The rv 14 is the most recent design from van s aircraft and is essentially a marriage between the immensely popular rv 7 and the newer 4 place rv 10.
Rv 14 build time.
We expect the build time to be about 2 3 years depending on vans aircraft delivery schedules and the lead times of some of the subsystems such as the panel engine and propeller.
This design method has been the standard in aircraft construction for almost seventy years.
Shawn s rv 14 build this site will follow my build of a van s rv 14 aircraft.
With the same basic wing and performance specs this would make the ideal plane for them to obtain their certificates.
But they re not free and my mission does not require them so i am not looking at the rv 10.
Smash s rv 14 build disclaimer.
I had several goals.
I have no authoritative skills relating to airplane construction.
It is intended to be more cross country oriented than the rv 7 sacrificing increased cabin size and payload capacity for speed while still being aerobatic rated 6g 3g.
While the rv 14 isn t exactly a trainer my kids grew up flying the rv 10 and my daughter currently taking flight instruction has proven perfectly capable of flying the fast and slippery rv 10.
This blog is to provide others insight into my experience and for my own historical purposes.
The rv 14 structure is an aluminum airframe held together with rivets.
A monocoque aluminum airframe held together with rivets.
I spent a lot of time working out how to install the pump and plumbing for the smoke tank.
The most modern matched hole rv 14 14a kit might take about 1000 1300 hours.
Airplane construction is a serious affair.
Wednesday august 26 2015.
I chose the rv 14a from van s aircraft.
That s in stark contrast to the 2 seat factor.
If the rv 10 took the same money and time to build as the rv 9 i would go with the rv 10 instead to have the free back seats.
The rv 14 took me 2 5 years but i had many scattered months waiting for kit sections to become available.
I did have a quickbuild fuselage for the rv 10 which added an additional 5k or so to the cost and cut maybe 300 400 hours off the build.
Perfectionists always take longer than average perfection is a common affliction in airplane building regardless of model but most rv 12is builders average around 800 hours and a few have completed the whole thing in about 650.
The rv 12is takes the least time.
