai. The KK-1 represents this beautifully as does the ONEX, Thatcher CX-4 and BK-1.It’s hard to argue the viability, utility and economy of the Thorp T-18, even with today’s push-button quick build kits. I think the Van’s Juggernaut could do them all one better with a viable quality kit and engine deals that would bring in even the most skeptical builder. It would have to be more attractive than the current offerings, experimental and basic. As Forrest Gump once said: “Bubba had a good idea”, implementation is the key. Only time will tell…
Rob “Smokey” Ray
[email protected]
The "X"
What do get when you cross and RV-4 with an RV-6? The RVX or “X” as I call it! Over the past twenty years I have been privileged to help build and re-build three marvelous personal aircraft. Markedly different, but marvelous nonetheless.
High admission price:
What I have seen in recent years is a trend. The rise in cost of aircraft to double what I spent in 1996 dollars to finish my RV-4. Some instrument panels cost more than my airplane! My HR2 was a rebuild and a wonderful airplane, but with a healthy appetite and costly support structure. Flying has to become less expensive or it will simply become a luxury of the wealthy. Having lived in Japan and seen their version of GA or the lack thereof, rest assured the alternative is gloomy. Ken Krueger and Ken Scott at Vans agreed when they built their mini masterpiece, the KK-1. The ONEX and Thatcher CX-4 all follow this concept.
The Mission:
Why the X? Mainly to practice what I was preaching and get a cool airplane out of the deal. A low cost, fun, efficient airplane. Building a viable, efficient and fun personal machine for low dollars isn’t a new idea. Bernie Pietenpol coined the concept, John Thorp perfected it and Dick Van Grunsven, John Monnett and others have refined it. So how can you keep costs low, performance high and investment sound in today’s economy? Answer: scrounge! Yes, you have to shop around, search for used items for some things, new for others, lower your sights on expensive things and get back to basics. What is your mission? Do you really think you’re going to be shooting an ILS to minimums every day after flying all day on Autopilot? I sure don’t want to but this seems to be the current mentality. Do you want to do aerobatics? Do you land on grass? How long is your average flight? Do you really need an IO-360 and constant speed prop? Do you need an autopilot, dual EFIS and Bose stereo? Would you like to burn Mo-Gas when and if 100LL goes away? When it really gets down to it, you don’t need much fluff to have fun. The lighter the weight, the better they fly.
It Begins:
The X began as a search for RV projects to assemble and build a very low cost, efficient fast back RV-4. After purchasing a project through Cornerstone Ministries, the X began taking form. My costs started with the engine. With some searching I was able to find and re-build an 0-320A for a total expenditure of $6500. I have always liked the “A” as it is slightly lighter and less costly than other 0-320’s and has a hollow crank if C/S becomes an option later. The prop with extension, $1800. Panel? The MGL Enigma at $1500 was a bargain when you looked at total capabilities and future growth potential. Interior appointments? Paint is all you need and it weighs little if you keep it to one coat. Exterior paint? Keep it simple. One color is plenty. Vinyl graphics are reasonable, Vans agrees, all their prototypes have vinyl over solid paint color. I had the luxury of two friends who restore cars and helped me really put a nice automotive finish on the X.
You can too.
Time Out:
Just as the pieces were coming together, 9-11 intervened. My part time job as an F-16 pilot suddenly became full time and I was deployed off and on for the next four years. While away my Dad and my friend Arvil conspired to combine my RV4 bits with a RV6 fuselage to complete what would become a very cool airplane. This required re-jigging the wing, removing one center section bay and attaching and RV-4 empennage to the 6 aft fuselage.
Time to Fly:
Upon returning from overseas, I visited Arvil’s shop and behold, the X! It looked slightly different than a stock six, something I couldn’t put my finger on. It was the dimensions, slightly smaller tail, shorter wings, very RV-4-like. Hmmm, I really like it. Three months later all the ground testing completed, nothing was left but the test flight. I taxied out of Arvil’s back yard onto his 1200’ turf strip between soybean fields; applied max thrust and we were off. Immediately upon getting airborne I noticed myself slightly over controlling the X, in pitch and a bit in roll, it is sensitive! Climb was reminiscent of my 150 HP RV4 and the Catto 2 blade FP prop was nearly perfectly matched. After several flights to adjust rigging and tweak the engine monitor she was settling down as a real performer. The combination of lightweight, tight fairings and the proper prop paid off. We had a winner!
Cost? All tolled, well under $30K out the door. Still expensive in my book, but less than half the 100K+ of the modern RV. Knowing what I know now, we could even do it cheaper the next time around.
The bottom line? My twenty-year-old RV grin is unblemished, maybe a bit refined!
Epilogue:
Since building and flying the X I have several new airplane concepts bouncing around my cranium. Originally I wanted to name the X the “RV-5” but Van actually built one back in the early 80’s. It was a single place, VW powered machine that never took off, so to speak. However comma, I believe the RV-5 concept is sound, a low cost, efficient airplane for the future. With many new 80-100HP engines now on the market including the Revmaster, Great Plains VW, AeroVee, UL Power and Rotax. Lycoming and Continental also have revived their early models into lightweight contenders. Avionics have also come a long way with the MGL Extreme mini EFIS, Dynon and others. More aptly, there is an APP for that. There is an iPhone App for engine monitoring and even flight instruments. Seats? I believe one or even one and a half reminiscent of the Sonerai. The KK-1 represents this beautifully as does the ONEX, Thatcher CX-4 and BK-1.It’s hard to argue the viability, utility and economy of the Thorp T-18, even with today’s push-button quick build kits. I think the Van’s Juggernaut could do them all one better with a viable quality kit and engine deals that would bring in even the most skeptical builder. It would have to be more attractive than the current offerings, experimental and basic. As Forrest Gump once said: “Bubba had a good idea”, implementation is the key. Only time will tell…
Rob “Smokey” Ray
[email protected]
The "X"
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