Vans RV-7/A

Welcome to this project.

The picture above is one of Vans RV-7 demonstration models in flight. I have decided to build my own, if you would like to learn more about my chosen design click on the external web link for Vans and explore their site.

I have built this web site with help from my son so that my family and friends can watch my progress. The build log will also be useful for those who are building or thinking of building their own RV-7. It's possible to make minor mistakes with a project such as this but by studying web sites other builders provide helps to avoid them. If you’re a prospective builder and are reading this, don't wait any longer, start you're Action Plan. Who knows you could be joining me in no time!

So I have decided to build an aeroplane. I have taken this decision after 8 years of flying hired aircraft. I have spent the last 6 years looking at the best way of owning my own. I have never been completely happy with the aircraft available, i.e. the cost of hiring, or the aggravation involved in fitting in with the flight schedule of others who wish to fly the same plane. It is not possible to just phone up one morning when the weather is nice and book a plane as and when I want.

I had the pleasure of flying Hang Gliders for 10 years and enjoyed every minute of it. If I had a day free and the weather looked fine I could get up in the morning, phone my old mate Bill and go. Didn't have to book a Hang Glider as I owned all my own gear. So you can see the benefits of owning my own aircraft.

I have concidered buying a share in a syndicate but have not been that impressed with those available. My needs are; it has to be local, tidy, available and MINE! Did I mention it had to be MINE?

After years of visiting the PFA rally I finally made the decision to build my own. I still kept my options open just encase I won the lottery. There are many kit build aircraft to choose from. They can be built from wood, fibreglass or aluminium.

My reason for choosing the Vans RV-7/A: -

Vans has an excellent reputation (4000+ aircraft flying).
Vans have a good support network.
There will be very little odours from resin.
There are no glue odours.
Temperature and humidity of the workspace is not so critical.
1000's of positive comments from RV owners can't be wrong!

If you look at the Vans web site you will notice that there are many models to choose from. There is a choice of 2 seating configurations, they are side by side and tandem. The RV8 is a tandem configeration while the RV-7 has a side by side configeration. My wife has chosen this one because she likes to sit beside me! With the seating plan sorted, I have to choose do I want a fast or a not so fast aircraft? So far all my flying time has been spent in a Piper Cherokee, excellent aircraft but I fancied a change, simple as that. The next decision, do I want 4 seats or 2 seats? The amount of times I have flown with more than 1 passenger over the last 8 years can be counted on one hand so I have chosen 2 seats. With all things concidered, the RV-7 is the one for me.

What does the ‘A’ in RV-7/A stand for? Fixed wing aircraft normally have three wheels. One of them is either at the back or at the front. Put simply, Vans give it the prefix ‘A’ if it has a nose wheel. If it has a tail wheel Vans just call it an RV-7. The choice between a nose and a tail wheel is for us pilots to worry about. I won't go into detail here but I am a pilot who worries about having a tail wheel so I have chosen to have a nose wheel.

There will be more decisions to make during the build but I will make these as and when I order each part or kit. I like to keep my options open and leave the decisions till the last moment.

So finally, my decision in a nutshell is to own and build the Vans RV-7/A, job done! I am expecting this project to take a while, at least 4 years or 2000 hours. Come and visit my site from time to time, follow my build log and watch my progress, hopefully you will find some inspiration.

Thanks for your interest and call back soon.

Rob