At OSH this year, the ESLA folks asked for suggested mods. I emailed them this list. Several have been incorporated!
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Kaitlyn - it was a pleasure meeting you at Oshkosh. I bet you are tired!
It was mentioned to send suggested improvements to the RV12 to you.
You may be familiar with the Van's Air Force website - vansairforce.com - the best user community in all of aviation. There are sub-forums for each type of RV plus other topics. Major focuses include builder assistance and modifications. Mods for the RV12 are not nearly so prevalent, but they do exist and one forum thread (link below) contains most of them. VAF was invaluable for me in my RV12 build.
The VAF RV-12 sub-forum
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=73
The RV-12 Modifications thread in that forum - generaly all the mods have pictures.
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=64145
The best modifications in my opinion are (not in any order):
1. Split rear bulkhead and floor cover plate to avoid tank removal. See my Post #126 in themodifications thread. Also #164 & 166.
2. Quick drain immediately below the tank coming through one of the lower inspection plates. Post # 76 and 145.
3. Slotted center panel piece with backer plate, to allow the control cables to be dropped down and removal of the panel center plate for modification - WITHOUT having to pull the throttle and choke and heater cables completely out of the plane and then reinstalling them (a nasty job also requiring resetting all the carb adjustments!) See Post #163.
4. The "Bender Baffle" to improve cabin heat in the winter. Post 191 and some links.
5. Nutplates on the tank filler neck attachment flange to the outside skin.
6. The Moeller tank fuel gauge is now standard but it needs a gasket, not Proseal!
7. For many of those of us with Rotax engines with the engine mounted Honeywell oil pressure sensor - we got a kit from Lockwood with an extension hose that lets us mount that sensor off the engine and on the firewall. The hose has an orifice fitting. Engine vibration would give that $400 sensor an early death. (Post 32 shows the concept but also is shown replacing the sensor, not just moving the existing one if it still works. Also note comments in several posts after that.)
8. Canopy lock. (Post #5 for one method, post #63 and 93 for another - that is the one I did.)
9. Clips on oil door to hold the cap while you check the oil (post #6)
10. The USB port that sticks straight down from the instrument bay bottom is not a good idea. There are reasons to leave a memory stick in it all the time, not just for updates. Nor would it be good if it stuck out the instrument panel pointing aft. To take an in-flight Dynon screenshot you need a USB stick in that port, also to download log files after a flight. In the current position you could break it off with your knees. I took a short USB extension cable, and routed it to an opening in the glove box - and I leave a USB stick inserted there. Another option would be to use the same kind of cable extension but cinched up with cable ties on the underside bottom of the avionics bay, facing aft. With the USB socket far enough forward that a memory stick in it would not protrude past the plane of the panel. Similar to post #218.
11. The Ray Allen grips and transmit buttons are better than the bicycle grip idea with those current pushbuttons. Post 146.
12. REMOVABLE RIGHT STICK! In-flight removeable and replaceable with those little holes with those protruding click-type buttons (such as are used on the Van's tow bar.) All that is needed is a little piece of curved inside pipe at the cut, and a quick disconnect for the radio transmit wire, and a plastic cap for when removed. The geometry of the stick is such that it needs to be cut for removal in the curved section.
13. Post 45 discusses lower cowl hinge pin creep. I had that on one side but just fixed it with tape at each install of the lower cowl.
14. Nutplates instead of metal nuts in one place, post #46.
15. Many people want a fuel pump switch. I just pull the fuse if I need to have the master on, like for Skyview updates.
15. Post 66 - headset straps - these are optional if you remember to ask Abby at Flightline for them, also stick and flap handle boots and a velcro pocket for the center under-panel sloped surface. Some put headset hanger hooks on the structural member running aft of the canopy handle, above the baggage compartment.
16. I think the -12 needs an inline fuel filter upstream of the pump.
17. The wireway above the rudder pedal crossover is terribly crowded. It needs more room for all the wires - perhaps more than one wireway.
18. Tank return fitting lock plate. Really needed! See post 147 and 171 - I think something like this may be incorporated on current kits.
19. Improved ground for engine and voltage regulator. Post 240.
20. Several alternatives for better regulator cooling, starting about post #246 to #253.
21. Post #258 - eliminating finger-pinching from the flap handle pushbutton.
22. PLEXIGLAS - NOT LEXAN REAR WINDOW! Mine is already fuel crazed and I will have to replace it sooner or later.