EAA Chapter 704 Jan. 07, 2010
I always wanted to build an RV and was leaning toward a 7A at first but later the RV-9A seemed to offer more of what I wanted and this fall was very close to making the purchase. In September I saw an AD on Barnstormers for an RV-10. It was a standard kit that the builder had finished to about the “quick build” stage, and what a beautiful job he had done. I couldn’t stop looking and went back to that ad numerous times in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime I was talking with the guys at vans trying to decide if I should get the 7A or the 9A. The fellow I was talking to suggested that it all boils down to one question: WHAT IS YOUR MISSION.
I thought about that a lot over the next few weeks and my wife and I had several discussions about our mission. I figure it will take at least a couple of years to build a plane and by that time my wife will be near retirement-I’m already retired. We wanted a plane to tour the country after retirement, find a warm spot to accommodate the winter months, be able to transport kids and friends, have plenty of baggage space and an IFR certified machine. The more we thought about it the more the RV-10 seemed to fit the mission. Though considerably more expensive to buy, equip, insure and operate we decided to take the plunge and buy the plane best suited for the mission.
Of course seeing that beautiful RV-10 project on Barnstormers helped push me in that direction. Brian Raeder who started the project was determined to win “Grand Champion” with this plane at Oshkosh and then sell it for more money than had ever been received for an RV-10 on the market. This was to be an income-producing project to fill time while his business was slow. I have no doubt in his ability to have accomplished both goals, you see, he had already won Grand Champion for a lite sport plane he built a few years back. I saw it and it was marvelous in beauty and workmanship.
Well Brian’s business is restoring war-birds, which he did out in Idaho for many years. He worked for people that demanded perfection and every project was meant to be a grand champion many of which were. For family reasons he moved back to Ohio and started his own war-bird restoration business. It was slow getting started hence the RV-10 project. About a year ago his business took off and the 10 project was pushed aside for later. Well, about august he recognized he would probably not get back to it for a long time and decided to put it up for sale.
The following pictures are some that he sent me while I was in the market. Check them out. Dave
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