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Which Aircraft to Build?

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inplaneview

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 1, 2006
Posts
65
I'm interested in the "experts" opinion on best aircraft to build as far as value, ease of building, and performance. I'm leaning towards RV-7, but like the Glasair Sportsman and Glastar also.
 
Okay, it depends.

1. What is your budget?

2. What is your mission?

3. Does your mission require have special requirements or future goals? I.E. Want to carry two bicycles with you or want to have the ability to utilize floats or skiies.
 
As far as value and simplicity of building, the RV wins over the composites IMO... However, if you want real performance, go with the Thunder Mustang :nuts:

As Bank said, what's your mission?
 
Based on the criteria mentioned, you can't go wrong with an RV. But before you start, make sure you have enough time etc to build one.. it's a BIG commitment.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I'm looking for a project that is doable by a novice. I'm looking for an airplane that has descent cross-country potential, that you c an do light acro in, and that you don't always have to have concrete to land it on. Looks to me light the conventional gear (taildragger) RV-7 comes out on top, but I wanted to hear from the guys that are out there that have built and flown that aircraft and others for opinions.
 
You're all set. RV-7 is it.. again, based on your requirements. It's fun to build and absolute joy to fly. And it sure can be built by a novice. However, there will be so many other RV builders (whereever you are, there are at least a few) that help will always be around when needed. Can't say that for other types though.
 
Speed costs money.

How fast do you want to go?



I too am looking at an RV-7. 180 knots cruise, yet it slows down to Cessna speeds for the pattern. Take the wheel pants off, and it makes a desscent rough feild airplane. Does light acro. Dosen't burn too much fuel.

Basicly it's the perfect all around airplane as long as you don't need to carry more than one passenger.
 
You're right on with the RV. The biggest thing they have going for them is their builder support network and there are 1000s of RVs flying. I'd recommend building it exactly to plans and use a real aircraft engine, then you'll be able to get your investment back if you need to sell. I'd go easy on the aerobatics, people have broken wings before. I wouldn't pull any harder on an RV than I would any other normal GA airplane. Oh yeah, get the fast build kit for sure. Get anything premade you can, it pays for itself and it's a big enough project as it is.

Have fun,

Scott
KIS TR-1 builder

inplaneview said:
Thanks for the input guys. I'm looking for a project that is doable by a novice. I'm looking for an airplane that has descent cross-country potential, that you c an do light acro in, and that you don't always have to have concrete to land it on. Looks to me light the conventional gear (taildragger) RV-7 comes out on top, but I wanted to hear from the guys that are out there that have built and flown that aircraft and others for opinions.
Click to expand...
 
sstearns2 said:
I'd go easy on the aerobatics, people have broken wings before. I wouldn't pull any harder on an RV than I would any other normal GA airplane.
Click to expand...

Ditto on everything you mentioned, except for this quote here. Yes, it's true that a few RVs have shed wings, but you gotta look a little deeper to get the whole picture. The early RV-3s have had a tendency to shed wings doing acro due to a somewhat weak design on the aft wing spar attach points... Van's recognized this and for older ships put out a beef-up kit for the rear attach points. Then he redesigned the whole wing to go out with newer kits.

The RV-4, 6, 7, and 8s have a good history, not much trouble. One of the prototype RV-8s did shed a wing during a demo flight; it was determined that the back seater just pulled the stick too hard; plus, that ship had an earlier wing spar design, which has since been replaced by a newer, stronger "Dash 1" wing. Load tested to 9 Gs but limited to 6... a few weeks ago I rode back seat in an 8 with an ex-Air Force guy; he did a 360 overhead pattern entry, pulled 5 Gs on the break, no problems. There are lots of ex- and current fighter guys that fly and dogfight RV-4s and they have no trouble with 'em.

So by all means, build an RV! RV-8 Quick Build taildragger, it's the only way to go. Then again, I'm biased... I just did the first flight on my 8 last week, what a rush!

As for the Thunder Mustang? Suh-weet! But ya better have a few truckloads of cash to pay for it!
 
After going through the process, completing and flying an RV-7A, my advice is to build the plane that turns you on enough to keep you interested enough to finish the thing. After you address that, everything else doable. Finding the energy to finish an airplane you don't care for or have lost interest in is the toughest challenge of all.

As an earlier poster noted, I 2nd the notion to get everything quick-built and/or pre-built that you can, it is a big enough project.
 
Last edited:
LearLove,
You might have been inhaling the jet-a fumes a bit too much...... The tailwheel RV-8 has a much better look to it, IMO.
 
LearLove said:
check this one out. for some reason in the rv8 I think the 8a looks better than the tailwheel 8. I thing the 3 and 4 are the best looking overall, if not one of the best lokking planes around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004...003QQitemZ130053840492QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

check out this guys hangar - he's got some toys. Nice 8 in the background.
Click to expand...

LearLove,

Actually, that is an RV-4 in the background. It is probably one of the nicest -4's you'll ever see. It has a 150hp Lycoming with a fixed pitch wood prop. I am positive of this as my Swift resides two hangars down from Ham's hangar. His RV-10 is nearly finished and will most likely be a multiple award-winner wherever he takes it. He has been flying this -8A for a couple of years and it is also in mint condition. Hopefully, he'll find someone to buy it and free up some hangar space.

Regards,
fb
 
good, just rather touchy subject with me.

looking at experimental as a whole - dangerous as many are 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 of a kind planes - the bugs are not ironed out, many are acrobatic and finicky planes.

BUT, many are quite docile and have excellent records.
 
I've got a RV 8 tail kit for sale. I built the rear spar and then decided to start a vineyard. No time or money to finish the build. PM me if you're interested.
 
Remember 1) You'll never get your money out of a homebuilt 2) There are substantial libilty issues if you (or your heirs) ever want to sell a homebuilt and 3) Your life insurance probably won't cover you if you auger in in a homebuilt.

Once you get past that, build a T-18. Same performance as an RV for half the money. Better yet, buy one that has been built already and then get an extensive pre-buy by someone who knows the type intimately.

Not that intimately, of course.
 
For what it's worth (and I know nobody asked me), I think I'll hold off on building/flying homebuilts. I've just heard too many horror stories. I'll save my 9 lives for something else. But if you guys like it, more power to ya! Those airplanes are definitely cool, but it won't be me flying them.

-Goose
 

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