Tony Partain
Well Known Member
1. Kit costs will be about half of the 7QB, the only difference is the fuselage and empennage construction. Now with the QB wings for the RV-3B this will shorten the time to finish.
2. Cost of engine. An IO320 will be less than an IO360 and it will burn less fuel. Bart I will be calling next fall!
3. Cost of panel. To build a RV-3B I will need fewer “expensive parts”. The panel on my 7 cost over $30,000, of course this was in 2005 and the same panel now would cost less due to the influx of glass EFIS manufacturers. I expect that the panel on the 3 will cost about half of the 7 panel. AFS 3500 Trutrak Digiflight VSII
4. This one is all about me! Build a nice plane and keep it that way.(My Kitfox is going to by my kicking around plane that I can throw my friends and stuff into and not worry about scratching or getting it dirty.) The 3 will be the “nice plane”. The one that when you park it, walk away and turn back to look at it again and think yes I did build it and it looks great and it’s mine!
5. Center line seating. I bought a flying RV4 in 1996. The flying qualities of that plane still stick in my mind. The 7 is a great plane but different. From what I've read, I believe that the 3 will recapture that feeling.
6. Right hand flying. I am left handed but always seem to fly the RV4 better with my right hand. Strange but true.
7. Construction. My first build was aluminum, the RV7. I am now building a Kitfox, tube and fabric. The Kitfox is much easier to construct. But every time I need to fabricate an aluminum piece it makes me smile. Time to get a pile of aluminum for a fix.
8. My Kitfox will cost less now. (All of the wives out there would love this one). The panel will be very basic now in the KF and not a robust glass panel. Steam gauges and simple. Just need a GPS, a hand held radio and go!
9. Vans. How can you go wrong with this company? You can’t. When it comes to kit companies they have set the standard. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but it’s true. As a transport company for the kit industry I have talked to every kit manufacturer out there and most do a very good job. There are a couple of small companies that do a fantastic job, but no one has the track record of Vans.
Now I have a problem. TWO PLANES UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT ONCE! Ya let the fun continue!
The RV-3B components list, so here is what I am doing so far.
Engine IO320 from Bart @ www.aerosportpower.com
Efis from Rob @ http://www.advanced-flight-systems.com/index.html
Digiflight VSII Auto pilot from Jim @ http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/
Radios and harness from Stein @ www.steinair.com
I like to fly but this part of collecting and researching is the best part.
The tail kit is here and I am off to the hanger to play with my new toys!
2. Cost of engine. An IO320 will be less than an IO360 and it will burn less fuel. Bart I will be calling next fall!
3. Cost of panel. To build a RV-3B I will need fewer “expensive parts”. The panel on my 7 cost over $30,000, of course this was in 2005 and the same panel now would cost less due to the influx of glass EFIS manufacturers. I expect that the panel on the 3 will cost about half of the 7 panel. AFS 3500 Trutrak Digiflight VSII
4. This one is all about me! Build a nice plane and keep it that way.(My Kitfox is going to by my kicking around plane that I can throw my friends and stuff into and not worry about scratching or getting it dirty.) The 3 will be the “nice plane”. The one that when you park it, walk away and turn back to look at it again and think yes I did build it and it looks great and it’s mine!
5. Center line seating. I bought a flying RV4 in 1996. The flying qualities of that plane still stick in my mind. The 7 is a great plane but different. From what I've read, I believe that the 3 will recapture that feeling.
6. Right hand flying. I am left handed but always seem to fly the RV4 better with my right hand. Strange but true.
7. Construction. My first build was aluminum, the RV7. I am now building a Kitfox, tube and fabric. The Kitfox is much easier to construct. But every time I need to fabricate an aluminum piece it makes me smile. Time to get a pile of aluminum for a fix.
8. My Kitfox will cost less now. (All of the wives out there would love this one). The panel will be very basic now in the KF and not a robust glass panel. Steam gauges and simple. Just need a GPS, a hand held radio and go!
9. Vans. How can you go wrong with this company? You can’t. When it comes to kit companies they have set the standard. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but it’s true. As a transport company for the kit industry I have talked to every kit manufacturer out there and most do a very good job. There are a couple of small companies that do a fantastic job, but no one has the track record of Vans.
Now I have a problem. TWO PLANES UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT ONCE! Ya let the fun continue!
The RV-3B components list, so here is what I am doing so far.
Engine IO320 from Bart @ www.aerosportpower.com
Efis from Rob @ http://www.advanced-flight-systems.com/index.html
Digiflight VSII Auto pilot from Jim @ http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/
Radios and harness from Stein @ www.steinair.com
I like to fly but this part of collecting and researching is the best part.
The tail kit is here and I am off to the hanger to play with my new toys!
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