Author Topic: Treetop Flyer (Read 301 times)

Casca · « **on:** September 25, 2006, 05:57:27 AM »

Fun Video that was linked from AvFlash last week. Golfer, you ought to like it.

moot · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2006, 08:15:07 AM »

Sort of off topic, but is this true?

Quote

The bottom line cost-wise is that a VFR-equipped RV-9A can be built for about $35,000. When completed, it is valued at more than twice that amount.

http://www.my9a.com/what3.asp

Are there any other planes for which this is true as well?

Casca · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2006, 08:45:21 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by moot
Sort of off topic, but is this true?

http://www.my9a.com/what3.asp

Are there any other planes for which this is true as well?

The RV9A kit lists for $18,715 and the quickbuild option is $26,840. If you had a lot of time and were a good scrounge you could conceivably get one built for that kind of dough but by the time you get a decent powerplant and a few avionics it would be hard to do in my estimation.

Van's aircraft traditionally have a strong resale value.

I think there are certainly other airplanes you can do it with but the value added has to come from somewhere; normally sweat equity.

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2006, 09:03:58 AM »

You can buy a mid time engine for 3-8k (if you use the O-235, which is the suggested powerplant for the 9, but most people are probably going to use an O-320 for a couple thousand more), use clever scrounging techniques to put together a solid VFR panel for just a few thousand, so yeah, $30-35k is reasonable for a 9. Of course.... check your mission.

The 9 is a great economical long distance cruiser with docile handling, but it is not an acrobatic design. The RV-7A is very similar, but has the magical blessing for mild acro, if I understand correctly.

There are some amazing advances in these airframes. I love the idea that the 9A can take the same powerplant as the Cessna 152 and go about twice as fast on the same fuel burn, with a lower stall speed. Hello, progress!

Golfer · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2006, 10:36:21 AM »

Geesh...HiTech has packed on a few pounds

Good find, Casca!

Saintaw · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2006, 10:42:03 AM »

Wow, looks like it's going pretty fast too. Is it mainly the altitude that gives that impression? (I've never flown so low)

Think I'd leave a present on that seat during the ride...

Chairboy · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2006, 10:54:10 AM »

I think that's an RV-4, a pretty quick plane, so yeah, probably 140+ mph.

Nwbie · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2006, 12:29:49 PM »

That 4th turn is about the time my stall horn starts ah-Blaring

The plane starts ah-shaking and by the 5th turn I'm hitting the trees with my wingtips cuz I can't figure out why the dang plane is shaking so much and I'm staring intently at the gauges trying to see whats wrong

NwBie

Chairboy · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2006, 01:01:22 PM »

I'm guessing he's VFR.