N941WR
Legacy Member
The RV-12 has been out for some time now and I finally had a chance to fly one the other night.
I must say, I was really impressed by the -12!
What a nice flying aircraft, very light on the controls, much lighter than my RV-9. I would say it is more in line with the -4 than a -7. Kind of like a -7 at low speeds because of how quickly it responded to stick and rudder input.
Very well Balanced in its control harmony. Probably better balanced than a -7 or -8. (Sorry guys!)
Off of grass with no wind and two 200+ pound (I'm not saying how much above 200 the passengers were but it was significant.) people and half tanks we used up probably 1000 feet, maybe less. (Typical soft field technique; one notch of flaps from brake release, full aft stick, as soon as the nose wheel is off the grass release back pressure but keep the nosewheel off the turf, once we broke ground I accelerated in ground effect until speed built up and then pitched for Vy. The 1000' included the flight in ground effect.)
At Vy we were still climbing at a solid 700 FPM. Stunning!
I had heard this before but didn't believe it, the visibility out of it is so much better than in my -9 or in a -6 or -7!
Landings were very easy. With our two big 'ol butts in there I used 60 knots, which was pretty fast on final and full flaps. Touched down on the mains, holding the stick aft for a full stall landing with the rollout with the stick full aft. By mid filed 1200' we were adding power to taxi to the end to take off again.
Those of you who are building, keep pulling those rivets! It is worth the effort!
Those of you who are thinking of building a -12, write that check!
I just can't get past the fact that the -12 out performs a Skyhawk so easily!
If only there was a tailwheel version. Oh Mitch, can we talk?
I must say, I was really impressed by the -12!
What a nice flying aircraft, very light on the controls, much lighter than my RV-9. I would say it is more in line with the -4 than a -7. Kind of like a -7 at low speeds because of how quickly it responded to stick and rudder input.
Very well Balanced in its control harmony. Probably better balanced than a -7 or -8. (Sorry guys!)
Off of grass with no wind and two 200+ pound (I'm not saying how much above 200 the passengers were but it was significant.) people and half tanks we used up probably 1000 feet, maybe less. (Typical soft field technique; one notch of flaps from brake release, full aft stick, as soon as the nose wheel is off the grass release back pressure but keep the nosewheel off the turf, once we broke ground I accelerated in ground effect until speed built up and then pitched for Vy. The 1000' included the flight in ground effect.)
At Vy we were still climbing at a solid 700 FPM. Stunning!
I had heard this before but didn't believe it, the visibility out of it is so much better than in my -9 or in a -6 or -7!
Landings were very easy. With our two big 'ol butts in there I used 60 knots, which was pretty fast on final and full flaps. Touched down on the mains, holding the stick aft for a full stall landing with the rollout with the stick full aft. By mid filed 1200' we were adding power to taxi to the end to take off again.
Those of you who are building, keep pulling those rivets! It is worth the effort!
Those of you who are thinking of building a -12, write that check!
I just can't get past the fact that the -12 out performs a Skyhawk so easily!
If only there was a tailwheel version. Oh Mitch, can we talk?
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