I live in Colorado. The closest airport is Aspen at 7820' and Glenwood Springs at about 6100'. My plans have been to build a RV 9 to use mostly for travel up to 500 miles, with most trips between 100 to 250.
I just read the article in Kitplanes about traveling in a RV 12 and did the financial math comparing the two airplanes. For a 200 mile trip, the 12 at 120 mph and the 9 at 170mph, there is a difference of 30min. On 500 miles, it is 1:20. The fuel for the 200 mile trip cost $40 more. That isn't huge, but does add up. The biggest cost savings is in tie down if I was willing to trailer the 12 to my ranch. that would easily save $2400 year.
None of this means anything if the 12 does not have the power to overcome altitude and density flying in the Rocky Mountains. Just a hop over to Denver would put me at the ceiling limits of the 12.
I know there are 12's in Colorado, I have been reading this thread and read about many of your projects and airplanes. What are your experiences with the air density in the summer flying into the higher elevation airports and over the mountains? I know Vans specss the Rotax for the 12 - maybe there is a different engine that would increase the ceiling and climb to make it a better mountain plane but still takes autogas. I would sure be interested in your thoughts. I think both of the planes are extremely well designed for their purpose and I would love to build and fly either of them. After reading the article in Kitplanes, it opened the 12 to consideration by me.
Below is a chart of costs differences. I have no idea on how it will format in this post, but hopefully you can look at it and see if I assumed correct numbers. On that note, I just saw that 100ll is $7.79 at the Aspen airport. Holy ****! Thanks for the info.
RV 12 RV 9
Kit Cost $65,000.00 $65,000.00
Gallon/hr 4.5 8.5
Fuel Cost $3.75 $6.79
$16.88 $57.72
RV 9 fuel over cost p/h $40.84
200m/120mph/170mph 1.7 1.2 0:30
500m/120mph/170mph 4.2 2.9 1:20
Hangar Rental / Year $0.00 $2,400.00
I just read the article in Kitplanes about traveling in a RV 12 and did the financial math comparing the two airplanes. For a 200 mile trip, the 12 at 120 mph and the 9 at 170mph, there is a difference of 30min. On 500 miles, it is 1:20. The fuel for the 200 mile trip cost $40 more. That isn't huge, but does add up. The biggest cost savings is in tie down if I was willing to trailer the 12 to my ranch. that would easily save $2400 year.
None of this means anything if the 12 does not have the power to overcome altitude and density flying in the Rocky Mountains. Just a hop over to Denver would put me at the ceiling limits of the 12.
I know there are 12's in Colorado, I have been reading this thread and read about many of your projects and airplanes. What are your experiences with the air density in the summer flying into the higher elevation airports and over the mountains? I know Vans specss the Rotax for the 12 - maybe there is a different engine that would increase the ceiling and climb to make it a better mountain plane but still takes autogas. I would sure be interested in your thoughts. I think both of the planes are extremely well designed for their purpose and I would love to build and fly either of them. After reading the article in Kitplanes, it opened the 12 to consideration by me.
Below is a chart of costs differences. I have no idea on how it will format in this post, but hopefully you can look at it and see if I assumed correct numbers. On that note, I just saw that 100ll is $7.79 at the Aspen airport. Holy ****! Thanks for the info.
RV 12 RV 9
Kit Cost $65,000.00 $65,000.00
Gallon/hr 4.5 8.5
Fuel Cost $3.75 $6.79
$16.88 $57.72
RV 9 fuel over cost p/h $40.84
200m/120mph/170mph 1.7 1.2 0:30
500m/120mph/170mph 4.2 2.9 1:20
Hangar Rental / Year $0.00 $2,400.00