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Keiths Web Site
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Date: 3-4-2008
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Research Into What Plane To Buy
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Prior to deciding on an aircraft, I listed my top ten requirements, in descending order of importance:
1. Construction within my limited technical and financial resources
2. Buildable within a realistic timescale (1-2 years) - I want to fly, not just build
3. LAA approved/approvable for low maintenance cost
4. Low running costs, particularly ability to use mogas (so probably Rotax-driven)
5. Comfortable side-by-side seating for 2, ideally with useful load for two large adult males
6. Good visibility (low or high-wing)
7. 4-hour cruise endurance, at 100 knots
8. Reasonable takeoff/landing distance, able to use grass
9. Stressed for sport aerobatics
10. 35+ kg baggage
I compiled a spreadsheet of types which seemed to tick most of the boxes, and populated it as best as I could with published performance figures. Estimating "buildability" was not so objective, and required judgement based on published articles etc.
In the end I selected the Vans RV-12 as being the best-fit, although I had to compromise on requirement 10 and abandon requirement 9.
The RV-12 kit complies with the USA Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) design code. As such it has a design maximum cruise of 120 kts and a stall of 45 kts or less. Given the relatively modest maximum speed, there is no benefit obtained by using time-consuming flush rivets, so the kit is almost exclusively pop-riveted (just 12,000 of 'em).
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