Why an RV8?

05 Oct 2003 Why an RV8?

There are thousands of different homebuilt aircraft out on the market, so I thought I might explain how I came to choose an RV8.

As is often the case, exposure to someone else’s airplane is the cause… After getting my license in May of 2003, I began to lament both the cost of flying here in CH (about 200 CHF/hour) and the relatively boring performance of the certified Piper aircraft I fly. Of course, you might argue that there are better performing certified aircraft, and that is true. However, the cost of keeping these planes flying is very high.

There is a guy at the local airport with an RV4 that he built and flew across the pond. That impressed me. I started researching planes, both aluminum and composite construction, reading the various groups, reading the websites, and ordering info packs.

I decided I wanted an aluminium plane, so that I could build it with my kids around, and not have to worry about them inhaling some dangerous substance. Of course, if they inhale a lot of aluminium, we’ll be visiting the ER.

I wanted a plane that can do at least some aerobatics. I can fly straight and level in the club Pipers.

I wanted a plane with pretty good performance so that I can do some flying in and over the alps. If you want to go south from where I live, you need to be able to handle mountain flying.

I wanted a kit that had been built in CH, to avoid the certification hassles. Unfortunately for me, the RV8 has not yet been built here, but the RV3, RV4, RV6 and the RV7 (being built) have. This is a bit of a compromise, but many parts of the RV8 are the same as the other models, particularly the RV7, so I’m optimistic.

I wanted a plane with either a single seat, or tandem seating. I can fly side-by-side with the club planes. I want the “fighter pilot” feel and visibility. Yes, I’m one of the thousands of wannabe fighter jocks.

I also want a tail dragger, but I can’t quite clarify why. I know that a tri-gear is safer, more flexible in a crosswind, and enjoys easier ground handling. However, the tail dragger just looks cooler, and tends to sharpen flying skills. After I get out of a responsive tail dragger, like the Bucker, and into a tri-gear, my feet are active, and I really fly much more precisely.

That about explains why I chose the RV8. Oh, one other thing, I could not find a single person on the net that said anything at all bad about the RV8 or in fact any of the other RV models. Even the kit manufacturer, Van’s Aircraft, got only the highest praise from anyone that I spoke to, both here in CH and internationally. Truely amazing customer loyalty. I have a feeling that I will need this kind of supplier for such an ambitious project.