Scott Will
Well Known Member
Haven't posted in a while. But figured I'd share some good news. Today I passed the Commercial ASEL checkride in my RV-7A! Like others who've gone before me, I did the instrument rating in the RV. But there's no feeling like successfully completing TWO checkrides in the airplane you built.
A little background if you're wondering how the commercial could be done in an RV, especially one with only 180 hp and fixed pitch prop. I did the Commercial Multi-Engine (initial) back in October in the Seminole. I was thinking of doing an accelerated CFI/CFII/CFMEI program but before I did it needed the Comm ASEL. The flight school said I could get the Comm ASEL in a C172 for $1100. I said, whoa... I could fly my RV for many, many, many hours for that price and perfect the commercial maneuvers.
I think it was the first Commercial ride Clyde did in an RV (at KMDQ). We went through the gamut of Chandelles, Lazy 8's, 8's on pylons and quite a number of landings (short, soft, emergency, power off accuracy, crosswind, etc). The only small ding was for using some top rudder when settling into the 8's on pylons but I think that habit came from some formation work. Other than that, he was again impressed with the RV performance - especially the climb!
If you need a commercial single add-on, go for it in the RV.
A little background if you're wondering how the commercial could be done in an RV, especially one with only 180 hp and fixed pitch prop. I did the Commercial Multi-Engine (initial) back in October in the Seminole. I was thinking of doing an accelerated CFI/CFII/CFMEI program but before I did it needed the Comm ASEL. The flight school said I could get the Comm ASEL in a C172 for $1100. I said, whoa... I could fly my RV for many, many, many hours for that price and perfect the commercial maneuvers.
I think it was the first Commercial ride Clyde did in an RV (at KMDQ). We went through the gamut of Chandelles, Lazy 8's, 8's on pylons and quite a number of landings (short, soft, emergency, power off accuracy, crosswind, etc). The only small ding was for using some top rudder when settling into the 8's on pylons but I think that habit came from some formation work. Other than that, he was again impressed with the RV performance - especially the climb!
If you need a commercial single add-on, go for it in the RV.