None of the two place RV’s are large airplanes. The side by sides will have you shoulder to shoulder with your passenger. Not a bad thing if it is your significant other, not so great if it is your stinky hangar neighbor.

Of the tandem RV’s, I expect the Rocket would be the winner when it comes to flying qualities. The RV-8 has roomy cockpits and includes both forward and rear baggage compartments. The baggage space was one of the features that attracted me to the RV-8. Adequate baggage seems to be a rarity in tandem airplanes and the forward hole allows some management of the CG. While I wanted a sport plane, I also wanted a reasonable cross country machine.

Robert

There is the RV14 ... though not a good fit for Todd's mission.

At the shoulder space, the cabin width in an RV-6 or -7 is 43 inches...

...an inch wider than the Bonanza.

I love your Duke and will be looking forward when you put it up for sale. about how much are you planning on asking?

There is the RV14 ... though not a good fit for Todd's mission.

It appears that the F1 Rocket EVO with a 300HP+ engine is the way to go if I cannot find a SX-300. I have read that the EVO might have some CG restraints, though, and would like to see hard data. I really like the performance of the SX. I'm going to do something different and actually think about the next plane I buy this time

I love your Duke and will be looking forward when you put it up for sale. about how much are you planning on asking?

The numbers on the CG envelope are pretty liberal... even though the numbers might be ok, the airplane gets pretty squirrelly when you get aft... I have a parallel valve -540 with a MT prop, and my airplane is good on CG until you get ~210# of rear pax and bags. A C-550 airplane or a metal 3 blade airplane has no rear CG issues.

If you want sheer speed, the 2 blade harzell is ~5 kts faster, but the 3 blade MT is quiet and smooth!

Horsepower is not the big issue, you need displacement and good breathing. A cold air induction airplane makes power at altitude better... The cold air 540s do just about as well as the tuned induction -550s at altitude.

It all boils down to find the best airplane you can buy and buy it, the details will be what the details are.

Right on Doug. Also, I would most likely want to put 11:1 or so pistons in it to make even more power up high. I would limit the MP down low to stay safe, but having that higher compression with cold air induction makes a world of difference at altitude.

Thanks for that info on the CG. More than likely, it would be me in the front at 180 and my son in the back who will most likely be 180 also. I am also teaching him to fly so, he might ride up front as well. Might as well train him in a 300 HP taildragger!

Sx-300 for sale page - the all red one sure is pretty:

http://sx300group.org/information/for-sale.html



RAS

I agree Richard, but at $300k he will own it forever. They are a nice plane, but at that price I will take a Turbine Legend and $50k in my pocket.

Ok Tom, I guess we'll just have to be partners in Todd's Duke.

Of course I'm a big fan of the RV... as of this weekend:

Your ladder is crooked.

That's the RV's main wing.