Hi George, always good to hear from another Vision
builder. Are
you building straight from the plans or are you considering a
four-seat version,as some others are undertaking? As for my project,
I should have been more clear in the above message. At this time I
have not yet purchased my plans from Steve due to financial
constraints brought on by a career change in progress (aircraft
maintenance engineer, full-time student). After years of lusting
after the RV-6 and finding that our abysmal Canadian dollar has put
the price of a standard-build kit at around 30,000 Canadian pesos, I
was open to alternatives. After reading up on Sean Ponsonby's Vision
(#2, with an 0-320) I compared the $12,000 CDN airframe materials
price, the over-all performance of Sean's plane, and viewed another
builder's set of plans. While the RV is the most fun plane I've ever
flown, the Vision sounds very promising, and way more affordable.
Unless something better comes along in the meantime we plan to build
a Vision, powered by (of course) a 13-B. Two of our members are well
on their way with their Visions. One of them, Calvin Thorne, is on
American Affordable's Vision site. He's the "Canadian builder"
featured. You may want to touch base with him. Keep us posted on
your project! Brett.
Brett,
Just thought that I would share some cost info. I bought partially
complete RV-4
Empanage and Wing kits for 2900 USD. The Fuselage kit was 3400 USD.
So, for
6300 USD I have everything but the finish kit, and I plan to scrounge
for those
pieces. Note that now that Van's is producing the RV-7, I am seeing
lots of RV-6
kits up for sale for about the same prices that I gave for my RV-4 kits.
Anyway, you
may find that the RV-6 is the cheapest way to go. These are great
planes for rotary
power!
Ken Powell
Hello Ken, and thanks for the info. This is a scenario I've
considered, and I couldn't agree more about the RV's suitability for the
rotary, (not to mention the resale value and just plain joy of flying one).
Finding a bargain like the one you've described would certainly be the way
to go if I can find one already in Canada, and if I am able to scrounge up
the bargains when the time comes I will. I'm not so sure that I'm legally
able to import a partially completed kit from the States though. The feds
here inspect our projects in various stages of construction as opposed to
once upon completion south of the 49th parallel, so I may be limited to
whatever I can find up here. Meanwhile, the Vision (with extended wing and
160-plus hp) appears to be an excellent performer as well, albiet with
aprox. 50% longer STOL capabilities, semi-laminar flow airfoil, and
composite construction. While it is a new design and only two are flying
thus far, there are many more under construction. Time (and completions)
will tell if this plane can deliver as promised, and being one of those
freaks who "get to build", as opposed to "gotta build" an airplane, the idea
of constructing a scratch-built is a positive. All the best with your RV
project, and who knows? If not my first project maybe my second.
Brett.
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