Planning beyond flight training

Back a few months ago when it was explained to us that Recreation Aviation was more economical than General Aviation, Robyn and I started to think about learning to fly. We also started to think about what we were going to fly when we finished our training. We bought some aviation magazines and read up about the various recreation aircraft that would be suitable for touring and decided a new aircraft was well out of our range.


So we started looking at the second hand market and asked around. A friend of mine Jim G had started to build a Karatoo from plans. I told him what our plans were and he told me he would introduce me to Marty H, a friend of his that had an RV6 which was a good performing all steel kit plane. Jim explained that the RAA were looking at increasing its MTOW to 760kg and that would allow the RV to be registered under RAA.

From there we did some homework on Van's web sight and scoured google for test flights on the various RV models and finished up deciding on the RV9a (like the one pictured below). This aircraft using the Lycoming 0-235 has a 38knot stall speed, maximum take off weight of 750kg and will cruise on 75% power @ 143 knots (264 kmh).

A Vans RV-9A

We have now acquired a used mid-time Lyc 0-235, which thankfully we were able to pick up at a good price together with a full set of engine and VFR instruments. And if all goes well and we are able to scrape up a few more dollars, we hope to be placing an order with Van's in July for a RV9a quick build kit.

Our slightly used Lycoming o-235

We also realised we are going to be needing somewhere to hanger the plane when it is built.
An hour up the road from where we live is Watts Bridge, an ex WW2 airfield that has been brought back to life. We managed to acquire a hanger/chalet leasehold site there and plan to build a hanger/weekender before the plane is finished. The plan is to build a hanger large enough to fit two high winged and two low winged planes, and leasing out hangerage will help to pay for the hanger.

The proposed site for our hanger/chalet at Watts Bridge

Now all I have to do is sell the business before the kit arrives so I'll have the time to put it together, and at the moment it is not a good time to be selling a business. We also have to hope that Recreation Aviation Australia do increase the MTOW to 760kg before the plane is finished or we will have to register it as General Aviation.

Here's hoping the future smiles on us.