---------------------------------------------------------- RV7-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 05/10/07: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:21 PM - Re: RV7A vs RV9A (Carl Peters) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:21:01 PM PST US From: Carl Peters Subject: Re: RV7-List: RV7A vs RV9A Both will give you immense joy. Last year, I pondered the same Q's. Both have the same fuselage, but empennage and especially the wings are different. That being said... RV-9 pros - Perhaps a little more stable IFR platform. Better glide ratio. Lands at lower trainer like speeds. Personally, I like the aesthetics of the longer wing. Largest engine (O-320/150-160hp) is ubiquitous on the used (and new) market. RV-7 pros - Aerobatics of the "gentleman" type. This was my biggest hurdle - do I potentially want to do some down the road?? I decided not, but you always have the potential with the -7 (though I know folks who have admitted doing rolls and even loops in the -9, but great care is needed to avoid overloading the frame as with any utility category craft). A little faster with a bigger engine, but also a little more fuel burn for that increased speed (research I've done shows a slightly throttled back RV-7/O-360/180hp flying the same speed as an RV-9/O-320/160hp will have almost the exact fuel burn. This was also corroborated by a Van's engineer to me. Dan Checkoway's wonderful machine excepted : ) ). Bigger engine choices - though not really a big deal. Quite a few RV-9's with O-360's - just be very cognizant of Vne. Possible resale advantage with the RV-7 due to higher popularity and aerobatic capability. I chose the -9 for a cross-country platform and lack of interest in aerobatics, and frankly I like its looks more with the higher stance on the tri-gear and longer wing. Really try and get a ride in each, and play with some aerobatics in the -7. If there is a chance you want to yank and bank, your decision is made (though a demo ride in a -9 showed it could be jerked around just fine short of defined aerobatics). As an IFR platform, a good autopilot will help for the small decrease in stability - many folks have used their -7's IFR/Xcountry successfully. Carl RV-9A wings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv7-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV7-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/rv7-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv7-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.