What's involved in building an RV-6

[Vladimir Lenin]

I think that's what I saw on the ramp today, looked pretty neat and had RV-6 written on the side

Anyone have experience in putting one of these together?
Is it big enough for someone who's 6'5"?

 

[bart]

I have some experience fabricating aluminum structures... You will need alot of time and patience and someone to teach you how to do it. That being said, I would expect to spend a good two to five years to do a good job. Try looking here:

www.vansaircraft.com

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

actually, now that I've visited the website, I think it may have been the RV-8...because RV-6 is a side by side, while the one I saw was a tandem

the pilot was sitting in the rear seat, so it's probably not an RV-3, and the RV-4 is flown from the front, so that's not it, either...

well, I guess a six can look like an eight from a warped window

 

[newmei]

I'm 6'3 and I promise you don't want to build a RV-4. I barely fit with all the seat cushions taken out. I would build another model, great airplane in general. The one I fly with 150hp and wooden prop does about 145 knots @ 7.5 gph. I fly a tailwheel version and its pretty straight forward with no surprices.

 

[Loafman]

Vans RV series of aircraft are among the best in the kit built industry. I've flown several and they have the best price / performance curve of any single, plus they handle like they're on rails. Stay away from the older RV-3's unless they've had the spar mods to the RV-3A specs. The wings tend to fold up on the older ones in high G situations. If you're over six feet, the RV-8 is your bird. There's quite a bit of aluminum fabrication and rivet bucking, but some of the quick build assemblies save you some time. I wouldn't be surprised to see more pre-fabrication when the new sport category takes off. The RV's can be built basic VFR to serious IFR configurations with AP coupling. Your wallet is the limit. There are also boatloads of used examples on the market ready to fly, but find an A&P thats willing to sign off work on it.

 

[NJA Capt]

actually, now that I've visited the website, I think it may have been the RV-8...because RV-6 is a side by side, while the one I saw was a tandem

the pilot was sitting in the rear seat, so it's probably not an RV-3, and the RV-4 is flown from the front, so that's not it, either...

well, I guess a six can look like an eight from a warped window

Both the RV4 and 8 are soloed from the from seat. It took us 4.5 years to build our RV8 and a friend just finished his in 3 years. If you have someone to help you who has built an RV, your learning curve is much faster. Lots of things you can do to keep it simple, or visa versa. The rudder pedals in the -8 are adjustable fore and aft. You should "try one on" before deciding. We found that at the most fwd pedal stop, the pedal assembly would hit the firewall. The quick build kit is the way to go. Depending on your time, I have heard of them built in 9 months (professional A&Ps).

It is an absolute blast to fly!

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

well, I guess the fella was just taxiing it from the back? but it was the longer tandem version
I didn't see the N number, so he may have just been doing runups or test hops, our clearance came up and we were gone

neat airplane though, and yea, a quickbuilt kit sounds like a good option, as I never held a rivet gun in may hands

 

[LR25]

Quick build= alot of money.

When the RV's first came out, you could build one and fly it for about 15K.

Now it takes about 35K for a bare minumum airplane, if your lucky, and if you find a good deal on an engine.

I got a tail, wings and part of the fuselage for an RV-6 I'll sell you.

The RV's are the Cessna of the experimental world, and are following in the same footsteps as what Cessna now charges for a new 172.

 

[flywithastick]

You're gonna have a hard time building a -6 unless it's a used kit. The -7(A) has replaced it.

The -8 would be good for someone 6'-4" as would be the -10. -6(A) marginal. -4, -3 painful. -7(A), -9A maybe.

Very little sheet metal cutting required on the new kits. Almost all sheets and bulkheads are cut, formed and pilot drilled making jigs almost unecessary. Just Cleco the pieces together. No welding required either.

If you're of average eye-hand coordination, have basic familiarity with tools and can read English (just read and follow the instructions!), you won't have a problem.

 

[Wankel7]

I have heard of some people putting the Wankel Rotary engine on the RV-6. Do not know to much info on that though.

Wankel

 

[flywithastick]

I have heard of some people putting the Wankel Rotary engine on the RV-6. Do not know to much info on that though.

Wankel

There are quite a few, but they just don't sound right, IMVHO.

Half the fun is converting fuel to (good airplane engine) noise!

 

[chawbein]

I'm 6'5" with my shoes on, and I had no problem fitting into the backseat of an RV-8. Good luck.

 

[LR25]

I would seriously consider the rotary power. I keep seeing the same ones at Sun N Fun and the installation seems OK.

The y do sound funny, but you some pretty good horspower, you can put the big exhaust on them also.

A couple of years ago there was a firewall forward conversion for the 6A, not the 6, for a V6 with a reduction drive, it was very nice.

If I was to continue my project, I would go with one of the automotive conversions, screw paying 15K for a used motor.

 

[Wankel7]

I have to agree a rotary sounds unlike anything else.

However, I would say that a rotary is one of the best engines for converting fuel to loud noise. I have two RX-7s listening to those cars without exhaust hurts

Atkins Rotary used to have a lot of info on their site about rotary engines in the RV-6. But I do not know what happened to it.
www.atkinsrotary.com

Wankel

 

[ez_driver]

The problem with autoengine installations is that they tend to be one off designs. However, Tracy Cook has flown his RV-4 with a mazda conversion for over 650 hours. On his web site he sells a book on the conversion and the hardware to do it. It is a fun site to browse: http://www.rotaryaviation.com/

I've seem subaru packages to the RV's too. A bit of web surfing would probably find these too.

 

[dav8or]

The trouble of engineering the auto engine to the RV outweighs the cost savings over the lycomming. I've seen a 6 with a Mazda engine and it had the longest takeoff roll of any RV I've seen. The owner/builder even said he would stick with a conventional engine if he had to do it again.

 

[RightPedal]

It's been a while sense I spoke with the Franklin Engine people http://franklinengines.com/index.cfm but if I remember correctly one could have a new 6A-350 "220hp" for the same money as a mid-time lyc or cont. in the 160hp range.
I run one of these engines over 900 hours in five years. The only money I spent outside of fuel "10gph" and oil was a set of intake gaskets. I sold the aircraft with this engine at over 575 beyond TBO.
Maybe I was just plain lucky, but I love that motor and would not hesitate having another one.
An RV-8 would be a nice ride with a 220