I finally did it...

[rv7]

This morning at 10:45 I finally got to ride in a RV-7. I went Wednesday to Sun-n-Fun and got my name on the list for demo flights. All I can say is "Wow!" I'm sure that many of you have flown in full-blown aerobatic planes but for me this is as close as I have been. I'm used to flying Cessnas and sometimes a Beech Sierra so when the pilot pulled out onto the runway and opened the throttle all of the way I was simply amazed. I never imagined that a little plane like that could accelerate so quickly. We had to have been off the ground within 300 feet. Anyhow it was cool to fly something with a stick, which is something I've never done before, and something that was so nimble. The demo pilot did some steep turns and the roll rate was very fast. I was convinced that I wanted to build one of these one day and I after that ride this morning I couldn't be more sure. I left the airport with a grin on my face and I still find myself thinking about it. I guess this post is pretty useless, but I just wanted to share my exitement. Now if i could just find someone to take me upside down in an airplane...

 

[Alchemy]

I doubt I could fit in one of those things....a guy down here is building one in his hangar with two EFIS screens, one for the flight instruments and one for the engine instruments. It's not surprising that he earns his money as a CRJ pilot.....

 

[rv7]

I was surprised at how roomy it really was. I am 6'2" and had plenty of leg and head room. There is a small gap between the two seats and altough I am fairly thin I think that most people could fit comfortably. I know that the RV-6 is smaller and the RV-8 (centerline seating) is pretty cramped as well. But again an unbelievable little airplane if you are into the whole building/fabricating thing.

 

[kellwolf]

Which model did you get to fly? I went on Thur, but all the slots they had left were for Sun/Sat, days I wouldn't be there.

Oh well, I might go to Oshkosh. I really wanted to see the RV-10, but they said it had mechanical problems, so it didn't make the trip. On the plus side, they said they are 3/4 of the way through with the SECOND RV-10, so they might have it available for demo flights at Oshkosh!

My wife and I sat in an RV-7 (two seater, side by side), and we had PLENTY of room. It had the sliding canopy, so I was afraid it would hit my head. Nope, plenty of clearance. Very comfortable to sit in as well.

 

[aloft]

[ QUOTE ]
I doubt I could fit in one of those things....a guy down here is building one in his hangar with two EFIS screens, one for the flight instruments and one for the engine instruments. It's not surprising that he earns his money as a CRJ pilot.....

[/ QUOTE ]

What's surprising is that a CRJ pilot could afford to build one....

Dan Checkoway, the guy behind LogShare.com, just finished building his RV-7; he chronicled the entire build process online at www.rvproject.com. I've been following his work for over a year, nice to see him finally finished!

 

[rv7]

I took a ride in the RV-7a. I was lucky enough that they were doing the demo flights out of KPCM (Plant City) which is my home airport, so getting there on Sunday wasn't a problem. Now if the flights were out of KLAL (Lakeland) I probably wouldn't have done it, simply because paying $30 to get in kind of defeats the whole purpose of the "free" demo flight.
[ QUOTE ]
Dan Checkoway, the guy behind LogShare.com, just finished building his RV-7; he chronicled the entire build process online at www.rvproject.com. I've been following his work for over a year, nice to see him finally finished

[/ QUOTE ]
That makes me wonder just how many people follow his website on a regular basis. I too have been watching his progress for almost two years and it is great to see that he is finally flying it. Its funny how addicted I got to his site, I would/still do check it every day, sometimes multiple times a day just waiting for an update and after two weeks of nothing I was thrilled to see that he updated it today. There is simply no better way to chronicle the building of an airplane than by creating a website and Dan did a great job on his ( I guess that's what happens when you are a computer programer.)