Wildhorsesracing

The original stripping and polishing of the plane took 2 months but subsequent polishings every year only took 3-4 hrs.

5 hours ago, steingar said:

Had they room for Mrs. Steingar's luggage I would be flying an RV right now.  But they don't, and Mrs. Steingar has said quite emphatically that she down's want to fly in something with a canopy.

And to be honest, my Mooney is still the biggest bang for my buck.  You can't get into an RV for what I paid for the Mooney, and it is plenty fast.  And good luck flying one of those things IFR.  Yeah, it can be done, but I'll bet you get blown around pretty good. And I can't imagine doing a stabilized IFR approach in something that twitchy.

I have been flying a couple of years now without a canopy and love it (see pic).  The RV-7 can handle more luggage than you are allowed to take on most airlines.

I fly VFR only anyway and can vouch that landing a biplane is anything but "stabilized" so I should enjoy flying it.

34 minutes ago, M20Doc said:

Jim,

Welcome to the RV world, you’ll love the RV.  Great group support just like this group, just freedom to install anything you want.

Clarence

Thanks, I have been enjoying this freedom with my Hatz Biplane, looking forward to earning my repairman's certificate for the RV-7.

Well, I am driving to FL tomorrow to pick up the wings and empennage for an RV-7.  Should be fun building an airplane, looking forward to the life experience!

It was a beautiful day on Badin Lake

7 hours ago, aviatoreb said:

Actually.  I am tall and I started flying with no shoes - just socks - years ago - since it gives me a little more foot extension.  But soon I learned I get better tactile feel for the pedals and my landings improved.

I wonder if your ugly full professor shoes is something I should try?  Or should I have said, full professor ugly shoes?

My size 13 shoes wouldn't fit well in my biplane so I would fly it barefooted, I tried the Vibrams but it just didn't feel comfortable.  I finally found a pair of slip on converse shoes that are thin enough to cover my feet and not interfere with the pedal movement.

7 hours ago, Skates97 said:

I can't stand wearing flip flops (my wife born and raised in SoCal can't understand) because I can't stand having that little strap between my toes. I can't imagine having something in between all of my toes...

I hate flip flops too! I had a pair of these shoes for a while, I got used to the feel between my toes, but since I walk heel to toe the lack of padding on the heel eventually made me stop wearing them.

44 minutes ago, amillet said:

I’ve ridden in my hangar neighbors RV 7.  My 6’3” frame does not fit very well.  Knees hit yoke or feet hit rudder pedals without uncomfortable contortions. Seats are not adjustable 

I'm 5'10" and my wife is 5'2" - we sat in an RV-4 for size and it fit fine, but the RV-4 has limited baggage space.

26 minutes ago, jaylw314 said:

Have you looked into an RV-10?  I've flown in the Van's demonstrator, and it's absolutely huge inside and has ~1000 lbs useful load, yet performance and fuel consumption maybe a little better than the M20J. 

I can count on one hand the # of times I have actually had someone in the back seat of my Mooney in the last 6 years, I wanted to find something smaller and possibly faster with room for luggage for two people.

4 minutes ago, Pirate said:

Once you fly one you will be wondering why you didn’t do it sooner. 

That's what I have heard as well, the RV Grin is real.

53 minutes ago, MIm20c said:

Currently watching the market for a really nice 7 or 8. Going back and forth between buying a flying version and one that is “close”.  Realistically trying to get a feel for how close is “close”. 

I think Joe’s system of travel plane AND fun plane is the way to go. Pa46/a36/Ovation/bravo and an RV/cub/etc. 

I am leaning towards the 6 and 7 primarily for the comfort and baggage space.  I am looking for one that is close and I can finish or finished and been flying long enough to need refreshing.  I have a Hatz Biplane for fun and love it, looking at the RV to replace the Mooney.

Funny thing is, my fuel caps were not polished, they were plastic so I left them the original color.

46 minutes ago, David Lloyd said:

8A6, Wilgrove Airpark.  RVs are both fast and fun and comfortable for one or two.  Not so much for three.

I've owned my Mooney for 6 yrs and can count the # of times I had someone in the back seat on one hand...

5 minutes ago, David Lloyd said:

Built the one I fly. It flies great. I had no tailwheel time (other than getting the endorsement) prior to flying this.  As tailwheel airplanes go, it is a piece of cake.  But, there just is not enough room for my wife and little dog on long trips.  CLT to CVS is painful for a dog to sit on our laps.  Wanna trade?

Where do you keep it? I live 11 miles from Locust, NC...

That's what I have heard, fast and fun.  I have the Mooney for fast and a Biplane for fun - thinking about consolidating into one aircraft.

I am thinking about buying or building one, anyone have one before?  Did you enjoy it? If you sold it - why?

Also, make sure neither block is excessively worn.

I don't recognize it, I was just down at Odell-Williamson Field (60J) a couple of weeks ago.

Time flies! Our youngest (of three) just graduated from college, got a job and moved 4 hrs away, luckily it's only an hour flight by Mooney which made my wife very happy.  When we helped him look for places to live she urged him to live near the airport.

Enjoy every minute while they are young because they will be flying from the nest before you know it.

6 minutes ago, DonMuncy said:

I'm not sure you up-graded, on the car.   I drive an MX5, and prefer it to driving any sedan. Not knocking a BMW. It is just that for driving pleasure, the MX5 is high on the list. Close but not too close to the car they copied to create it; ie. Lotus Elan. 

I would agree, I have driven both at full speed on a racetrack and the MX5 is a much better handling car.  It is probably because the newer BMW's are so much heavier and loaded with "features".

Took this pic today with my new ride and the Mooney Pit (I was taking the Biplane to get an Annual).

7 hours ago, Marcopolo said:

Rockingham Speedway with "little Rock" next to it?

 

Ron

Yes! Saw them on my way to the beach last week, we used to race at the Speedway, it is a shame it has deteriorated so much.

Flew over a local landmark today

My daughter & I went out for a flight for Father's day... she was flying, I was snapping pics...

The South Carolina Breakfast Club has been flying around the Carolinas bi-weekly for years, it is a great way to meet other pilots. (http://www.flyscbc.com/)

Can you spot the shiny Mooney?

Add a jet engine and we'd have a real performer...

Just now, Hank said:

Ooohh!! I really want to go there this fall. It's even close to my parents.

It's definitely worth the trip.  That pic was taken at the Solar Eclipse event they had last summer, 700 airplanes all on the grass, quite a sight!

Triple Tree (SC00) is nicer than many asphalt runways.