MyRV14.com
Tim Olson and Family's RV-14
N14YT








Van's Aircraft did it again...at OSH 2012 they announced the new model RV-14.  It was just what I was looking for, and at just the time I wanted to see it.  I've built an RV-10 already (See http://www.MyRV10.com) and wanted to also have a cross-country aerobatic plane that would comfortably fit a tall chubby guy and at the same time, carry a good load.  With that, I placed my order and received my wing kit 12/21/2012.  It's been 2.5 long years waiting for all the parts to be available, but N14YT, my RV-14A kit number 32, is now flying!  I was approximately the 4th customer to fly their RV-14, and it flew very well on it's first flight!

Jump To Build Log
 

Why would I want to build one?  Well, it's exactly what I was looking for, as a 2nd plane.  I had wanted to build something for my girls to learn in, and my wife and I to fly more locally, and ideally something I could do some aerobatics in.  I had really WANTED an 7A, but the rest of the family needed more of a 9A or a 12.  The ultimate goal was to have a 2-place plane that can fly RIGHT ALONG with my RV-10, because now that the kids are getting older, we want them to have the freedom to bring along some friends, and still go places with the family.  This effectively gives us 6 seats...and more than 2X the fun!  So I wanted a plane capable of RV-10 type long legs in full comfort, some real good baggage capacity for tents and backpacks, and some aerobatic capabilities.  I also wanted it to be easy enough to fly to train my skybound daughter(s).  While the RV-14 isn't exactly a "trainer", my kids grew up flying the RV-10, and my daughter currently taking flight instruction has proven perfectly capable of flying the fast and slippery RV-10.  With the same basic wing and performance specs, this would make the ideal plane for them to obtain their certificates.  Not only that, but with the panel space in the RV-14, I was able to build 2 airplanes with nearly identical panels, identical controls, and nearly identical systems, giving them the ultimate in ease to transition between the 2 airplanes.

I had given up hope on the perfect plane, and figured I may as well build a 12 for the kids, sell it, then buy a 7A later after they had more skill.  The problem with the 7A as the long term airplane is that it has much poorer cockpit visibility, a much tighter fitting cockpit, less fuel capacity, and in general was just too small for me.  Then as if Van's was reading my mind, they come out with the RV-14, designed to be a larger version of the RV-7, with better x/c capabilities.  It should be a perfect companion to the RV-10 and give me everything I had hoped for in a 2nd plane.  I'll also be using the "If you build it, they will come" theory on this one, and hope to take on up to 3 partners in the plane, ultimately having each person have a 1/4 share if possible.  Many people these days simply can't get into aviation without partnering, but I can see why so many people fail to want to start when all they have available to rent are junky old 1950's, 60's, and 70's Cessna's and Pipers with awful instrumentation. These days a plane deserves a nice panel with in-cockpit weather, and more comfort than the old planes deliver.  This plane as a partnership may just be able to help others get into aviation, and that would be a great thing for us all!

For more info on the RV-14, check out Van's flyer HERE.

This site is searchable HERE


Commentary
2/14/2018
RV10 or RV14 - Which is for me?



12/2017
Trust Your Instruments!



11/2016
Giving Thanks



5/2016 Perseverence


4/2014 Newtonian Laws of Homebuilding


11/2013
My RV Building Prayer




Tim's YouTube Channel


Building and Flight Log
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5/18/2020
OSH 2019 - Lamenting the loss of OSH 2020 (COVID-19 Sux!)



12/16/2019
Fall/Winter Updates - Alternators/Exhaust/Engine Dryer...



12/13/2019
Happy Birthday to Me! My Birthday Gift From Danielle



5/2/2019
OSH 2018 - Better Late than Never!



4/10/2019
Oil Cooler Butterfly Valve



2/16/2019
Mag Failure at 350 Hours - SB1-15A



12/26/2018
D-I-Y VHF Comm Antenna for Hangar



10/5/2018
And They Lived Happily Ever After ... An ADS-B Story
Lynx NGT-9000 Transponder Install



8/15/2018
A Great Backup Instrument - Finally! (and other stuff)



7/5/2018
ADS-B GDL90 Project Part 1 and Part 2 (Build Your Own)



5/29/2018
A New RV Pilot is Born!



3/22/2018
Bimini 2018 by RV14!



3/20/2018
ADS-B Update and Echo Install



8/22/2017
Eclipse 2017 - To Oregon we go!



8/6/2017
OSH 2017!



8/6/2017
Misc Photos, Maintenance, and Repairs



6/25/2017
Rudder Pedal Blocks and Seat Back Adjustment for Short Folks



5/29/2017
Danielle's First Solo ... and in N14YT! (Updated 8/6/17)



4/10/2017
Annual Condition Inspection



3/30/2017
100 Hour Report on RV-14 N14YT



3/29/2017
RV-14 Interior Installed!



2/25/2017
Mid-Winter Upgrades (Updated 2/25)



1/19/2017
Flight Training Time!



11/8/2016
Nicer RV-14 Fuel Caps by Aerosport Products



11/1/2016
Preparing for Cold Weather / Chicago



10/9/2016
Easy Backup Instruments for IFR Fight



10/7/2016
Spinning the RV-14 (video)



9/8/2016
Basic Aerobatics in the RV-14 (video)



9/7/2016
First Trip with the RV-14 (and other stuff)



7/31/2016
OSH 2016 with N140CD and N14YT!



7/20/2016
N14YT - Using the plane!  (Good Aerial Photos!)



7/10/2016
Finishing the RV14 up for good!



6/23/2016
Engine Tips before you Start



6/17/2016
First Flight Day!



5/25/2016
Final Assembly Begins!



5/21/2016
Moving to the Airport!



5/10/2016
Painting the RV14! (Updated 6/21)



4/28/2016
Firewall Forward Finishing



3/30/2016
Work while waiting on the Firewall Forward Kit



11/26/2015
Finishing - Canopy Part 2, Cowling, and More



10/6/2015
Finishing - Nosewheel, Canopy Part 1, Lightspeed Part 1



9/17/2015
RV-14 Finishing Kit Progress - Summer 2015



7/10/2015
Panel / Aux Battery / Finishing Kit Start



3/24/2015
Panel Part 4 - Mounting the avionics



3/9/2015
Panel Part 3 - Throttle Quadrant



2/8/2015
Fuselage / Final Fuel and Brake Lines / Panel Part 2



1/24/2015
Fuselage / Fuel & Brake Lines / Panel Part 1 / Interior Paint



12/14/2014
Finishing Forward Fuselage - Tailcone Attach



12/8/2014
Firewall / Forward Fuselage / Mid-Fuselage



11/19/2014
Mid-Fuselage Bottom



10/29/2014
Fuselage Kit Arrives



10/27/2014
Finishing the Wings



9/2014
Prop Arrived



8/30/2014
Engine and Prop Ordered



8/2/2014
RV14 Demo Flight - OSH 2014



4/12/2014
Elevators and Tailcone



3/1/2014
Flaps / Ailerons / Vertical Stab / Rudder / Horizontal Stab / Elevators



11/9/2013
Fuel Tanks



10/5/2013
Empennage Kit Arrives - Damaged



2/11/2013
Wing: Ribs / Rear Spar / Top Skins / Leading Edge



1/4/2013
Wing: Main Spar / Wing Ribs



12/30/2102
Inventory Time



12/21/2012
Wing Kit Arrived!



12/7/2012
Delivery Notification - Check is in the mail!



11/6/2012
Wing Kit Ordered!



8/8/2012
N-Numbers Reserved!



Click Here for some Construction Videos






      


Here are some additional photos of the RV14 from OSH 2012

IMG_2426.JPG IMG_2430.JPG IMG_2432.JPG
IMG_2436.JPG IMG_2441.JPG IMG_2450.JPG

Some RV-14 demo pics from OSH 2015
Van's Engine Install