The Mustang II is a lot more complicated build than the RV's. I have had
RV-4 plans for years, and now have a Mustang II project cause the price was
right. You are looking at about double the number of parts in the Mustang.

I am guessing that there is a much greater variation in empty weights
amongst mustangs, with fuel tank options between a single 25gal header tank
to header + wet wings + center section tanks. The Airfoil section choosen
for the MII would appear to punish excess weight. This likely leads to the
wildly different landing performance numbers you hear for the MII. The Fat
Hershey bar wing of the RV is a more forgiving design at slow speed.

If you look back on your flying, most people will have a soft spot for a
couple of planes. In most cases the planes which really stand out are not
the ones that impress so much in the glossy catalog, but the ones with the
best control balance and feel. For me the standouts are the the T-6 harvard,
RV-4, the Jodel D-11,  and the C-182 (in that order). I have flown the
Cirrus SR20 a few times and although it is a good cross country machine, the
control feel (or lack of it due to the springs) frankly scares me.

I think the control feel of the RV's is a larger part of Vans success. Given
that there are now over 5000 finished ones, it shouldn't be too hard to get
a flight in one to see if you like it.

If building is for you is more a step towards flying rather than a
pleasurable 10 years in the garage, then you should be tending more towards
a Vans quickbuild than a MII.

The resale value of a well built RV is in a different league to all other
homebuilts.

Mark W.

I have to agree with Mark W.

I flew a RV9-A at the factory. What a blast!

Then I went and rented a C-172 for a bi-annual. What a drag! The C-182 is
much better; then again it ought to be.

I used to own and fly a Mooney Super 21. That was a good airplane, and I
miss it. But the RV9-A is a huge step better in the fun department.

My primary reason for getting the RV9-A was I wanted something I could
finish in a few years, and had lots of them flying. :) Then I went and got
involved in a rotary engine. Forget the few years. :( But on the upside, I
enjoy working in the shop, the ACRE newsletter and the interaction with
others of a like mind. This is, after all, a hobby.

If you want to fly ASAP and build a plane, get an RV. The RV with matched
hole construction is basically an erector set. Cleco everything together and
fasten, usually rivet but some bolts and screws. The few parts you must
fabricate (yes there are some) will convince you that assembling is much
faster than fabricating and assembling. For example, it took me the better
part of an hour to fabricate one part (including a goof) and a few seconds
to cleco it in place and rivet it. NOTICE: not all RVs have match hole
construction. Only the RV7,8, 9, and 10s. The 4s and 6s still require
jigging to hold the pieces in the right locations for drilling. So do the
older 8s.

Try your local EAA chapter for help; and maybe get a ride in an airplane(s)
you are considering. Sun-N-Fun would be another place to look for rides.

Doc Custer
Retired Software Engineer and sometime Audiologist



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