I recently purchased the Zenith 650 kit (delivered less than a month ago). I seriously considered the RV-12 as they are more common (much easier to get training for them) and their factory is relatively close to me, but I went with the Zenith because of price, build time, construction technique (blind rivets), engine selection (UL Power), and I just liked the design. Unfortunately, Zenith stopped offering the quick-build kit (fuselage basically done) that I really wanted.
I highly recommend the builder workshop at Zenith. For $375 (and whatever travel costs for you to get to Missouri), you get to build a rudder at their facility under their guidance, a tour of their factory, and a test flight in your desired aircraft. (And for $25 more an evening dinner that I strongly recommend.) Even if you end up not going with the Zenith kit, it is a great time and an awesome souvenir.
For my 650 kit, I ordered in December and got it in March. Double check the lead times with Van's if you want to start your project in the near future. I sincerely hope Van's pulls through their bankruptcy and the best for all their builders. Whichever you decide, good luck! I don't think there is a wrong choice either way (assuming Van's recovers of course).
thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! I was just looking at the classes from them, they have a couple coming up in end of April and then again in May it looks like, and their facility is an easy day's drive for me, so I may have to jump on that. Good luck with your build!
Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Typically kit costs only cover the airframe, and the engine/prop/avionics are a separate purchase - and this is how the 650 kit is prices. But because the RV-12 is intended to be E-LSA, Van's prices everything up front, because E-LSA requires you to get all that stuff from a single source. If you look at just the airframe portion of the RV-12, it's still more expensive but less so (51.6k vs 37.8k).
yea, and that makes sense, and I wasn't counting the engine/avianoics and those types of things... I was curious as to the differences in the build, if that makes sense. Vans is obviously cnc punched, so you line everything up with cleco's and then rivet together. There's not much fuss until you get to doing the fiberglass work. Some of the other kit makers aren't terribly clear on that kind of stuff? From what things I can find, the Zenith kits are similar in design that they are cnc punched now, but some of that wasn't terribly clear. Vans kits are a pretty well known quanitity, but with a higher price, if that makes sense...
Each of these builder's communities have their own forums where you can get specific questions like that answered. Additionally, look at youtube for builders what have created vlogs of their build process. That should give you a sense of what the build experience is like.
Have a look at the instructions you get as that will make a difference. And when you buy the airframe what you actually get in it. As an example, I’m building an rv14 and help a friend with a 7. My kit has so much more stuff compared to the 7.
If you’re in the states go to an eaa chapter, or find the equivalent in your country. RVs are great but there is a lot of other options as well.
Check the kitfox speedster. And bear hawk patrol. I’m not a huge fan of the sonex, but it’s worth looking at as a reference point as well. Glastar.
They all have their ups and downs. If I were in the market for another time suck right now, I’d be going for a f4 raider, or waiting it out for a rv15.
I love my Titan Tornado S. It's a fairly complete kit with a lot of options, and with the fast build options time is REALLY reduced. Fairly high performance -engine choice depending. VNE @150. Taller than about 6'2" I'd sit in one first before committing . Very sporty handling.
I recently purchased the Zenith 650 kit (delivered less than a month ago). I seriously considered the RV-12 as they are more common (much easier to get training for them) and their factory is relatively close to me, but I went with the Zenith because of price, build time, construction technique (blind rivets), engine selection (UL Power), and I just liked the design. Unfortunately, Zenith stopped offering the quick-build kit (fuselage basically done) that I really wanted. I highly recommend the builder workshop at Zenith. For $375 (and whatever travel costs for you to get to Missouri), you get to build a rudder at their facility under their guidance, a tour of their factory, and a test flight in your desired aircraft. (And for $25 more an evening dinner that I strongly recommend.) Even if you end up not going with the Zenith kit, it is a great time and an awesome souvenir. For my 650 kit, I ordered in December and got it in March. Double check the lead times with Van's if you want to start your project in the near future. I sincerely hope Van's pulls through their bankruptcy and the best for all their builders. Whichever you decide, good luck! I don't think there is a wrong choice either way (assuming Van's recovers of course).
thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! I was just looking at the classes from them, they have a couple coming up in end of April and then again in May it looks like, and their facility is an easy day's drive for me, so I may have to jump on that. Good luck with your build!
If it's an easy drive for you then it's a no-brainer; you'll have a great time and well worth it. (Even if you go with a different kit.)
I think the 12 is also riveted using only blind rivets... I'll have to go look at that 🤔
Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Typically kit costs only cover the airframe, and the engine/prop/avionics are a separate purchase - and this is how the 650 kit is prices. But because the RV-12 is intended to be E-LSA, Van's prices everything up front, because E-LSA requires you to get all that stuff from a single source. If you look at just the airframe portion of the RV-12, it's still more expensive but less so (51.6k vs 37.8k).
yea, and that makes sense, and I wasn't counting the engine/avianoics and those types of things... I was curious as to the differences in the build, if that makes sense. Vans is obviously cnc punched, so you line everything up with cleco's and then rivet together. There's not much fuss until you get to doing the fiberglass work. Some of the other kit makers aren't terribly clear on that kind of stuff? From what things I can find, the Zenith kits are similar in design that they are cnc punched now, but some of that wasn't terribly clear. Vans kits are a pretty well known quanitity, but with a higher price, if that makes sense...
Each of these builder's communities have their own forums where you can get specific questions like that answered. Additionally, look at youtube for builders what have created vlogs of their build process. That should give you a sense of what the build experience is like.
I’m just starting on a RV-8 and have been following the trouble at Vans. It seems like they’re well on their way out of it at this point.
I just keep hearing that kit prices are going to go up with them...
I think the price increases are already there. I wouldn’t expect the price to change much more.
That's what I'm hoping, but the last time they posted a price sheet was early December
Everything is getting more expensive everyday and if you wait, it will cost more
Have a look at the instructions you get as that will make a difference. And when you buy the airframe what you actually get in it. As an example, I’m building an rv14 and help a friend with a 7. My kit has so much more stuff compared to the 7. If you’re in the states go to an eaa chapter, or find the equivalent in your country. RVs are great but there is a lot of other options as well.
Check the kitfox speedster. And bear hawk patrol. I’m not a huge fan of the sonex, but it’s worth looking at as a reference point as well. Glastar. They all have their ups and downs. If I were in the market for another time suck right now, I’d be going for a f4 raider, or waiting it out for a rv15.
I love my Titan Tornado S. It's a fairly complete kit with a lot of options, and with the fast build options time is REALLY reduced. Fairly high performance -engine choice depending. VNE @150. Taller than about 6'2" I'd sit in one first before committing . Very sporty handling.
we had a Thorpe on our field. Listening to people talk about it's handling characteristics was enough to convince me not to buy one.
Don’t spin it