RV Builder's Hotline - April 15, 2006

RV Gold by Bob Collins

You may intend to fly your RV project one day, and maybe even keep it forever. But, admit it, you'd like to know what it would sell for.

There's gold in that RV!

          It would just be a guess on my part, but it's unlikely someone selling an RV can ever really recover the cost that go into building it; not when you factor in the cost of your time. Building an RV isn't necessarily about money, but selling one is.
          Over time, I've noticed that people who buy and sell RVs are reluctant to reveal what they bought or sold their beauties for. But I've often thought it would be interesting to develop the RV version of a "blue book" to try to 'ballpark' a value for a particular model.
           The only way to do that is to browse all of the various classified ads that are out there on Barnstormers, VAF, EAA chapter newsletters, and Controller.com and track what people are asking for their RVs. Of course, what is asked is often different than what is paid, but it's still better than guesswork.
           Over the course of three weeks, I tracked about $2.5 million worth of airplanes, based on the asking price. Most of the models were RV-6s or 6As; not surprising since most of the flying RV models are sixes.
           Combining all models, the average asking price was $80, 191, ranging from a low of $47,000 (an RV4 with 750 hours of total time) to a high of $127,500 (a VFR equipped 2005 RV7 with 60 hours of total time). Curiously, it was the only RV7 in the inventory.
           Broken down by model, the average price asked for an RV6 or 6A was $71,204. Obviously there are too many variables involved to make many conclusions, but IFR-equipped airplanes fetched a premium with an average of $77,697, while their VFR cousins listed for an average of $64,861.
           RV8 models listed ranged from a low of $85,000 (a 250-hour VFR cs combination) to a high of $125,000 (two separate models, a 2001 and 2004, one IFR and one with an O-540), for an average of $102,331.
           There were only three listings for the RV4, ranging from a low of $47,000 to a high of $70,000.

My trip to Sun 'n Fun
I had the target of getting to Sun-N-Fun 2006 for probably over 1/2 year previous to completion. It was a goal set to fly by March 1, 2006, so I could be flown off before the show and get down there with our new plane --the RV-10 (Tim Olson on his Web site)
Related links:
What Van had to say at SNF (VAF)
AOPA slideshow of SNF images
News from SNF (AOPA)
SNF: The morning after (ANN)

Beginning wiring
Checking ut the wiring I’ve read and am learning, homebuilding aircraft is a
hobby/life style that requires you to delve into areas you may not be familiar with and even are a bit intimidated by. So when the opportunity arises that exposes a builder to these aspects of building, by all means, we should grasp them. (Jarrell Bataglia in EAA Chapter 44 newsletter - pdf)

Profile: Jim Cone
Jim Cone and Young Eagle Although he was happy with an RV-6A that was eventually destroyed, he wanted more power and more speed, so for the next nine months he built an RV-7A with a glass cockpit, 185 hp engine, and a constant speed prop. He was flying off his 40 hours when he had a mini-stroke. He is presently awaiting completion of the RV-12 Sport plane prototype, of which he will receive Kit #1. Profiled in EAA Chapter 43 newsletter. (PDF)

Phase I inspection
RV-4 builder and flyer John Brick recently completed his Phase I testing and then took listed the various squawks and adjustments he has had to make. It's good reading and good advice for those still building, and those looking for things to inspect on their birds. From EAA 326 April newsletter, Mt. Ranier, Wa.(PDF)
Related links:
*Check your pitot/static fittings (Mt. Hood chapter newsletter, page 3 - PDF)

Airspeed indicator calibration chart
The Wichita RVators builder's site has a chart available which, with the assistance of a manometer and an ASI test kit, will make it easier to figure out, well, how fast is fast. (Web site)

Metal forming experiment
Metal forming experiment

Warren Starkebaum sends along his attempt at forming flanges on the reinforcement panels for the tip-up canopy frame. "I made some dies out of wood with 1/2" radius and pressed in home-made hydraulic press. Took a couple of tries to get the dies about right, but it worked out pretty good. Male die is the key -- finally made it out of maple. Takes about 15 min" (Builder tip file on Yahoogroups site)