Do I Regret Buying this Plane? - RV12 Review After 1 Year

In this video, I talk about some of my thoughts about the Vans RV12 Experimental Light Sport Airplane after owning it for about a year and a half. I love it, but I also have some regrets about going with this airplane.
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00:00 Intro
01:12 Why I chose this airplane
01:28 What does it do well?
03:22 What does it do Poorly?
05:00 Traveling airplane
06:28 My Regrets
08:00 Am I selling the airplane
08:25 What airplane do I actually want?
09:58 Conclusion

[@FlyVansAircraft]

Come out to Oregon and fly the RV-10 with us. And the 14/14A while you’re at it. :)

[@FloridaFlying]

Oh man, I would love that immensely! The RV10 is my dream “forever plane”.

[@TheShays]

RV10 is the way I went, I don't regret it, love it.

[@freakfly23]

I love my dad's rv10. Been all over the country with it.

[@pachabeche]

"I'm 6.1 I have about 3 inches" Has to be one of my favorite Pedro lines.

[@robertweekley5926]

Maybe he was dividing that "in Half" 🤔😲😂

[@droge192]

Really like your natural, 'non-ego' style. Keep it up sir. Great content!

[@hefeibao]

I have RV-10 tastes but an RV-12 budget. Doh! That's a gorgeous plane btw :)

[@puttputt73]

My buddy loves his 10. Says its exactly what he expected: 85percent of a Cirrus at one third the cost.

[@imbtmn9836]

I'm about to buy an RV12is here in NZ. Sounds like I am in a very similar place as you when you bought this plane. Thanks for sharing. I have a lot to look forward to.

[@lesboatright5928]

Great Job on the video! You got a super nice machine there; the RV-12 is hard to beat in the "Bang for the Buck" category.

[@mauriceevans6546]

Mosaic will definitely change light sport aircraft, especially is the speed and weight is kept intact

[@crazycons]

Given the turmoil in Vans and the drastic price increase, buying a RV10 may become more expensive at the moment than buying a Beech and having it maintained for a few years. I also own a RV12 and I generally like it (we cannot use it for IFR flights in Europe anyways). Therefore, I also just bought a Beech Debonair to replace it. I guess the increase in cost will show and be painful

[@dereksellars]

Thanks for the video, well done.

[@rafaelfigueroa2479]

Excellent, I'm on the same path : RV-10 and in the future a DA62

[@FloridaFlying]

So cool. I would love to fly in and do a video on the DA62. Love that plane

[@joshcox8785]

I'm in a similar position (and location.. Florida). Bought a PA-28-181 about 18 months ago. Enjoy it, fly a lot of places around FL, but I'm also feeling the need for more speed and also some improved IFR capabilities.

[@epanneflek]

Hi i'm from Aruba, and like youre videos..keep up!!

[@2525NACR]

I hope you take a look at a Velocity VL. Nice and fast 200kt and roomy 4 seater. Then someday when you get rich and famous you can get a Velocity twin, closest thing to a Beechcraft Starship

[@robertweekley5926]

Faster Airplanes often get *Flown Less Hours per Year, giving a result of Less "Currency" as per your flight requirements, however, for two reasons: Operating Costs usually go up, more than Performance goes up, and that reduces hiw many "Trips" a set budget can sustain! However, if you are seeing a solid increase in "Discretionary Income" after Living Expenses, Savings & Investing, then, sure: Go for the Upgrade! But remember, "Insurance Costs" are Not "Fixed" just like Loan Interest Rates, in many Loans! And Faster Aircraft, require "Faster Thinking Pilots" to keep "Ahead of the Airplane!"

[@DanFrederiksen]

a bonanza would probably 5x your cost. It's an awful old plane that's really in trouble in an engine out situation and even if you survive you will want to commit suicide when you get the price for the engine replacement :) I'm not even kidding, it's 100k+. Maybe look at a 915 "LSA" if that's technically legal somehow. WT9 comes in a 915 version although they might be hard to find used. Risen 915 is a 400km/h aircraft (216ktas) yet still sips fuel and climbs like a jet. Practically gettable in USA with some speed then a Lancair 320 or so might be doable.

[@josepina8793]

I had to switch to this airplane to finish my commercial training in another flight school. I met all the requirements now I only need to get familiar with the airplane to present the commercial checkride. Still haven’t flown it looks quite different than a cessna 172 😂

[@MzukiseniSikrweqe]

Very educational content here. Can you please make a video explaining why pilots still buy old certified airplanes instead of newer experimental planes. What benefits comes with certified airplane if they old and expensive to maintain. Thank you

[@chetmyers7041]

Certified planes can have a lower purchase price.

[@kaizenexcellens]

Thanks great video - can you fit the RV series with BRS parachutes?

[@fly4fun24]

nice video, I am going to see an R7A this morning, I will see in your channel if you have a video about your A & P License that I am also interested in maintaining my own aircraft

[@robertweekley5926]

"MP Licence" ... I think you meant "A & P License" which means "Airframe & Powerplant Licence!"

[@mohammadbarani5452]

How many flying hours you have in total and how much do you pay for insurance? If you switch to a certified, would you save enough in insurance that can pay for the maintenance of a certified? Thanks

[@fpvflyby6855]

Hi I really appreciate you doing this video. I am a sport pilot and I currently own an airborneXT 912 80hp which is a flex wing aircraft. I’ve been tossing the idea around in my head about doing some training in an RV 12 and maybe getting certified to fly it. possibly buy one but not sure I was wondering if you would be willing to chat on the phone at sometime?

[@cadmanchannel]

Thank you for the video. Performance in anything (car, motorcycle, airplane) needs light weight. You want short field? Light weight. All airplanes are a compromise of many things. I have time in a RV-6 and loved it, but for going places, the Bonanza has been the tool for the job. I was asked what plane I would want regardless of cost, F33 Bonanza came out of my mouth so fast I was surprised. Good for you on having any plane. Smooth ride in the afternoon is not going to be there at the same time as good short field performance.

[@Heisrisen237]

Looks?!, hammers can look cooler or fancier, but they hit the nail the same. (IMHO)

[@JohnCBobcat]

Since you have your Light-Sport Repair cert, have you thought about doing anything to the -12 for it to "grow" a little bit for you? Speaking to the fuel burn and speed, is something like the Edge Performance EP912i upgrade on your metaphorical radar? Supposed to be a ULS engine upgrade, with ~8 more horsepower (not a lot, but something) as well as reduced fuel burn and slightly lighter weight overall. Also heard good things about the E-Props propellors, which is definitely something I'd be looking at myself. That said, I'm a nobody who has no plane, though I'm really trying to save up to build a -12 and the changes above are on my interest list.

[@jcldano]

Don’t need the repairman cert to maintain or change the aircraft. It’s experimental. You’d need an LSRM-I or LSRM or A&P to sign off on condition inspections.

[@ohkaygoplay]

If I do get my license, my goal is to be able to fly from LA to the little airport near my home town to visit family, and take family and friends around. It’s about a 7 hour drive up the state give or take traffic and weather conditions. Home is around 450 miles north. Is a little plane like this good for that kind of trip? How would it handle a trip from LA to Salt Lake City or Denver? Salt Lake is a 15 hour drive.

[@ildarmingazov2304]

Hey there!

[@NorthwestAeronaut]

Do you have the 912is? Because the 912is only burns 3.5-4 gallons an hour in cruise.

[@FloridaFlying]

912ULS. Burns about a gallon more per hour than the 912is

[@jcldano]

True. Over about 200 hours behind a 912iS I’ve averaged 3.5 gal/hr.

[@herbyh369]

What do you think about the Velocity aircraft vs Vans?

[@FloridaFlying]

Velocity is great for long distances and it’s faster and more efficient, but they may not be as good for short runways. I love both planes

[@robertweekley5926]

​​@@FloridaFlying- As you seem to be far more current in Reg's & Restrictions (or not), can you say, if a "Camera Ship" eLSA, like a RV-12 would fit under, but loaded up with something like GoPro Cameras, or smaller, can be used to create Stills & Videos "For Sale?" 🤔🧐 *Edit: Or, would one need at least the SLSA or another "Certified" Aircraft, for such activity?

[@2Phast4Rocket]

On things for sure, once you have a chance for piloting a fast RV, with thr exception of the RV12, you don't want to go slow. The RV12 was designed for a light sport pilot with all the limitations other RVs don't have

[@exoticflorida2360]

How are you able to fly IFR in this aircraft? I had kind of scratched the RV 12 off of my list because I was under the impression light sport could not fly IFR regardless of the avionics configuration.

[@FloridaFlying]

It has to be an *experimental* light sport and you have to have an IFR rating. It cannot be the factory built SLSA. In the end it’s an experimental airplane, but a light sport pilot can fly it too as long as they follow the light sport limitations

[@pauljohnson2372]

PP can IFR in light sport. Light sport can fly VFR rules in IFR equipped LSA, pretty sure

[@exoticflorida2360]

@@FloridaFlying that’s kind of what I had ascertained after my research that as long as it was experimental and met the requirements of 91.205 for IFR. However I was convinced otherwise. Thanks! Are you aware of any hangars/space available at X04?

[@richardmg9]

the RV-10 would also require the certified maintenance, no?

[@FloridaFlying]

No sir, the RV-10 is experimental so maintainence can be done by the owner. However the condition inspection has to be done by an A&P

[@2Phast4Rocket]

Actually any pilot owner can do maintenance on any aircraft, certificated included.

[@jcldano]

@@2Phast4RocketWhat? As far as I know, it’s only the preventative maintenance tasks in 14 CFR 43 Appendix A, part c.

[@wallywally8282]

Cute little plane but too limited in so many ways.

[@pachabeche]

The game.

[@jimsmith7829]

Let me know if you decide to sell! 😁

[@fpvflyby6855]

I love your video, very informative. I am a sport pilot and fly a flexwing. I am considering the RV12 but would love the opportunity to speak to you if your up for it. Let me know. I can share my cell

[@navion1946]

Sorry but for the cost delta of a RV10 and a nice Bonanza you could maintain the Bonanza for the rest of your life.

[@chetmyers7041]

What will you spend if you have to overhaul the engine on the Bonanza?

[@navion1946]

@@chetmyers7041 oh probably 47,000. But you can have a beautiful Bonanza for $200K while RV-10’s are running over $300K

[@navion1946]

@@chetmyers7041 and the overhaul on an RV 10 will be about the same price.

[@AircraftWings]

I thought IMC was not allowed for ELSA. This must be registered as SLSA.

[@brucemiller8109]

Nice money pit.

[@FloridaFlying]

But…it’s a money pit of happiness

[@brucemiller8109]

Yea ok Its all good till the prop stops. Ive fooled with Aviation for 30+Years, rebuilt a few accident AC, I ended up buying a restored 1967 172 rather then rebuild my self... Like car restoration... buy 1 done at auction. Good luck, can you post a pic of you lighting a Cigar with a 100$ Bill Money bags.@@FloridaFlying

[@richmanwisco]

@@brucemiller8109 Why are you here?

[@brucemiller8109]

@@richmanwisco I hope to shine the light of knowledge to stupid people who think of themself as Mini Howardhughes. By.

[@richmanwisco]

@@brucemiller8109 You're quite full of yourself I see. Sorry that I didn't genuflect in your general direction. And by genuflect I meant fart. Get lost.