Still thinking about an RV-14

Building an RV 14 (Not sure why you don't want the 4 seat RV 10) will take 5 + years with many hours put in per week. Probably will cost as much as buying a used one.

So.... why not buy a used RV or maybe a partially / almost built one? As an Experimental, you'll still have many hours of fun working on it and modifying it to your heart's content. Heck, buy it already built and partially rip it apart to configure it as you'd like.

Lots of wrenching combined with not having to wait more than half a decade to fly it.

BTW - building it isn't going to save you a ton - if any - money from buying it used.
 
Building *can* be satisfying, and having the repairman’s certificate means you are never beholden to a mechanic or lack thereof. That said, your points have merit.
 
A repairman’s certificate allows you to inspect / do the annual.

Even without that certificate, can’t the owner still do work on the plane?
 
WDD said:
A repairman’s certificate allows you to inspect / do the annual.

Even without that certificate, can’t the owner still do work on the plane?
Click to expand...
First, to pick nits, in the experimental world, it’s called a condition inspection, not an annual.

Second, yes, the owner of an experimental can work on his own airplane.
 
Got it. So if you buy a used Experimental, you can work on your plane and do basically what you want, but once a year you need an A&P to do a condition inspection.
 
Last edited:
WDD said:
Got it. So if you buy a used Experimental, you can work on your plane and do basically what you want, but once a year you need an A&P to do a condition inspection once a year.
Click to expand...
Pretty much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WDD
WDD said:
Building an RV 14 (Not sure why you don't want the 4 seat RV 10) will take 5 + years with many hours put in per week. Probably will cost as much as buying a used one.

So.... why not buy a used RV or maybe a partially / almost built one? As an Experimental, you'll still have many hours of fun working on it and modifying it to your heart's content. Heck, buy it already built and partially rip it apart to configure it as you'd like.

Lots of wrenching combined with not having to wait more than half a decade to fly it.

BTW - building it isn't going to save you a ton - if any - money from buying it used.
Click to expand...
If you rewind to the very beginning of the thread, you'll see my reasoning, but the short version is that it's about the journey, not the destination. I'm thinking that long term I'd like to get an A&P certificate, and building the -14 will make up a decent chunk of those hours. If I ever get it done, I'll have an awesome aerobatic plane that is a bit faster than the Lance when I don't need the back seats. I don't NEED another plane, nor could I afford to buy one outright without selling the Lance. Building it is kind of buying it on the installment plan, and you get exactly what you want. If I find I really love building, I could see even selling it and starting on another one. I've really enjoyed what little I've done so far, both with the Lance engine and the RV practice kit. I'm still in the new hobby honeymoon phase though; ask me again in a year.
 
WDD said:
A repairman’s certificate allows you to inspect / do the annual.

Even without that certificate, can’t the owner still do work on the plane?
Click to expand...
Yes, you can work on it. But without it, you are still beholden to an A&P or IA to do the condition inspection. Locally, pilots of second hand experimentals seem to be having a harder and harder time finding mechanics to perform that service.
 
Sounds like Vans has weathered and sorted out the financial pinch from a year or so ago. Glad he didn't go out of business and is still around.
 
Van's claims they are going to ship the kit Feb. 3.

Built some tables. Started on the lighbox kit. It's pretty simple after doing the control section kit. The faceplate of the kit they sent me looked like they kicked it around on the floor for six months.

IMG_20241211_193702902_HDR.jpg

Decided to build it anyway and polish it, because it's a learning experience, right?

IMG_20241215_183426833.jpg

I learned that my airplane will not be polished.
 
To keep all the day to day tools some form of rolling cart modified to hold tools comes in very handy. This becomes more helpful when you progress to larger assemblies when the one tool you want is always on the other side of the shop.
 

Attachments

  • 20240628_103519.jpg
    20240628_103519.jpg
    4 MB · Views: 11
WDD said:
Drat - sorry about that. Anything specific? Bearings, cranks, etc?
Click to expand...
No. All of it. 8 weeks and zero parts back. Divco originally said 4 weeks. Haven't bothered calling the machine shop because I can't do anything without the cases anyway. It's infuriating. Can't do a damn thing about it either.
 
Last edited:
Yikes. Makes you wonder how the average Joe Blow A&P who owns his own shop stay in business if he’s also facing this?

Hang in there.
 
WDD said:
Yikes. Makes you wonder how the average Joe Blow A&P who owns his own shop stay in business if he’s also facing this?

Hang in there.
Click to expand...
Vendors are naturally incentivized to prioritize customers by book order size, and small fry gets put on the back burner. It's not based on first come first serve. The OP is justified on being peeved about it, but in a dying sector where "shrink to profitability" is uttered unironically, that's the hobsons choice small fries like the OP have to eat. It's absolutely commendable he has the time and willingness to tackle the labor himself, where most of us dont or cant.

As to APs, all the ones I dealt with in the 13 years i dabbled in this nonsense, all were deriving their primary income from commercial customers, my small fry arse was never primary income for them and i was treated accordingly.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I have heard over and over again, that if you buy a polished airplane, enjoy it the first year you have it, because after that it's getting painted. :rofl:
Click to expand...
I’ve let my neighbors know that should they ever see a bare, polished aluminum plane in my hangar, to just go ahead and grab the sledgehammer in the corner, and proceed to beat me.
 
Had to re-work the lightbox a bit because Van's provides the finest Chinesium LEDs (I don't suppose there's any other kind) and the adhesive let go as soon as I screwed the back on and stood it up.

IMG_20241216_190524717.jpg

It turned out okay. I would like the front panel to be shinier and a little more consistent, bit I was DONE with polishing.

IMG_20241216_195135207.jpg

It looks pretty cool in the dark, though.

IMG_20241216_195159217_HDR.jpg
 
As you are in the farming business, as as an experimental you can do anything to it. Add a small hopper, call it a crop duster and write it off on taxes

Aerobatic crop duster. Oh yeah…..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top