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Arts Web Site
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Date: 3-6-2017
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Research into kits - Vans RV-14A
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Vans is the world's largest airplane kit manufacturer. There are close to 10,000 completed RV's flying around the world. They offer single place, two place tandem and side-by-side and four-place models. My flying is overwhelmingly no more than two on board. Side-by-side is my preference for the elbow room and panel space.
After looking over the specs, the RV-14A (tricycle gear) fits the bill perfectly. It's a bit roomier than the earlier two place models, a bit more powerful and it takes advantage of modern CNC manufacturing processes to make construction much easier with pre-punched skins.
The cost is easier to bear as well. Unlike the Velocity, sub-kits can be purchased. There are four major sub-kits: (1) Empennage - $4.1k, (2) Wings - $7.8k, (3) Fuselage - $9.8k and (4) Finishing - $12.7k. Engine is a Lycoming IO-390 ($38.7k) and the prop is a two-bladed constant speed Hartzell for around $8k. Add in avionics and the final bill is close to around $110k. Much more attractive to the budget and the cost can be paid in smaller increments.
Building in half a garage is much more practical with this kit than the Velocity. I figure I can build the wings, empennage and fuselage easily in that space. The engine can be mounted and most, if not all, of the plumbing and wiring can be installed before moving to a dedicated hangar is required. From that point on it'll be attaching the wings, vertical stab and horizontal stab and getting ready for first flight.
So that's what I'm going to do. I still love the Velocity, but barring some significant windfall (hello California Lottery!) the reality of things says the Vans RV-14A is the right choice for me.
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Factory RV-14A in flight
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RV-14A Structure Cutaway View
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