builders' remorse?

[[email protected]]

Hi:
I'm doing research for my latest magazine article and I was wondering
if you could help me. I'm collecting information for people who might
be trying to figure out which kit/plans/finished homebuilt to buy. I
suspect everyone who buys an airplane has a set of factors they're
looking for, but once they start flying the airplane, they find out
there are some other things they should have considered.
For instance, one guy I heard about took so long building his airplane
that by the time he'd finished, he had outgrown it. Cabin size didn't
seem so important when he started.
Do you have any tips from your own experience that might help a new
buyer make a better decision? What did you think was important before
you bought the plane that didn't seem so important afterwards? What do
you wish you'd considered before you bought your plane?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
Lynne Wainfan
Long Beach, CA

[flybabybuilder]

Lynne, I'm still in the building process, but I did a lot of thinking -
about two years' worth - before selecting a design and beginning
construction. I analyzed my typical mission profile and what it is
likely to be ten or fifteen years from now. That narrowed down the
field quite a bit. I thought about the building process and my own
skills and preferences and whether I'd prefer to work in wood, metal,
or fiberglass. That narrowed it down some more.

I bought several info packets and a couple of sets of plans. I read
pilot reports, joined listserves, and visited builders of several
different designs. I "tried on" one prospective design and saw that to
get in and out I'd need to bend my knees in a way they really didn't
want to go. I looked at completed components of another design and
realized that it was a far more complex aircraft to build than I wanted
to take on.

Feeling pretty sure that I was settled on the Fly Baby, I build a test
elevator out of scrap material, to see if I really would enjoy the
building process. I did.

FlyBabyBuilder

wrote:
> Hi:
> I'm doing research for my latest magazine article and I was wondering
> if you could help me. I'm collecting information for people who might
> be trying to figure out which kit/plans/finished homebuilt to buy. I
> suspect everyone who buys an airplane has a set of factors they're
> looking for, but once they start flying the airplane, they find out
> there are some other things they should have considered.
> For instance, one guy I heard about took so long building his airplane
> that by the time he'd finished, he had outgrown it. Cabin size didn't
> seem so important when he started.
> Do you have any tips from your own experience that might help a new
> buyer make a better decision? What did you think was important before
> you bought the plane that didn't seem so important afterwards? What do
> you wish you'd considered before you bought your plane?
> Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
> Lynne Wainfan
> Long Beach, CA

[[email protected]]

Having had several projects, and watching friends doing theirs,
I have seen a few things to watch out for:
-Picking a design that promises too much. There have been some
airplanes for which kits or plans have been sold well before adequate
test flying has been done, some before any prototype was built. Not a
good bet. Some of those airplanes never flew at all, and some flew
poorly or dangerously. Older homebuilders can spot those a mile away,
and the airplane seeker needs to listen those those guys.
-Picking a design that is way beyond the builder's financial or
time capabilities. Somehow, we think we will be able to afford it, but
we're not taking into account the kids' needs as they grow up and the
needs of the spouse. You gotta maintain the marriage and the
relationship with your family. Seen some homebuilders lose it all
because they spent too much money and time on something that will
rust/rot/corrode away anyway. Suddenly the builder can resent the
airplane and what it did to him. A family is worth more than an
airplane any day. Keep the desires within reason. I have friends who
have spent 30+ years on airplanes (while properly balancing family and
homebuilding) that aren't finished yet, and now age and/or loss of
medical means that it was mostly for nothing.
-Time-to-build estimates can be reasonable or can be too rosy.
Talk to the builders who have finished that model and see how long it
took. 2000 hours sounds achievable until you realize that 2000 hours is
a full-time 8-hour-a-day job for one year. How many of us can afford
that sort of time and still get an airplane built in two or three
years? And keeping motivated is a problem. To come home after a hard
day's work and still get in a few hours of building is hard to maintain
for years on end, especially considering the family's needs.
This isn't intended to be negative, only that a prospective
builder needs to be realistic. Homebuilding is really rewarding,
espcially if the builder can get the family involved. The quick-build
stuff can be a boon to those who can afford it, especially those with
too few spare hours. And homebuilts often outperform the factory spam
stuff, some are fantastic works of art. Some are so uniquely ugly they
appeal to some. Some can get into and out of tiny places so we can get
away from it all. Only in homebuilding is there so much variety, and
there's a real cameraderie among builders. Too bad most of us have to
work for a living...

Dan

[[email protected]]

Dan said it with very good words for advice. Read number 3, many times.

In aviation now for 40 years, I have seen many Kits companies, just
looking for Kit Investors
so they can build or finish the Proto-type aircraft. Be very careful
with the Advertisers.

CAUTION, Many aircraft builders end up with AIDS (Aviation Induced
Divorced Syndrome)
Always pick a aircraft that your girl friend or wife likes and can work
with you.

Stay away from a buddy partner in a aircraft project, unless maybe
your Father.
I have see many, many partners lose interest in the project and want
their investment paid back.
It happen to me in the 1960's. I did finish the project and got it
flying.

It is a must, to get a flight in a 2 place aircraft you like. Pay him
the money for the flight as a thank you.
Check out the Demo's pilots experience for advice on the plane. Many
times the Builder-Pilot will say
"It is the best plane he ever built and flown" Then you later find out
this is the second type he has ever
flew. His first airplane was a C-150 that he got his Private pilots
rating in.

Join the EAA and attend Oshkosh Airventure. www.eaa.org

A Magazine with a good source of information, with some very good
editors is Kitplanes.
The October 2006 issue, has some very good information articles for
you.
Read, Barnaby Wainfan, Wind Tunnel, page 68. He does write about the
good and bad information of the aircraft.

Their are some editors that will take a 45 min. to 1 hour flight in a
aircraft and write a 6 page story about it.
Then they always list the positive flight fetchers of the plane, never
the negative ones. They sound like
they work for the Companies advertising Dept.

You will be investing a good part of your life in time and money.

You want the aircraft you love!!!

Larry Fitzgerald

www.fitzair.net

[Barnyard BOb]

>I bought several info packets and a couple of sets of plans. I read
>pilot reports, joined listserves, and visited builders of several
>different designs. I "tried on" one prospective design and saw that to
>get in and out I'd need to bend my knees in a way they really didn't
>want to go.

>
>FlyBabyBuilder
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Same here.

WHEN THE EARTH WAS VERY YOUNG,
there were several aircraft that I dreamed of owning
some day. One dream machine was a Mooney Mite.
I would have given a left nut for one....
Until I sat in one of those torture racks.

Poof... end of dream!
Ditto for a Smith Mini-Plane.
Ditto for the Midget Mustang.
OTOH, the Van's RV-3 fits me like a glove.

Try before you buy/build, fer sure.
It can $ave a lot of heartache.


-Barnyard BOb -
FlyBaby driver of the early 1960's

[DonMorrisey]

Real Good question and the advice/tips above are real good. I wrote an
article for my EAA Chapter on the plane I chose and how I got to that
decision:

http://www.eaa279.org/newsletter/mar06.pdf

Click on that link or paste it in your browser if it doesn't highlight
and scroll to the end of the newsletter. I chose to build a Bushcaddy
R-120 for the reasons outlined in my report and did a ton of research
beforehand including visiting the factory and flying one. I am one
year and 414 hours into it. I love building it and my wife and family
are very supportive. The tech support from Bushcaddy is fabulous and I
wouldn't change anything at this point. You have to commit yourself to
it and that means choosing the right time in your life to start
buuilding. It is important to be peristent, try to do something every
day, even if it's clean up the shop. Contact me if you have questions.
Don....

[UltraJohn]

wrote:

> Read, Barnaby Wainfan, Wind Tunnel, page 68. He does write about the
> good and bad information of the aircraft.
>
> Their are some editors that will take a 45 min. to 1 hour flight in a
> aircraft and write a 6 page story about it.
>
> Larry Fitzgerald
>
> www.fitzair.net


Larry
Read the original posters name at the bottom of their post! ;-)
John

[[email protected]]

Larry
Read the original posters name at the bottom of their post! ;-)
John


John

Lynne and Barnaby and I know each other for many years at Oshkosh.

The Wainfans have worked very hard for many decades, writing books and
information articles in many magazines. They give some very excellent
EAA Forums at Oshkosh. When you view the people at their forums,
you will see many well known Airfoil and Aircraft Design Engineers in
attendance.

I always bug them, to have some one gather all their past articles and
put them in a book.

Just my thanks to the Wainfans for all the time they spend, sharing
their knowledge and
experience, with us.

So, send them the tips you have experienced over the many years on your
aircraft.

Larry Fitzgerald

www.fitzair.net

[Ernest Christley]

Barnyard BOb wrote:
>
>
>> I bought several info packets and a couple of sets of plans. I read
>> pilot reports, joined listserves, and visited builders of several
>> different designs. I "tried on" one prospective design and saw that to
>> get in and out I'd need to bend my knees in a way they really didn't
>> want to go.
>
>> FlyBabyBuilder

I have some remorse, and I'm not even done building my first one yet.

My problem is that the world refused to stand still and wait for me to
finish. I had criteria for plans built, cross-country speeds, 4
passengers, and a unique appearance. The Dyke Delta fit perfectly, and
I'm 80% done (with only 80% to go). But once I got enough of it
together to sit in it, I crave more room. Well, not true, actually. I
crave more room for my passengers. I just know the family trips (the
ultimate goal) will be limited due to the "crampness".

Now I'm being drawn to the Bearhawk. Gobs of room, front and back.
Plans built, or kit sections if there's some cash in the budget to
spare. Decent cross country speeds. Not very unique looking, but I'll
have a Delta for the fly-ins 8*)

I guess you could say that my remorse is not have one of everything 8*)

[[email protected]]

Larry, I appreciate your kind words. You probably remember my Kitplanes
Article, "How to Build an Airplane and avoid AIDS (Aviation-Induced
Divorce Syndrome)" It chronicles the lessons Barnaby and I learned
while buiding the Facetmobile and trying not to kill each other with
the rivet gun.

Thanks to all who have posted so far. These are great insights; Keep
'em coming!
-Lynne

[flybynightkarmarepair]

wrote:
> Hi:
> I'm doing research for my latest magazine article and I was wondering
> if you could help me. I'm collecting information for people who might
> be trying to figure out which kit/plans/finished homebuilt to buy.

I've got some of this sort of musing on my web site, in a sort of
chronological order:
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/Sonerai/WhySon.html
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/Sonerai/WhySon2.html
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/Sonerai/virtues.html
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/Sonerai/MySonIIL.html

The Sonerai project got sold, as the last page notes. The Teenie Two
project I started after my divorce (not Aviation Induced) has morphed
into a one-off frankenstein combination of a Teenie, and a Hummel
Ultracruiser Plus. If I had it to do over again, my current project
would probably be a BK Flyer, which was not an option when I started
this project.

Good luck with the writing.

[wright1902glider]

I went in a very different direction from most homebuilders in that I
built a pioneer-era glider. When I started the project, I intended to
fly the glider once, maybe show it at the Centennial of Powered Flight,
and then maybe donate it to a museum. While researching the machine, I
ran across the following quote from Katharine Wright to Bishop Wright:

"Father, the flying machine is in process now. Will spins the (sewing)
machine 'round by th hour while Orv squats about marking the places to
sew. There is nowhere in the house to live..."

By October 2002, my reproduction glider occupied the entire garage,
most of the living room, part of the study, and all of my bedroom. Life
got very tense for a few weeks, and nearly triggered a nervous
breakdown. At one point, the entire project was 15 minutes away from
the sledge hammer and the trash can. But a few days later, I read a
post on this newsgroup, and it led to my entry into the airshow
business.

A year after I almost destroyed the plane, I was exhibiting at Wings
Over Houston. My father, mother, and sister drove over from Louisiana
for the second day of the show and served as my ground crew. This may
not sound significant, but my Dad had suffered kidney failure in
November 2002 was now undergoing dialysis 3 times a week. When I was a
kid, he took me to every CAF airshow in Louisiana. Now, through me, he
was part of one. I don't think I ever saw him prouder than when a
spectator asked him who built the glider, and he replied "My son did!"

David Edward Frey was born in Highland, IL in 1947. He served in the
Army at Camp Carroll, South Vietnam from 1967-1968 and fought in the
defense of Dong Ha, Hue, Khe Sahn, and varoius other points along the
DMZ. Following discharge, he graduated from Parks College of Aviation
and earned his A&P in 1969. He took a position with Petroleum
Helicopters in 1970, and served as a senior and lead mechanic for 35
years until illness forced his retirement. He passed away on March 20,
2006 due to a combination of illnesses caused by his exposure to Agent
Orange in Vietnam.

While I can honestly say that my homebuilt project is the source of
some of the worst experiences in my life, that one day in Houston made
all the difference.

Scott David "Harry" Frey
Wright 1902 glider (hull #8)
Wright Brothers Enterprises

[Jim Carriere]

wright1902glider wrote:
> While I can honestly say that my homebuilt project is the source of
> some of the worst experiences in my life, that one day in Houston made
> all the difference.

How many parents get to savor such a singular moment like this? I'd say
that your dad was a lucky man, regardless of the circumstances of his
untimely passing.

What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. I think
we're all glad you persevered.

[Andy Asberry]

On 17 Sep 2006 21:10:46 -0700, "wright1902glider"
> wrote:

>I went in a very different direction from most homebuilders in that I
>built a pioneer-era glider. When I started the project, I intended to
>fly the glider once, maybe show it at the Centennial of Powered Flight,
>and then maybe donate it to a museum. While researching the machine, I
>ran across the following quote from Katharine Wright to Bishop Wright:
>
>"Father, the flying machine is in process now. Will spins the (sewing)
>machine 'round by th hour while Orv squats about marking the places to
>sew. There is nowhere in the house to live..."
>
>By October 2002, my reproduction glider occupied the entire garage,
>most of the living room, part of the study, and all of my bedroom. Life
>got very tense for a few weeks, and nearly triggered a nervous
>breakdown. At one point, the entire project was 15 minutes away from
>the sledge hammer and the trash can. But a few days later, I read a
>post on this newsgroup, and it led to my entry into the airshow
>business.
>
>A year after I almost destroyed the plane, I was exhibiting at Wings
>Over Houston. My father, mother, and sister drove over from Louisiana
>for the second day of the show and served as my ground crew. This may
>not sound significant, but my Dad had suffered kidney failure in
>November 2002 was now undergoing dialysis 3 times a week. When I was a
>kid, he took me to every CAF airshow in Louisiana. Now, through me, he
>was part of one. I don't think I ever saw him prouder than when a
>spectator asked him who built the glider, and he replied "My son did!"
>
>David Edward Frey was born in Highland, IL in 1947. He served in the
>Army at Camp Carroll, South Vietnam from 1967-1968 and fought in the
>defense of Dong Ha, Hue, Khe Sahn, and varoius other points along the
>DMZ. Following discharge, he graduated from Parks College of Aviation
>and earned his A&P in 1969. He took a position with Petroleum
>Helicopters in 1970, and served as a senior and lead mechanic for 35
>years until illness forced his retirement. He passed away on March 20,
>2006 due to a combination of illnesses caused by his exposure to Agent
>Orange in Vietnam.
>
>While I can honestly say that my homebuilt project is the source of
>some of the worst experiences in my life, that one day in Houston made
>all the difference.
>
>Scott David "Harry" Frey
>Wright 1902 glider (hull #8)
>Wright Brothers Enterprises

A very touching and inspirational story, Harry. Thank you. My sympathy
on your father's passing.

I've changed the subject line because I want to expand on the Agent
Orange connection. A lot of folks don't know about AO, even some
Vietnam vets.

You didn't have to take a bath in the stuff. Anyone stationed in
Vietnam, for even one day, is presumed by the VA to have been exposed.
I believe they have now included offshore duty.

It is some wicked stuff. Do a Google on Agent Orange to see some of
the maladies attributed to it.

http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/ is what the VA has "discovered."

--Andy Asberry recommends NewsGuy--

[Gene Seibel]

I believe there are flyers and builders. I am a flyer. Building doesn't
appeal to me. I see people spending years on a building project and it
appears they have some attraction to the building process. It seems to
be a valued part of their life like flying is a part of mine. As a
flyer, I wouldn't have the patience to build an airplane. Is it the
dream of actually flying the airplane or the building process that most
homebuilders are looking for? Just curious.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because we fly, we envy no one.


wrote:
> Hi:
> I'm doing research for my latest magazine article and I was wondering
> if you could help me. I'm collecting information for people who might
> be trying to figure out which kit/plans/finished homebuilt to buy. I
> suspect everyone who buys an airplane has a set of factors they're
> looking for, but once they start flying the airplane, they find out
> there are some other things they should have considered.
> For instance, one guy I heard about took so long building his airplane
> that by the time he'd finished, he had outgrown it. Cabin size didn't
> seem so important when he started.
> Do you have any tips from your own experience that might help a new
> buyer make a better decision? What did you think was important before
> you bought the plane that didn't seem so important afterwards? What do
> you wish you'd considered before you bought your plane?
> Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
> Lynne Wainfan
> Long Beach, CA

[Tom Young[_2_]]

"Gene Seibel" <...> wrote...
>I believe there are flyers and builders. I am a flyer. Building doesn't
> appeal to me. I see people spending years on a building project and it
> appears they have some attraction to the building process. It seems to
> be a valued part of their life like flying is a part of mine. As a
> flyer, I wouldn't have the patience to build an airplane. Is it the
> dream of actually flying the airplane or the building process that most
> homebuilders are looking for? Just curious.

Some writers have to write, some artists have to paint, some flyers have to
build. That's how it is for me, anyway. I couldn't come anywhere close to
justifying the time and expense otherwise. I'm building an RV-4, which you
can pretty much buy already built for the money it's going to cost in the
end. I gotta do it myself.

Tom Young

[Barnyard BOb]

>I've changed the subject line because I want to expand on the Agent
>Orange connection. A lot of folks don't know about AO, even some
>Vietnam vets.
>
>You didn't have to take a bath in the stuff. Anyone stationed in
>Vietnam, for even one day, is presumed by the VA to have been exposed.
>I believe they have now included offshore duty.

Let me EXPAND a little, too.

AGENT ORANGE is a 1-124-1 mixture by weight of the
n-butyl esters of 2-4-5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2-4-5-T)
and 2-4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2-4-D).

Most of the problems associated with the use of Agent Orange were
associated with a CONTAMINANT (*dioxin*) in the 2,4,5-T component of
the defoliant. The association of 2,4-D with Agent Orange has prompted
a vast amount of study on the herbicide.

*DIOXIN* is one of the most toxic chemicals known to science.

FWIW....
I sprayed untold thousands of gallons of 2,4,5-T mixed with diesel
fuel for decades to defoliate cotton, kill Texas mesquite trees and
curently use 2.4-D to kill dandelions.

I'm 68 years old now with no ill effects from a lifetime of
applying and BREATHING my fair share of these two herbicides.
However, drinking the **** is definitely NOT recommended.
With or without DIOXIN.

2,4-D is still USA legal and killing more dandelions than people.
2,4,5-T is currently banned.


- Cropduster Barnyard BOb -

[jmk]

Barnyard BOb wrote:

> Most of the problems associated with the use of Agent Orange were
> associated with a CONTAMINANT (*dioxin*) in the 2,4,5-T component of
> the defoliant. The association of 2,4-D with Agent Orange has prompted
> a vast amount of study on the herbicide.
> FWIW....
> I sprayed untold thousands of gallons of 2,4,5-T mixed with diesel
> fuel for decades to defoliate cotton, kill Texas mesquite trees and
> curently use 2.4-D to kill dandelions.

It's hard to draw any conclusions with limited statistical data. I too
sprayed the stuff literally by the thousands of gallons (400 gallons at
the time), for years as a kid. No respirator, not even a mask. Used to
come back drenched in the stuff. [We mixed the broad leaf and narrow
leaf defoliants for fence lines and wherever the boss wanted to wipe
out plant life as we know it.]

On the other hand, I've never smoked, worked with asbestos, or had any
genetic risks for cancer in my family history. Had cancer in my 40's.
Connection? Don't know, but I strongly suspect it didn't help.

At least I still have my flight medical... but that surgery and more
than a year of chemo was *not* one of the more fun times in my life.

[Ernest Christley]

Gene Seibel wrote:
> I believe there are flyers and builders. I am a flyer. Building doesn't
> appeal to me. I see people spending years on a building project and it
> appears they have some attraction to the building process. It seems to
> be a valued part of their life like flying is a part of mine. As a
> flyer, I wouldn't have the patience to build an airplane. Is it the
> dream of actually flying the airplane or the building process that most
> homebuilders are looking for? Just curious.
> --
> Gene Seibel
> Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
> Because we fly, we envy no one.
>
>

Because I can fly to the fly-in, point to every part on the airplane and
say "I did that", I envy no one.

Building an airplane is all about pride in a task well done. Just like
climbing a mountain, painting a picture, writing a story, carving a
stone, or painting a car.

[Ebby]

For me it's the journey (build) not the destination (the flight). Sometimes
I tell people I am going to do a Howard Hughes. Fly it once and sell it.
This type of project is a great source of pride learning the techniques of
welding, fabric, paint, wood ...well you builders know what I mean.

At the rate I build I can't see an end date so I'll just fly my Challenger
180 in the meantime and dream about flying the Hatz biplane.


"Ebby"
Hatz Classic s/n37
Camden, NY


"Ernest Christley" > wrote in message
...
> Gene Seibel wrote:
>> I believe there are flyers and builders. I am a flyer. Building doesn't
>> appeal to me. I see people spending years on a building project and it
>> appears they have some attraction to the building process. It seems to
>> be a valued part of their life like flying is a part of mine. As a
>> flyer, I wouldn't have the patience to build an airplane. Is it the
>> dream of actually flying the airplane or the building process that most
>> homebuilders are looking for? Just curious.
>> --
>> Gene Seibel
>> Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
>> Because we fly, we envy no one.
>>
>>
>
> Because I can fly to the fly-in, point to every part on the airplane and
> say "I did that", I envy no one.
>
> Building an airplane is all about pride in a task well done. Just like
> climbing a mountain, painting a picture, writing a story, carving a stone,
> or painting a car.

[Roger[_4_]]

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:05:44 GMT, "Ebby" >
wrote:

For me it's both.

>For me it's the journey (build) not the destination (the flight). Sometimes
>I tell people I am going to do a Howard Hughes. Fly it once and sell it.
>This type of project is a great source of pride learning the techniques of
>welding, fabric, paint, wood ...well you builders know what I mean.

I build to save money although my project is not what any one would
call cheap or inexpensive. I build because I can not buy a
certificated plane with the same capabilities, and I build because I
like to build things and like others be able to say: I built that!

>
>At the rate I build I can't see an end date so I'll just fly my Challenger
>180 in the meantime and dream about flying the Hatz biplane.

Here my problem is when building I feel like I should be out flying to
keep proficient. When out flying I feel like I should be home
building so I can get "that thing" finished.<:-))



Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[[email protected]]

Gene, that's a fascinating question. There's no doubt that anyone
taking on a building project has some sense of what building an
airplane is like, and thinks they like building. Do we learn anything
in the building process that might be useful to others who are
contemplating starting their own project? Did it seem easy and then you
hit a wall? Was it technically easy but tedious? After it was done, did
you hate the thought of building another one? Was there a moment, as
Scott so eloquently described it, where all the hard work was worth it?

[Roger[_4_]]

On 24 Sep 2006 21:30:31 -0700, wrote:

>Gene, that's a fascinating question. There's no doubt that anyone
>taking on a building project has some sense of what building an
>airplane is like, and thinks they like building. Do we learn anything
>in the building process that might be useful to others who are
>contemplating starting their own project? Did it seem easy and then you
>hit a wall? Was it technically easy but tedious? After it was done, did
>you hate the thought of building another one? Was there a moment, as
>Scott so eloquently described it, where all the hard work was worth it?

Unlike Richard I'm building because there isn't a commercially made
aircraft that can do what the one I'm building can. OTOH I also enjoy
building and creating.

I have about 1300 hours in the project so far and every once in a
while I have one of those feelings of elation...but there are
sometimes interspersed with "am I ever going to get this part
finished" which would aptly describe doing the engine mount attach
point reinforcements. For the 6 reinforcements there are a total of 96
lay-ups.

I know when I finish installing the horizontal stab it will be one of
those moments. Doubly so as I also know that will be the point where
I'll gain enough room to put the 4-Runner inside instead of it having
to set out in the weather<:-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[SkyDaddy]

I love to fly, but being middle-aged with young kids, the only way I
can afford it is to build my own. Don't get me wrong - I'm enjoying
the building process. But my go-to-sleep last drifty thoughts are
usually of preflighting and propping rather than planing and glueing.
Then I dream of soaring on laughter-silvered wings - wings that I built
with my own two hands.

Tom Young wrote:
> "Gene Seibel" <...> wrote...
> >I believe there are flyers and builders. I am a flyer. Building doesn't
> > appeal to me. I see people spending years on a building project and it
> > appears they have some attraction to the building process. It seems to
> > be a valued part of their life like flying is a part of mine. As a
> > flyer, I wouldn't have the patience to build an airplane. Is it the
> > dream of actually flying the airplane or the building process that most
> > homebuilders are looking for? Just curious.
>
> Some writers have to write, some artists have to paint, some flyers have to
> build. That's how it is for me, anyway. I couldn't come anywhere close to
> justifying the time and expense otherwise. I'm building an RV-4, which you
> can pretty much buy already built for the money it's going to cost in the
> end. I gotta do it myself.
>
> Tom Young