So...tell me about RV-6As...

[Jay Honeck]

When we got Atlas (our Cherokee 235 Pathfinder), back in '02, we had two almost-teenagers and a need for its enormous (1460 pound) useful load. It has served us well, as a load-hauling mini-van of the skies, for both business and pleasure.

Now, one of our kids is out of the nest, the other will follow in a year, and we're starting to think that feeding that big ol' O-540 isn't going to be getting any cheaper. I'd like to get back down to an O-320 or O-360-powered aircraft again, with avgas prices soaring. Since we won't need four seats anymore, this opens up a world of choices.

I am also TOTALLY sick and tired of owning "certified" airplanes that require an act of Congress every time I want to upgrade an instrument in the panel. I'm thinking that one of Van's airplanes is the way to go, but I'm willing to be talked out of it....

One note: I am NOT going to build a plane. My lifestyle won't permit it, so I will be looking to buy an aircraft that has been constructed by a reputable builder.

So...what do I need to know? I've never flown in one, or even sat in one.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Much more of an RV knowledge base at http://vansairforce.net

I used to recommend that site, but no longer advise it because the owner and moderators are pretty much out of control, in my very humble opinion:

1) It not only accepts advertising, it appears the owner will edit posts of anyone who potentially could be an advertiser; then demand advertising money to allow the person to answer critics. The many ads don't seem to be enough, though, since the owner also asks for donations. (Check out the skeptical posts in http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=73748 and http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=74247 and what happens when Jan E. tries to respond.) According to a post in the Yahoo Viking engines list, the owner wanted $3500 before he would let Jan E. make "promotional" posts. (Oddly, the same criteria was not applied to a thread about the Jabiru for the RV-12.)

2) The volunteer moderators lock and delete threads without thinking too deeply about how it makes them look. I recall one thread started by a moderator who is also a DAR wherein he announced he would no longer inspect RV-12s because Van's Aircraft wasn't giving him some technical information he felt he needed to check some aspect. Eventually it was pointed out to him by some posters that the information was in a document supplied to every RV-12 builder. The DAR/moderator then deleted the entire thread. As I recall, only when someone started another thread asking what happened to the thread did the DAR/moderator state what he had done.

3) Too many moderators: http://www.vansairforce.net/rules.htm#moderators

4) Too one-sided: Full control of threads and even editing of posts with no consequences. Ad revenue plus donations from users plus moderators who work for free equals one sweet deal.

 

[Jim Logajan]

WOW -- is that right? The RV-6 has only 18.75" or width (per person) at the hips, while the RV-8 has 31"?

That's, um, significant. I just measured my "hip width", and 18.75" is pretty much all of me!

Probably not equivalent measurements, but the width of long-haul economy seats on airlines seems to be between 16.5" and 19", with most being in the 17" to 18" range: http://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_economy.php

The RV-8 seems to be more comparable to some of the long-haul first class seat widths: http://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_first_class.php