I looked a lot at the RV. The RV has speed and maneuverability and is a darn fine looking aircraft. However, the construction of the RV takes a lot more time. So about the only practical thing would be the quick build which is a lot more expensive. I don't think that you could touch an RV for less than 50K. The other issue was just the design. In a past life I spent some time as a designer. Not that I am an expert. But looking at the construction of the 601 it looks a lot simpler, and simpler is usually better. The other thing I did was look at the accident rates and causes with the RVs. There are a lot more failures that one might attribute to a higher performance aircraft. Such as landing accidents. The RV is a hot little aircraft. I am a test pilot and have flown a lot of high performance aircraft. They are fun but proficiency and experience are large factors for safety. I don't think I would have a problem but when I go to sell it one day I am not sure if the person I would sell it to would have the same skill level. I am a little concerned about liability.
For me it really came down to what sort of flying do I want to do with this aircraft. I fly plenty of IFR and really don't want to do this for fun. I really just want something to go up on a VFR day and put put around. You know I see a lot of pilots that spend a lot of time and money trying to maintain an IFR aircraft and IFR skills. Don't get me wrong these are very valuable skills. But they are fleeting skills. If you don't stay proficient (And I mean proficient not just current) flying can be very dangerous. How many times have we all read about a single engine aircraft in the weather and a barely proficient pilot running into trouble. The flying I miss most is just simple VFR, just spending time aloft on a nice day and enjoying the view. I think sometimes we take for granted how beautiful it is just to fly.
So, I chose the 601 XL:
Construction time - much less Bucking thousands of rivets vs. pulling thousands of rivets
Cost - more reasonable
Performance - adequate
Subject: A Pilot's Lot
One fine hot Summer's afternoon a Cessna 150 was flying in the pattern at a quiet country airfield. The Instructor was getting quite bothered with the student's inability to maintain altitude in the thermals and was getting impatient at sometimes having to take over the controls. Just then he saw a twin engine Cessna 5,000ft above him and thought "Another 1,000 hrs of this and I qualify for that twin charter job! Aaahh.. to be a real pilot.. going somewhere!"
The Cessna 402 was already late and the boss told him this charter was for one of the Company's premier clients. He'd already set MCT and the cylinders didn't like it in the heat of this Summer's day. He was at 6,000ft and the winds were now a 20kt headwind. Today was the 6th day straight and he was pretty damn tired of fighting these engines. Maybe if he got 10,000ft out of them the wind might die off... geez those cylinder temps! He looked out momentarily and saw a B737 leaving a contrail at 33,000ft in the serene blue sky. "Oh man" he thought, "My interview is next month. I hope I just don't blow it! Outa G/A, nice jet job, above the weather... no snotty passengers to wait for.. aahhh."
The Boeing 737 bucked and weaved in the heavy CAT at FL330 and ATC advised that lower levels were not available due traffic. The Captain, who was only recently advised that his destination was below RVR minimums had slowed to LRC to try and hold off a possible inflight diversion, and arrange an ETA that would helpfully ensure the fog had lifted to CATII minima. The Company negotiations broke down yesterday and looked as if everyone was going to take a damn pay cut. The F/O's will be particularly hard hit as their pay wasn't anything to speak of anyway. Finally deciding on a speed compromise between LRC and turbulence penetration, the Captain looked up and saw Concorde at Mach 2+. Tapping his F/O's shoulder as the 737 took another bashing, he said "Now THAT'S what we should be on... huge pay ... super fast... not too many routes... not too many legs... above the CAT.. yep! What a life...!
FL590 was not what he wanted anyway and considered FL570. Already the TAT was creeping up again and either they would have to descend or slow down. That damn rear fuel transfer pump was becoming unreliable and the F/E had said moments ago that the radiation meter was not reading numbers that he'd like to see. Concorde descended to FL570 but the radiation was still quite high even though the Notam indicated hunky dory below FL610. Fuel flow was up and the transfer pump was intermittent. Evening turned into night as they passed over the Atlantic. Looking up, the F/O could see a tiny white dot moving against the backdrop of a myriad of stars. "Hey Captain" he called as he pointed. "Must be the Shuttle. "The Captain looked for a moment and agreed. Quietly he thought how a Shuttle mission, while complicated, must be the be all and end all in aviation. Above the crap, no radiation problems, no damn fuel transfer problems... aaah. Must be a great way to earn a buck."
Discovery was into its 27th orbit and perigee was 200ft out from nominated rendezvous altitude with the commsat. The robot arm was virtually U/S and a walk may become necessary. The 200ft predicted error would necessitate a corrective burn and Discovery needed that fuel if a walk was to be required. Houston continually asked what the Commander wanted to do but the advice they proffered wasn't much help. The Commander had already been 12 hours on station sorting out the problem and just wanted 10 minutes to himself to take a leak. Just then a mission specialist, who had tilted the telescope down to the surface for a minute or two, called the Commander to the scope. "Have a look at this Skipper, isn't this the kinda flying you said you wanted to do after you finish up with NASA?" The Commander peered through the telescope and cried "Ooooohhhhh yeah! Now THAT'S flying! Man, that's what its all about! Geez I'd give my left nut just to be doing THAT down there!" What the Discovery Commander was looking at was a Cessna 150 in the pattern at a quiet country airfield on a nice bright sunny afternoon.
Boy, I'll tell you... pilots are never happy unless they are drinking beer and looking for a better job!