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Ok, Rusty, I'll ask. What = makes the=20 Xl more attractive to you than an RV-8? Not a bad aircraft from what I = read, but=20 don't think it can really compare to bang for buck of an = RV-8?

Curious minds want to know.

Hi=20 Ed,

Well,=20 all you have to do is wait a few hours, and the RV-8 will be back in the = lead=20 :-) I didn't really intend to bog the list with this = stuff,=20 but since you asked, and since it is rotary=20 related...

The=20 Zenith 601XL is a nice plane by all accounts, and it's Sport=20 Pilot legal. I don't have any foreseeable requirement for a = SP plane,=20 but realistically, it's all I ever needed for the type flying I = do. =20 My primary interest in the XL is that it's almost ideal for a = single=20 rotor engine installation. The cowl is big, and they allow up to = 300 lbs=20 FWF. In fact, they have an O-235 engine option, which weighs = in at=20 slightly more than 300 lbs I think. HP requirement is=20 100-125. Performance is the max allowed (plus some I suspect) for = SP, and=20 it's a nice looking plane, simple to build, etc. =20

The=20 biggest drawback is the price of the kit, particularly when you add all = the=20 options. You could build an RV-X airframe for a couple = thousand=20 cheaper, if you used a standard kit (which I wouldn't). I also = much=20 prefer centerline seating, and the XL is only available in side by=20 side.

In my=20 opinion, the RV-8 is the very best experimental plane every = designed. =20 I loved flying the one I had before, but felt guilty about the money I = had tied=20 up in it, particularly when I realized that I could make money by = selling=20 it. With a Renesis engine (maybe turbo), it would be a great = plane, though=20 resale would suffer. On the other hand, I wouldn't have nearly as = much=20 money in it, so I wouldn't feel as guilty, and I'd have something to = tinker=20 with, which would make me want to keep it longer. =20

With a=20 Lycoming, inverted oil, and a CS prop, the RV-8 is an awesome = plane, and it=20 would be a better investment than my 401K has been. I would have = to decide=20 if I wanted to build it to maximize what I'd make on resale, or whether = I would=20 be happy to break even eventually.

The only=20 other sticky issue with the RV-8 is that I'd hate to embarrass Tracy by = ordering=20 a kit now, and having it flying before he flies his = :-)

Sorry you=20 asked yet :-)

Cheers,

Rusty (just=20 kidding Tracy, please don't sabotage my EC-2 = <g>)

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