What were they thinking?

[svanarts]

I think Van was wise to get into the LSA market but the more I look at the RV-12 the more I have to wonder what they were thinking? I'm not a big fan of fuel in the cockpit but I understand the reasons he did what he did (removable wings) but having to look over your shoulder to see how much fuel you have left?



Can anybody tell how much fuel is in the tank? I couldn't. The photo wasn't taken from the pilot's perspective, sure.

I have a feeling that fuel senders and gauges will be a popular option.

And NO, I'm not considering an RV-12. The S-19 is a better design, IMO, and I'm not even considering that.

[Spike]

I think they were going after the "remove the wing and transport" aspect. IMO that is a very good one. Having the fuel tank in the fuse I think will end up being a personal thing. I am not a huge fan of it, but people did it for years with planes such as the J3, etc.

I do think the RV12 is a sweet plane though.

[bullojm1]

If you look closely at the forward end of the tank I think there is a fuel sender there! I like that there are two ways to see how much fuel you have - the electronic sender and a visual method. I think the RV-12 is a sweet little sucka....if I didn't already want to build a RV-3 or 8, I would be all about the -12!

[svanarts]

By golly that does look like a sender. If that's what it is... then as Rosanne Rosannadanna used to say, "Nevermind."

[aerial]

I think that's the "Mexico" option, that way you can take a can of gas with you over the border. When you are getting low you can just pop the top and fill'er up. It'll keep you from having to land near Tijuana and risk getting plane jacked.