Generally, you can buy a finished homebuilt for about the amount of
money that the builder put in it.

If you could find a Bearhawk or a V6 STOL, or one of the big Murphys
(the Moose or the Super Rebel) and you can afford it or finance it,
you'd be ahead.

If you want to build, build. If you want to fly, buy.



On 1 Sep 2003 17:32:28 -0700, (Shin Gou) wrote:

:I expect to get my PPL soon and serioulsy consider to build an
:airplane simply because it's cheaper. I naturally come here to sort
:for help from you, the veteran builders (both skills and age. I am in
:20s and I read the average age of kit plane builders is over 50--this
:scares me.) Here are my requirements for the "dream plane" at this
:stage:
:
:1. must be easy and fast to build. Builder assist program or fast
:build kit will be perfect. Prefer proven designs. Yes, I think I will
:get more fun out of flying.
:
:2. must be good IFR platform. I will install IFR panel and get my IFR
:training in the aircraft.
:
:3. engine power up to 180 hp. reason: this is the maximum power the
:engine can use auto gas (Jabiru 5100) because the places I will likely
:fly around unlikely have 100LL fuel supply.
:
:4. must have good performance at high altitude (take-off, climb). I
:will very likely from time to time fly in high altitude terrain
airports or strips often at above 12,000 feet) .
:
:5. must have off-airport t/o and landing capacity, but STOL is not a
:must because those places I will likely fly to have wide open fields
:just the surface is rough (even barely having grass.)
:
:6. must have acceptable cross country capability, i.e. cruise speed,
:range, cabin comfortability etc.
:
:7. load, load, load. I would prefer a 2+2 type aircraft, but 2-seaters
:having big load capacity are also perfect since I will probably use
:the rear cabin of the 2+2 plane for cargo load most time anyway.
:
:I know it's a long list (how long are yours, just curious?), but as
:you've probably read from the list, I have a tight budget and will
robably fly this plane for a long time before I could afford another
:kit or new certified one, so I really want to find a good balanced
:aircraft. BTW, I won't consider used certified aircrafts because I
:just can't fly them in those places. Where will I fly around? You
:guess....for sure it's not in this country.
:
:Thanks a lot in advance.
:
:Xin