Building a Backcountry Pilot - Short/Soft Field Ops with the RV14

Getting ready for a trip out west. Idaho strips are sometimes intimidating, but if you can land at this 1400' strip, then many of the strips out west are easily within your reach. Practice practice practice.
The first landing is at Rosenbaum field (3WI9), near Chippewa Falls, WI.
The second landing(s) is at a private strip North of there that is 1400' useable and very cool to fly in and out of.

[@3dogman311]

The mentoring of your daughter's aviation passion is precious. Building memories that will stay with both of you a lifetime.

[@johngood3163]

Nice; trying to understand if an RV-14A or a Zenith 750 SD is best for me. The trade is flying from my land operating either with enough property for a 1,400 ft strip surrounded by 60 ft pines or just buying a used RV-14A and operating it from a 5,000 x 75 ft asphalt strip clear of trees but driving 40 plesant minutes to the field. Thanks for this video; just love the leadership, memories, and opportunities you're providing to your daughter.

[@MyRV10]

The RV-14 and Zenith are to completely different airplanes, so you'll really want to put more weight on exactly what you want to do with the airplane. If you don't travel far and more of an LSA plane meets your needs, then the Zenith may be a good way to go, but if you're into distance travel, the RV-14 definitely would be more suitable. 1,400' would be a maybe minimal comfortable strip for the RV-14 for daily use, as long as those 60' trees are not right at the approach end. You'll want all 1400' available for you, even though you can land in less. I'm not sure you'd want much less for a Zenith either, but a slower approach speed would shorten it some. The biggest decision though is the mission you have for the airplane. Personally, while I love visiting a grass strip, when I consider the cost and the maintenance, I question the true "convenience" even with a 40 minute drive. It's true that you can't beat it when you can walk from your house to your hangar and see your plane and work on things, but the days spent mowing, filling holes, and expense involved in keeping it smooth would be a hassle for me as much as a drive. Throw in that you now have an unlit runway, with no instrument approaches, that may become saturated and unusable on some days, or completely snowed over and rough as heck in the winter, and at least where I live, I wouldn't bother with it. It's hard enough just to keep the ice away from the front of a nice municipal hangar so I can use the nice asphalt. :) I get the pull though, as the dream of a hangar at home sure is attractive. Build the plane you want to fly the most, and you'll end up happy. Also consider the costs as the RV-14 is likely to cost a bit more.

[@lostgriz]

Good stuff! 14A, not 14, correct?

[@MyRV10]

Yes, 14A. Sorry for the confusion with the title. There weren't any non-A's when I finished mine. :)

[@Nemesisnxt]

Has the NLG leg been strengthened from previous RV models? I know it can be an issue of rougher strips.

[@MyRV10]

It's a completely different leg, very similar to the RV-10 but nothing like the earlier RV's. Much stronger. The mains are much stronger too.

[@thonatim5321]

DOWNVOTE: No music please. The roar of the engine is just fine.

[@johngood3163]

The music is a great touch

[@codmott286]

you put an old chelton system in a new RV14?

[@MyRV10]

Yes, some people are just crazy. ;) The other plane has the same panel. Wanted to keep them nearly clones of eachother.

[@codmott286]

well i guess thats good, dont have to relearn anything and can jump into the cockpit confidently.