O320 RV-7 Ride

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:06 pm

Chad,
Did you ever get your O320 RV-7A ride? How did it feel? Does the owner ever have any CG issues?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:28 am

As a matter of fact, I just flew up there to meet Pete DeCraene last night! We flew for about a half hour or so, did a couple of T/O's and landings, and some maneuvering.

I was actually more impressed than I thought I'd be! HOWEVER, he does have a CS Hartzell, and that makes a big difference in climb, and W&B. I am not planning on a CS prop, so while the ride was impressive, it's still hard to tell if a 320 with a FP prop will do the trick. I think it will with a Catto prop, as he pretty much garauntees his props will perform.

Takeoff acceleration was brisk (more so than I expected!), and the initial climb was 2000fpm at the end of the runway...and then it bled down to a sustained 1100fpm or so.

I don't know what his airplane weighs, but it felt very similar to Jack's IO-360 7, and his empty weight is 1170.

Pete doesn't have any CG issues, but most of that can be attributed to the prop.

Overall, PLENTY of power with this combo. I just don't know if I can get myself to spring for a CS prop...

Oh, Pete is considering making the conversion to a taildragger!!

I have a video of the first takeoff that I'll be uploading to You Tube over lunch...

I'd give it

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:19 pm

beautiful plane.

I never cease to be amazed with the finished products... I only hope mine comes out as nice

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 1:39 pm

Here's the takeoff video-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzbWCEaxAyk

It's off the ground quick, and then at the end of the runway, watch the VSI!

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:12 pm

Catto props are feather lite. I have one on my RV-4 and while it performs great, it doesn't help the CG much. Now to watch that video...

dons · Post by **dons** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:47 pm

atc ... "turn left and climb to circuit height ... never mind, I see you've already done that". Yeah, it does have some good vsi at first

I really like that kind of angled and partitioned panel.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:56 pm

I forget who he said did that panel, but I do remember he said it cost $350. Neat, but...that's 70 gallons of gas!

dons · Post by **dons** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:52 pm

I think I have a bookmark somewhere of where I had seen that panel before, but yeah, it's one of those 'nice to have' things that I'll likely pass on. There are just way too many 'nice to have' things in one of these planes.