Sport Pilot Talk

JerryG · Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Sarasta FL

I went to Sun 'n Fun 4/8/2008 and bought an LSA! I bought the only portion of that plane that is currently available - the wing kit. The rest will follow in the next few months.
For those of you considering a kit LSA, think RV-12.

Here's the first site to read and remember to go down the entire page and read all the notices and click on all the videos for a great introduction to the -12.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-12int.htm

Here are all my photos from Sun 'n Fun. If you make it through the first eighteen slides you'll get to about 100 photos of N412RV, the Rv-12 SLSA you can build for about $50,000 (includes kit, Rotax 912ULS and avionics)

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk117/JerryG151/?albumview=slideshow

Here's a video of "my" new LSA. All I have to do is build it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qrY3n5tVVQ

Be careful out there ... fly safe.

SkySteve · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject:

Hey Jerry,
Great post. Thanks for the photo tour and the video, they were really good. Looks like the weather turned OK. That looks like it will be fun to fly.

GeraldZ · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 307 Location: Maryland

Finally, this airplane will bring down the cost of flying. Website estimates that you can complete one for $50-$55k.

cavscout96 · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Ft. Knox, Ky

I hope you're right, but I'm not holding my breath. This seems like what the LSA "market" hope for, but in my mind you should get a flying machine for 55k without having to put in 600-900 man hours.

I'd say a 90-95% kit at 70K might be the best we'll see, but unfortunately I haven't seen too many 90% kits yet

JerryG · Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Sarasta FL

If anyone is interested in Van's RV-12 LSA kit, I've set up a builder's log and hope to make (almost) daily entries once the wings and tools arrive this week.

The plane can be built as an E-SLA or as an EAB ... not sure which route I'm to take yet.

My builder's log is below ...

http://jerryg150rv12.blogspot.com/

AerolabNW · Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 15 Location: Washington State

Quote: The plane can be built as an E-SLA or as an EAB ... not sure which route I'm to take yet.

I may be mistaken but if I understand correctly an E-LSA can be less than 51% because the builder shows that they followed processes and practices set by the manufacturer during the certification of the design for S-LSA certification. If this is true, then an E-LSA cannot exist until the design has received S-LSA certification and those processes approved.

Again, IF my understanding is correct, the RV-12 (which is going to be a great LSA) can only be built as an ABA (Amateur Built Aircraft) until Vans receives S-LSA certification.

Is this right?

JerryG · Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Sarasta FL

You're right. An E-LSA can be built buy another party up to 80-90-100% and it has to be certified as S-LSA at the source (the factory RV-12) ... my understanding is Van's RV-12 received that certification within the last couple of days. As usual Van does everything without a lot of fanfare. Just the way his company operates, I guess. No mention of this on his web site even.

Due to the FAA's moratorium of adding new planes kits to 51-49% rule of EAB, Van advises to build the RV-12 as E-LSA (his is the S-LSA) ... if you make changes, as most EAB experimental builders do, then he states it'll be up to the individual builder to "get FAA approval as to the RV-12 meeting the EAB regulations ... 51-49% rule. (All of Van's other kits, including all his Quick Build kits have been grandfathered in as EAB).

That's way I'm not sure which route to take.

mcjon77 · Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Van's just shipped the 22nd kit of the RV-12 this Friday. I suspect that between the cost, performance, Van's reputation for developing quality kits, and the sheer number of RV builders and flyers out there that the RV-12 is going to become a force in the LSA market (at the very least, those that are homebuilt).

JerryG · Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Sarasta FL

If anyone is interested in my progress on Van's RV-12 LSA kit, here is the web address of my builder's log (lots of photographs!).

www.jerryg150rv12.blogspot.com

zich6 · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Germantown, Md.

I talked to Scott at the factory today and he said the tail kit would be ready to ship late this year or early next.