By Ed Wischmeyer

The RV-8 in flight. (Courtesy of Ed Wischmeyer)For quite some time, I’ve figured that the RV-8 was probably what would best meet my needs and desires in a sport airplane. There have been any number advertised for sale, many with over-personalized paint jobs, excessive equipment, and astronomical price tags.

Eventually, though, one showed up on the west coast that looked pretty good, and at a good price. However, there are plenty of homebuilts of all sorts out there with beautiful cosmetics but shoddy wiring and engine installation. Those fears were allayed when it turned out that a long-term friend knew the airplane, knew the builder, and knew the seller. Plus, the picture of the engine installation showed numerous details nicely done. As a bonus, those frustrating piano wires in the hard to reach parts of the cowling had been replaced with Dzus fasteners. With absolutely no bargaining on the price, I mailed off a deposit check.