Yeah there are how many epics flying? Not a good example

Also, they are very close to certification

The lancair is similar to the Columbia/Corvallis line but you save weight and cash buying the lacair due to the experimental nature

Perfect in my opinion!

I built and fly an experimental Lancair. What a lovely flying, quick and efficient airplane. And astoundingly inexpensive to operate.

That said, I HAVE had challenges getting it worked on professionally. Normally I work on it myself, but it can be tough if I'm on a business trip and have a glitch that needs to be addressed when I land at my destination. Parts will very likely NOT be available at the airport. They probably ARE available at the NAPA store, but that doesn't help much when the A&P is on the field - they aren't into running around town to chase down parts - especially when they don't know you. A lot of parts I make myself. But that doesn't help when I'm on the road. I also carry a few small parts, though my traveling inventory is weight and size limited!

Insurance - about the same cost, but I am unable to get as high limits as with my production plane.

So I love experimental, but occasionally realities can get in the way. Never an issue with personal travel, but definitely can be an issue with business travel (insurance and maintenance/parts availability).

Matt

I hear you Arlen. For the record I really love the RV. It's an awesomely designed airplane and I could totally see myself owning an RV-14. I'd actually rather have an RV-10 than a Cirrus. I do however see a lot of value in an older Bo for a guy looking for a sub 60k IFR hauler. Like you said, to each his own but my personally opinion is the Bo is a more capable and flexible cross country cruiser. At 6'4" the six is too tight for me, and the backseats are useful even if you don't put a person in them like for the cooler of beer. The 6 is clearly more fun to fly. Perhaps "aggressively responsive" is a better term than "squirrelly". Not knocking the RV, they're great... but so is an older Bo and it will often times be cheaper to buy and similar to operate for many pilots.

You cannot operate a Bonanza for anywhere near you can a RV-6. First, the 6 is faster on less fuel. Next, you are not taking 4 people anywhere far in a M model original Bo. Finally, the gear parts alone in a Bo will cost you a lot of money down the road. Having rebuilt the front on my Bo along with the arm on the gear box, Heim Joints, etc I could have maintained an RV-6 for 7 years.

The RV is not hard to fly. I'm not sure where that comes from.

I agree on the space. Most people are less than 6'1", so that is not an issue. Big guys need a bigger plane.

If the government would get out of the way we could double the value of the GA fleet overnight AND make them affordable to fly by lifting all restrictions on GA planes just like experimentals.

The 6 is not hard to fly but not nearly as stable or comfortable for IFR cross country. You don't need to fill the seats to make use of the extra space/seats but many have useful loads in the 1100 range and with 50 gallons usable it can be a four seat airplane. Anyway the comparison was a shared 110k RV9 vs an older Bo.. I know which one I'd pick and apparently others feel the same that's why this thread exists.

that's very useful information for someone debating V35 vs RV10

I've seen plenty of glasairs and RV's in the bahamas, and canada is no issue either. You're reaching pretty hard to say anyplace else affects your typical piston owner from cincinatti.

Ok
Tell me what as to be done to fly an experimental to another country?
I know a letter of autorization is needed from Canada to US.

Nothing needs to be done to go to the Bahamas. I don't know about the rest of the world.

Comparing an RV6 to a Bonanza is not Apples to Apples..... I would compare it to a 172 or a Grumman......In cars it is like comparing a Fiero to a DeVille , yes they both fly , but if the only reason was to fly , we would be flying c-150s and Warriors.......We fly Bonanzas because they are fast heavy hauling performing aircraft.......Most of the experimentals that have gained any traction are fast light and limited in their mission , BUT for their mission they have excelled.....

In Europe you need a LOA from most countries. Some give blanket permission, but you'll have to check each country's AIP or CAA. And as far as I understand it, you can not fly IFR as aircraft that lack ICAO-level Airworthiness Cert are prohibited from doing so in Euro-land. PITA. They're lobbying hard on allowing it, but it's gonna be a few years at least, if ever.

Cool, flying in Europe is of zero interest to me

The user fees along are enough to keep my interest away

Mike, see my thread here for the ultimate ES

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=108990&p=1437546

There are lots of one size fits all comments here.... I can argue this both ways, but the reality boils down to this, what is your mission?

Determine your mission and then buy the airplane that best fits 80+% of your missions. And rent something for the other 20%, or do like I did and have one of each.....

If your mission is two people then there is NOTHING on the certified market at ANY Price point that will compare to the performance, comfort, and yes, even the quality of a well built RV-6,7,8 or Rocket.

If your mission requires 4 seats, the scales probably tip to the certified market. An RV-10 or Lancair ES is upwards of $200 and you can buy a very nice low time Bonanza at that price point. The Aspen has brought glass panels to the certified market at only slightly more than Experimental pricing. Autopilots are cheaper and better in the homebuilt market...

If your mission needs a twin, the Baron will win every time.... The V-twin is out there, but not really proven its self yet....

The comparisons could go on for ever, but there are some VERY high quality well designed homebuilts on the market today that can provide very dependable, capable and safe transportation and a huge fun factor...

Just like buying a Bonanza or a Baron, you need to find someone who knows the type of airplane you are buying and do a good prebuy.

Again, I like having one of each....

Doug,

"one of each"