My retired NASA neighbor has decided to give up flying and I have acquired a complete 0-320 with 100hr TT

Since I sold my RV8A last year and my 6 the year before I have been kicking myself.

I am thinking an RV9 would be a great little back country airplane.

It takes off extremely short, lands at 50 and cruises at 190, and has a 780 lb useful load. The new kits have a pretty tall gear with lots of clearance.

Out of the 1700 -9 kits already sold only 40 have been taildraggers which tells me most people building are wanting the wheel on the wrong end.

It took me two months to sell my RV6 but only 2 weeks to sell the 8A
(was it the show quality or the wheel being on the front)

What are your thoughts, have I gone completely mad

I've actually been wondering something similar, Some of the RV's I've watched will perform or out perform my Maule T/O and climb wise. I know there is this belief that no low wing can be a backcountry aircraft, but 99% of where I go, I think an RV would be fine. Now realize, I don't have bushwheels or floats or ski's either, so I'm obviously not a "real" backcountry pilot.

I have been considering building an RV as a "traveling" plane. I have minimal time in a -6 and flew a -7 just a couple days ago and was pleasantly surprised. I will be looking closer...
As to backcountry use... well, I guess that just depends on your backcountry? I will not be getting rid of my cub, because an RV is probably not going to fit my backcountry needs...I would venture to guess that if your Maule is sporting little wheels, an RV might work out. I have seen RVs and even a Rocket at JC....
A friend that had a nicely equipped pacer sold it and built a -9. He raves about it's speed and comfort. I don't hear him talking about camping much anymore though...
Incidentally, the reason I got to fly that -7 was because he dropped into our
strip to visit a local farmer (short,narrow, but paved ag strip). The taxi from the strip to the pad was the equivalent of the "Big Rocks Long Props" of the RV world! And this was just a gravel road...

Rob,
I do have Bushweels on the Scout, but tires are only part of the problem.

The problem with the -6-7 is they don't have near the prop clearance as the -9 they also have a higher TO and landing speed.

My thought was to toss the stock tires and add some larger to soak up some rougher terrain.

The big plus is to be able to get to places fast. There are lots of places I would like to fly into but with the Scout or a Cub It just takes to long.

I can see the logic of two planes. My Maule has to fill the role of family traveller, one reason the 8.50's are on it. The better I make it for backcountry, the less it is a family traveller.
I think maybe the most "flexable" airplane may be a Helio, but I don't have any time in one, so I don't know.
I want to be able to carry two adults, two kids, baggage and have 130 kt. cruise. I want a capable backcountry airplane too. The Maule is a compromise that tries to live in both worlds. I guess if I could afford it, I would have a helicopter and a VLJ. I think I could camp pretty well out of a Hughes 500 for sure out of a Huey.
No RV can go where a SC can, but an SC can't get as far in one day as an RV can by lunch either. RV's seem pretty capable, it would be interesting to see one with big tires and well flown. Of course I think a good pilot is at least half of the equation.

Mr Scout,
I had looked at building an RV for several years but I knew I would eventually be keeping the plane at my farm strip in Northen MN and be doing more backcountry flying than crosscountry stuff. I probably debated over High wing-Low wing for more than 3 years. I finally realized that the High wing is what I needed and settled on the Murphy Rebel. Its no speed demon but at least I won't worry about that one little bush or rock tearing something up as much.
As someone already said...if you start adding bigger tires etc. eventually you'll be back to a slower plane and still have to worry about that low wing. Just my opinion.
But I would like to have an RV someday.....maybe if I smooth out my strip some more and can lenghthen it a little......aw....to dream.

ANY RV is an excellent choice for just about any mission short of weedwhacking through tall brush. My RV8 could handle reasonably smooth sod strips and packed dirt no problemo. This was with standard 5.00x5 tires. I've seen 6.00's put on an RV8 and tucked into standard wheel pants, you could hardly tell they were there. The RV is just an awesome airplane, and I really miss my RV but I needed more utility value in an airplane. Yes, you can stuff a decent amount of gear into an RV, but you'll always be traveling "light" vs. the standard Winnebago load the bush planes can haul. CG is more sensitive with the RV too. You have to consider when you build it, how to suit empty CG to your intended mission...heavy engine/prop up front for max loading capacity, but always have nose up trim while solo? There is no right answer.

The -9 is a SUPER design. I've flown a -9A with a Subaru engine up front and it was mighty smooth. The ship stands tall and with a three blader up front the ground clearance is pretty good. The nose gear struts on the -A RV's have had some "issues" over the years. Several have folded under on even smooth pavement. I attribute it to mostly pilot error, but the struts seem undersized to me as well. I would not consider any nosewheel RV for a steady diet of rough strip operations. Put 6.00's on a -9 (tailwheel) and you've got a very capable machine. An O-320 with three blade (or two, but with less ground clearance) composite prop, built LIGHT will be one helluva plane. The wing on this airframe is amazing. It's got a pretty thick airfoil but is still very fast. The higher aspect ratio vs. the other, short-winged RV's seems to help in climb and reduction of induced drag.

If you want basically the same airplane (but with only a nosewheel option) the RV-10 will haul four plus decent bags at 165 kts with a Lyco six banger up front. I have a completed empennage/tailcone kit for one. (for SALE $3k)

The latest, matched-hole kits from Van's are absolutely superb. You simply can't build them crooked.

Yes, I like them.

Probably why I have at least a half dozen referral checks from them.

Brian Denk
RV8 N94BD builder/pilot 450 hrs.

Still really enjoying my Skywagon but you never forget your first love.

I just re-visited Vans site.....you sure are right !!! The RV-9 looks like a super plane. Seems to look like avery efficient design. Wish it were available when I purchased my Rebel. After owning and flying my O-235 powered 7AC though I am sorta hooked on the tandem seating arrangement.
Someday I'll finish the Rebel and if its not what I want I am going to seriously look at the RV-9. Especially since fuel prices are going through the roof. Besides....I have an O-235L2C laying in my hangar.

mr scout wrote:I am thinking an RV9 would be a great little back country airplane.

It takes off extremely short, lands at 50 and cruises at 190, and has a 780 lb useful load. The new kits have a pretty tall gear with lots of clearance.


What are your thoughts, have I gone completely mad

When you say you want to fly the backcountry what does that mean? For me it means bringing the wife and a fair amount of stuff to be comfortable. Stand up headroom tent, air mattress, a 48 qt cooler, a couple of chairs fishing poles, etc. A Cub is of no use under these conditions. But if it's important to be able to takeoff and land in 200 feet than a Cub is the way to go. I only live 235 nm from Johnson Creek and if all I had was a Cub I'd probably rarely go there. My wife has no interest in spending 3 hours flying to someplace we now take an hour and a half to get there. I'd like to have a Cub for around the local area but I wouldn't take it anywhere, too damn slow. The only possible downside to an RV is small tires although the vast majority of Idaho strips a guy could run 5.00x5 with little trouble.

Bonanza Man wrote:

When you say you want to fly the backcountry what does that mean? .

Well I guess I need to be more clear in the idea. To me JC is the boutique of back country strips.

I guess until I build a -9 and try it, I wont know If I want to drop it into many places I go with the Scout.
I do know I couldn't do it with the 6 or the 8A but the -9 has a complete different wing.

If I wanted to take a ton of home supplies I wouldn't have sold the 210
I sure don't want to bring my wife. Why even go if your going to take all the home stuff just fly to a town and go to the hotel

Many of my friends don't have Scouts or Super Cubs or Maules so they limit themselves to boutique places anyway.
So I think a -9 could go a bunch of places as well as travel to many of the grass strips on the other side of the country that I may never get to if I only use the Scout.

Scout,

I'm thinking a set of 26 inch Bushwheels and a Baby Bushwheel oughta look great on one of those little guys.

Slap a set of VG's on it, maybe, and go have fun.

MTV

A friend of mine has an AA-1A Yankee converted to 150 horsepower & tailwheel gear. He's been running 600x6-15 tires with panties. However, he now has a need to fly into a nearby private strip-- grass & dirt and a bit rough. He borrowed a cast-off pair of 800's from me to try them out, ended up buying a pair of 700 x 6's and is running those with no panties. Hasn't really lost too much speed- in fact, he can cruise at the same speed, just at a bit more rpm and higher manifold pressure = more fuel burn. He's thinking about VG's so he can get his approach speed down a bit. Takeoff is no problem. This is a back-forty strip, not back country, so I don't imagine he'll be going into Mile-High or anyplace like that with it.
I recently saw an RV with VG's, first time for me. Owner bought it that way, so couldn't give me a before-and-after pirep.

Eric

If you do decide to build one, my dad is the manufacturer for the Chief custom experimental panels. He's built many for RV's, and they turn out very nice. If anyone is interested in custom panel fabrication, contact me directly, as we also do direct sales.

As with all airplanes, the mission IS the bottom line. Your backcountry mission, and mine may be two very different things. I really would like an RV, but not for my backcountry "get around"...
On the other hand the guy who I tow banners for on occasion (and who happens to be pissing me off right now because he's on a skywriting gig in madrid!) owns a Jodel which he keeps in the UK. He owns / has owned, pretty much every cub and cessna taildragger variant, yet his Jodel is HIS backcountry buggie , works for him...



Can't hardly argue these "backcountry" conditions

Rob, I'm glad you brought that up. I was going to point out backcountry twins and bonanza's. Mission and / or need dictates the airplane. Maybe that's why there are so many different types to choose from. For 90% of my flying the C-210 does just fine. It's less than 10% of the time that I need the Maule. Your needs may of course vary.

Speaking of vans RV for the back woods,there is a very sweet RV-7 on the cover of EAA sport aviation (dec.07).
Its got amphibious floats and looks very nice.
Best of both worlds?

There is a Van's advertisement in at least one of the current aviation magazines which shows an RV-? DEEP in the grass at Wilson Bar Idaho.

Not sure I would take into some of the deep grass strips till AFTER they get either mowed down or trampled down by a few other sets of tires.

The same magazine also has a Husky add that with their plane on a HIGH "approach" to the same Wilson Bar in case ya wants to see both views.

mr scout wrote:What are your thoughts, have I gone completely mad

Yep... I absolutely LOVE my RV4 and can't imagine giving it up, but... it is NOT a backcountry airplane.

I think you already knew that, didn't you?

Rob-- cool Jodel pics. What kinda powerplant? And where's that ski action taking place? You said the airplane is UK-based, I notice it has an "F" tailnumber. French?
And hey, Zane, I think you got your avatars mixed up. Better check the backcountryskiers.org site, you probably put a 170 pic there!

Eric

mr scout wrote:What are your thoughts, have I gone completely mad

Maybe not mad, but just slightly OFF THE DEEP END!!!!
Just kidding! Good luck with whatever you chose (if it was me Id go with a nice light cub), Im sure you'll have fun whatever you chose