I?m a prospective builder getting close to ordering the RV-7 empennage kit. I?ve been working on my garage/shop, starting to purchase tools, practicing skills, and lurking on VAF. I?ve always dreamed of an RV-7 but when I visited Vans in the fall they highlighted the RV-14 as a state-of-the-art kit and better for cross-country travel . Unfortunately, the demo -14A was in the shop so I wasn?t able to do a back-to-back comparison with -7A. Needless to say, I loved the the -7A, but my rational side says I should seriously consider the -14 because newer must be better. When I asked the folks at Vans they said: ?it depends on your mission? but, clearly they market it as a more comfortable travel machine which can still do acro -- the best of all worlds.
I?m 6? and plan to fly it for fun including learning aerobatics and travel with my wife or one of my two nearly college-age children.
Right now, I?m still leaning to the -7 QB because:
(1) its history ? a lot of people have done this before me and report good things
(2) its nimble and sportier? maybe I?ll get over this when I grown-up
(3) it looks really good ? It?s personal, but I feel the proportions of the RV-7 are ideal
The only thing that would push me back to the -14 would be if it was truly a better engineered aircraft, but aside from the kit-quality, I see no evidence of this. Am I missing something? To those that are building or flying a RV-7 or -7A would you have gone with the -14 if you know what you do now?
Mike
I?m 6? and plan to fly it for fun including learning aerobatics and travel with my wife or one of my two nearly college-age children.
Right now, I?m still leaning to the -7 QB because:
(1) its history ? a lot of people have done this before me and report good things
(2) its nimble and sportier? maybe I?ll get over this when I grown-up
(3) it looks really good ? It?s personal, but I feel the proportions of the RV-7 are ideal
The only thing that would push me back to the -14 would be if it was truly a better engineered aircraft, but aside from the kit-quality, I see no evidence of this. Am I missing something? To those that are building or flying a RV-7 or -7A would you have gone with the -14 if you know what you do now?
Mike