Knocking Off the Rust in a Van’s RV-12iS

After a hiatus, a “rusty pilot” tries out a state-of-the-art SLSA.

Friday, October 07, 2022 at 10:00 AM ET

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A Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS SLSA is the perfect way for a rusty pilot to bring back stick-and-rudder skills. (Photo: Dan Pimentel)

Key Takeaways:

A pilot with a six-year hiatus found the modern Van's RV-12iS SLSA remarkably easy and intuitive to fly, quickly adapting his "rusty" stick-and-rudder skills due to its precise and responsive handling.
He noted the significant difference in operating modern aircraft, particularly the Rotax engine's smooth start and the RV-12iS's exceptional, "on rails" flight characteristics compared to older planes.
The primary challenge for the returning "steam gauge" pilot was learning the sophisticated Garmin G3X touch avionics, which, despite its learning curve, offers extensive capabilities and advanced navigation.
The article concludes that modern Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs) like the RV-12iS are an ideal choice for pilots returning to flying, as their ease of operation helps quickly overcome any skill "rust" and get back in the air.

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I have been a certificated private pilot since 1996, and in 2008, became the proud owner of a 1963 Piper Cherokee 235. This followed many years of renting a number of Cessna and Piper products, and buying my own airplane made sense for the advertising business I had at the time.

Fast forward to 2016, and the out-of-state business I was using the 235 to service dried up, and at 12 gph, Katy became quite an expensive hamburger chaser. Factor in the cost of maintaining a 1963 model, and it was obvious that selling the 235 was a smart move.