Author: "michaelgb98" <rv9a@...> Time: Thu Oct 10, 2002 7:51 pm PDT Link
Gerry- A less is more opinion may be hard to find here on this list.
I've been a RV-9A fan and builder since it's very beginning,
and when
it had "only" been flown with an O-235.
My choice to build with the O-235 was primarily a financial decision,
I can dream all I want about 160 hp aerosport power but $18,000
engines and $7,000 props are not in my budget. Does this
mean I can't enjoy building and flying an RV?? I think not.
If you would find yourself the June 1999 issue of Sport Aviation and
Sixth issue of the Rvator for 1999 you would be greatly enlightened
on the original mission of the RV-9 and advantages and performance
expectations of the O-235. None of this was estimated numbers, it
was all verified on the original prototype. Would you believe only
3.32 gph @ 115mph or 2gph @ 80mph. That economy possible in a plane
with a fixed pitch prop and cruise speeds of from 155 to 170 mph.
The Sport Aviation article is actually an interview of Van himself,
please read it to fully understand why the 118hp O-235 was such a
good fit to the airframe.
Once the original prototype was lost and replaced with 160hp
everybody's vision of the RV9 changed, including
Vans Aircraft. Today, nearly everyone wants to go 160hp,$$$,constant
speed,$$$$,fuel injection,$$$$$$$,ifr panel,$$$$$$$$$, etc. I would
like to believe this aircraft can be just as much fun to fly and
build for someone on a budget, just as Van first envisioned, but
would require him to fully support the smaller hp installations. Gus
might tell you only 3-5 people are using the O-235, but without
support like the firewall forward kit or encouragement from
the manufactuer why would they?
By the way, my 900 hr O-235L2C cost a whopping $4500 and I've
seen better deals since I bought it. Don't forget the O-235 has
earned a 2400hr TBO. My less is more opinion is a matter of finances,
not fuel economy. If I could spend more I could go faster, I
can't,but I still want to build and fly an RV.
Mike Best
Fuselage 90013
Author: "ahyuprv9" <ifr@...> Time: Thu Oct 10, 2002 11:20 pm PDT Link
Yes I agree, Less is more. Less speed is more time in the air, more
time in my very low time log, more time with that silly RV grin ;)
When I am not building I spend my time piloting my 9.9hp pontoon
boat.
How about 3 pints of per hour. Yikes, I drink more than the boat does.
Besides the boat costs less than the diffrence in cost of of the
O-235
and an O-360. Big fan of the O-235.
Warren
ahyup.com
--- In RV-9A@y..., "michaelgb98" <rv9a@s...> wrote:
> Gerry- A less is more opinion may be hard to find here on this
list.
> I've been a RV-9A fan and builder since it's very beginning,
> and when
> it had "only" been flown with an O-235.
> My choice to build with the O-235 was primarily a financial
decision,
> I can dream all I want about 160 hp aerosport power but $18,000
> engines and $7,000 props are not in my budget. Does this
> mean I can't enjoy building and flying an RV?? I think not.
>
> If you would find yourself the June 1999 issue of Sport Aviation
and
> Sixth issue of the Rvator for 1999 you would be greatly enlightened
> on the original mission of the RV-9 and advantages and performance
> expectations of the O-235. None of this was estimated numbers, it
> was all verified on the original prototype. Would you believe
only
> 3.32 gph @ 115mph or 2gph @ 80mph. That economy possible in a
plane
> with a fixed pitch prop and cruise speeds of from 155 to 170 mph.
> The Sport Aviation article is actually an interview of Van himself,
> please read it to fully understand why the 118hp O-235 was such a
> good fit to the airframe.
> Once the original prototype was lost and replaced with 160hp
> everybody's vision of the RV9 changed, including
> Vans Aircraft. Today, nearly everyone wants to go
160hp,$$$,constant
> speed,$$$$,fuel injection,$$$$$$$,ifr panel,$$$$$$$$$, etc. I would
> like to believe this aircraft can be just as much fun to fly and
> build for someone on a budget, just as Van first envisioned, but
> would require him to fully support the smaller hp installations.
Gus
> might tell you only 3-5 people are using the O-235, but without
> support like the firewall forward kit or encouragement from
> the manufactuer why would they?
> By the way, my 900 hr O-235L2C cost a whopping $4500 and I've
> seen better deals since I bought it. Don't forget the O-235 has
> earned a 2400hr TBO. My less is more opinion is a matter of
finances,
> not fuel economy. If I could spend more I could go faster, I
> can't,but I still want to build and fly an RV.
>
> Mike Best
> Fuselage 90013
Author: "Ron & Sue Drake" <rv9flyer@...> Time: Sat Oct 12, 2002 12:08 pm PDT Link
I purchased my 9 primarily because of the wider selection of lower cost engines available. Over the course of time, I found a first run 0-320E2D with full logs for $5,000. An A&P that I fully trust completely went through it and replaced only what he would have if it were his, which turned out to be one exhaust valve and a mag rebuild. My total cost for the rebuilt, including all applicable AD's was $2,088. This amount, along with a new Sensenich fixed pitch prop, put me well under my $10,000. powerplant budget and I believe I have an engine that will serve my needs just fine. You're probably asking, "Did I upgrade to a 160 HP from the 150?" The answer is NO! I didn't perceive the performance improvement to be worth the cost and I am not comfortable with the fact that everything you'll need to do to prove your airframe is opposite what you would want to do to break in an engine/rings properly. Also, I'm coming from 300 hours at 125mph cruise and I believe I'll do at least 35mph more with this configuration. However, that said, I realize the choice is fully up to the builder and that's what makes this such a great experience!
I say:
Get as much information as you can about each project decision.
Get in touch with what you really want from YOUR aircraft, I personally love to fly.
Stop asking for "opinions" at this point.
Make your decision and don't look back!
"Make it Happen" (quoted from Tom Green).
Ron Drake
90400 QB (finish kit)
N592RS (reserved)
----- Original Message -----
From: michaelgb98
To: RV-9A@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 10:51 PM
Subject: [RV-9A] Small Bore / Less is More
Gerry- A less is more opinion may be hard to find here on this list.
I've been a RV-9A fan and builder since it's very beginning,
and when
it had "only" been flown with an O-235.
My choice to build with the O-235 was primarily a financial decision,
I can dream all I want about 160 hp aerosport power but $18,000
engines and $7,000 props are not in my budget. Does this
mean I can't enjoy building and flying an RV?? I think not.
If you would find yourself the June 1999 issue of Sport Aviation and
Sixth issue of the Rvator for 1999 you would be greatly enlightened
on the original mission of the RV-9 and advantages and performance
expectations of the O-235. None of this was estimated numbers, it
was all verified on the original prototype. Would you believe only
3.32 gph @ 115mph or 2gph @ 80mph. That economy possible in a plane
with a fixed pitch prop and cruise speeds of from 155 to 170 mph.
The Sport Aviation article is actually an interview of Van himself,
please read it to fully understand why the 118hp O-235 was such a
good fit to the airframe.
Once the original prototype was lost and replaced with 160hp
everybody's vision of the RV9 changed, including
Vans Aircraft. Today, nearly everyone wants to go 160hp,$$$,constant
speed,$$$$,fuel injection,$$$$$$$,ifr panel,$$$$$$$$$, etc. I would
like to believe this aircraft can be just as much fun to fly and
build for someone on a budget, just as Van first envisioned, but
would require him to fully support the smaller hp installations. Gus
might tell you only 3-5 people are using the O-235, but without
support like the firewall forward kit or encouragement from
the manufactuer why would they?
By the way, my 900 hr O-235L2C cost a whopping $4500 and I've
seen better deals since I bought it. Don't forget the O-235 has
earned a 2400hr TBO. My less is more opinion is a matter of finances,
not fuel economy. If I could spend more I could go faster, I
can't,but I still want to build and fly an RV.
Mike Best
Fuselage 90013
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