I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
or am I missing something??
Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.

William L. Snow, PE
CP, IA, ASEL

"William Snow" > wrote in message . ..
>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like to have an airplane that will cruise at
>about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go or am
>I missing something??
> Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>
> William L. Snow, PE
> CP, IA, ASEL
>

Go get a demo flight first, either at Van's (like I did) or from a local owner.
Join a local EAA club, preferably one that has someone in the process of building or has completed an RV.
This is a huge project.
Talk to lots of builders.
Build only if you want to build. Not because you want to fly.
This is a huge project.

I have just started the tail kit for an RV-7. I'm mean just barely scratched to surface. Here are my observations
so far.
The kit is very high quality. I have not been disappointed so far.
This is a huge project.
There is lots of help out there on the internet and at Van's but having a local builder would be much better and I do
not have that option.
This a tremendously huge project. It takes a lot of study.
Expect to pay much more for tools and other stuff that you hadn't planned for.
This is a huge project.
I read that the average builder screws up around $400 in parts that he has to re-order.
This is a huge project.
So far I'm enjoying it, but it will be several years before it flies, and that is if I decide to go on to the next
kit. I'm approaching it as a learning experience.
This is a huge project.
Am I glad I tried it. So far... yep!





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In article >,
"William Snow" > wrote:

> I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
> to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
> order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
> or am I missing something??
> Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>
> William L. Snow, PE
> CP, IA, ASEL

Van probably has the best kits for the money in the business -- and --
he keeps improving them! You can build the quick build kit for some
extra dollars. I have looked at some of his QB kits and am impressed!
Most of the hard stuff is done -- no jigs required -- and -- the work is
first rate. Be sure to get in with your EAA Chapter, as it is invaluable.

We have something like 30 RVs of one kind or another here at Spruce
Creek -- most of them RV-8s.

"William Snow" <...> wrote in message
. ..
>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
>to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
>order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
>or am I missing something??
> Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>
> William L. Snow, PE
> CP, IA, ASEL
>
>

rec.aviation.homebuilt would be another good place to ask. For RV-specific
questions, the two best groups I know of are Van's Airforce
(http://www.vansairforce.com/) and the Matronics RV mailing list
(http://www.matronics.com/rv-list/index.htm).

Tom Young
RV-4 empennage under construction

"William Snow" > wrote in message
. ..
>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
>to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
>order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
>or am I missing something??
> Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>
> William L. Snow, PE
> CP, IA, ASEL

If your objective is to fly, find a used one for sale somewhere.

If you objective is to enjoy the process of building your own airplane, then
build one.

Your stated objectives are 200 mph, 200 hp - sounds to me like you want to
fly, not build.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

RV's are great if you don't need to carry anything other than a toothbrush.




Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:

> "William Snow" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
>>to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
>>order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
>>or am I missing something??
>>Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>>
>>William L. Snow, PE
>>CP, IA, ASEL
>
>
> If your objective is to fly, find a used one for sale somewhere.
>
> If you objective is to enjoy the process of building your own airplane, then
> build one.
>
> Your stated objectives are 200 mph, 200 hp - sounds to me like you want to
> fly, not build.
>
> --
> Geoff
> The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
> remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
> When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.
>
>

(Added rec.aviation.homebuilt to newsgroups header.)
Newps > wrote:
> Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
>
>> "William Snow" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>
>>>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would
>>>like to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp
>>>engine in order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the
>>>RV the way to go or am I missing something??
>>>Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>>>
>>>William L. Snow, PE
>>>CP, IA, ASEL
>>
>>
>> If your objective is to fly, find a used one for sale somewhere.
>>
>> If you objective is to enjoy the process of building your own
>> airplane, then build one.
>>
>> Your stated objectives are 200 mph, 200 hp - sounds to me like you
>> want to fly, not build.
>>
>> --
>> Geoff
>> The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
>> remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
>> When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.
>>
>>
> RV's are great if you don't need to carry anything other than a
> toothbrush.

Even for the RV-10?

Unless the pilot and any passengers are morbidly obese, I'd think there
would be enough useful load to carry moderate amounts of luggage. While
I've been less than thrilled by the rather low useful loads of the other
RV's, they aren't that bad.

It sounds like it is more effort than I want to put in. I want to fly not
build.

How about buying one already built. Sounds risky to me.

This group knows the in's and outs' so advice is welcomed.. Thanks

Bill Snow

"William Snow" > wrote in message
. ..
>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
>to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
>order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
>or am I missing something??
> Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>
> William L. Snow, PE
> CP, IA, ASEL
>
>

"Newps" > wrote in message
. ..
> RV's are great if you don't need to carry anything other than a
> toothbrush.

The truth is that any of the 2 seat RV's except the RV-4 can carry between
60 and 100 pounds of baggage plus full fuel and two normal sized adults.
The final numbers depend on how careful the builder was in keeping the
aircraft's weight down and avoiding an aft empty CG.

My airplane, an RV-6, has a useful load of about 650 lbs. That's 38 gallons
of fuel plus another 420 lbs of whatever else you want to load in the
airplane. If you plan to run the main dry, 60 pounds in the baggage
compartment is about the max allowable due to CG issues. In my case, 38
gallons is 4 hours @155-160 knots plus a 45 minute reserve.

KB

They're building an RV-10 at our field. Almost done now (the guy
started in November) and has worked full time (40+ hours/week). This
guy is an AME as well and his career was in aviation and has restored
planes in the past. What I'm saying is that it is a lot of work (they
got the QB kit)... however its a great thing for our airport as when we
have our regular Saturday morning breakfasts we later go out and get a
show/tell session.

The RV10 is a roomy plane... wider than many... 48" i believe. Lots of
baggage space and it is fast.. around 180kts (IO540).

Anyhow, this guy is for hire and will help anyone build their RV (or
any other plane) for a very reasonable amount.

This will be (as far as I understand) the first flying RV 10 in Canada.
(that was built here). As for the price... i think the owner will
have close to 250k CDN into it when complete.

-dr


William Snow wrote:
> I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would like
> to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp engine in
> order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the RV the way to go
> or am I missing something??
> Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>
> William L. Snow, PE
> CP, IA, ASEL

("Dico" wrote)
> This will be (as far as I understand) the first flying RV 10 in Canada.
> (that was built here). As for the price... i think the owner will have
> close to 250k CDN into it when complete.


10 months of "labor" since last November:
40 weeks x 40 hrs/week = 1,600 hrs
1,600 hrs x $100/hr (CND) = $160,000 CDN

Now $250k CND makes sense.

http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
$250 CDN = $226 USD


Montblack

"William Snow" > wrote in message
. ..
> It sounds like it is more effort than I want to put in. I want to fly not
> build.
>
> How about buying one already built. Sounds risky to me.
>
> This group knows the in's and outs' so advice is welcomed.. Thanks
>
> Bill Snow
>

If you and your family aren't 100% behind the idea of building don't even
think about it. You will end with a bunch of aluminum and no airplane.

Just as buying any used airplane reaserch, research and research some more.
There are plenty of very good used RVs on the market. If possible get to
know the builder. I think your best bet would be to find one that is being
sold by a builder who has lots of photos of the construction and can walk
you through the process he went through. Another thing I'd look for is a
builder who is selling so he can build something that is better for what
ever reason. My logic is that there is probably nothing wrong with this
plane it just isn't fulfilling the mission or the builder just loves to
build.

Also, find a RV builder you trust and get him to help you look at all of the
planes you look at.

Jim Logajan wrote:
> (Added rec.aviation.homebuilt to newsgroups header.)
> Newps > wrote:
>
>>Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"William Snow" > wrote in message
. ..
>>>
>>>
>>>>I am considering building an RV-7A. I currently own an Arrow. I would
>>>>like to have an airplane that will cruise at about 200, with a 200 Hp
>>>>engine in order to keep the fuel burn numbers within reason. Is the
>>>>RV the way to go or am I missing something??
>>>>Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated and probably heeded.
>>>>
>>>>William L. Snow, PE
>>>>CP, IA, ASEL
>>>
>>>
>>>If your objective is to fly, find a used one for sale somewhere.
>>>
>>>If you objective is to enjoy the process of building your own
>>>airplane, then build one.
>>>
>>>Your stated objectives are 200 mph, 200 hp - sounds to me like you
>>>want to fly, not build.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Geoff
>>>The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
>>>remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
>>>When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>RV's are great if you don't need to carry anything other than a
>>toothbrush.
>
>
> Even for the RV-10?
>
> Unless the pilot and any passengers are morbidly obese, I'd think there
> would be enough useful load to carry moderate amounts of luggage. While
> I've been less than thrilled by the rather low useful loads of the other
> RV's, they aren't that bad.
The -7 & -8 have very reasonable useful loads, as 2 seat a/c go. Full
fuel, 2 normal (not super-)sized adults, & ~100 lbs of baggage should
get you through at least a week of travel.

My wife & I are both a bit under the FAA 'standard'; we've camped for a
week at major flyins without over-grossing either the -4 or the folks
around us. (Includes clothes, tent, sleeping bags, softside cooler,
sandwich food & breakfast food for the week.)

Obviously, this can't be done if you throw anything that catches your
eye into the plane.

Charlie
flying -4, -7 in the oven