aerobatic kit planes

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
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wrote in message
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What are the kit or plans built planes that people use for aerobatics?

What kind of aerobatics do you want to do? Simple loop/roll kind of
maneuvers? Harder stuff like gyroscopic maneuvers?

Do you need cross country ability (say 150 mph cruise with at least one
passenger and bags)?

There is a full spectrum of options out there. For a good compromise
aircraft that loops and rolls well and offers good cross country ability,
the RV series is hard to beat. If your need is more biased towards hard
acro, Pitts and One Designs are very capable. If you want to learn acro,
there are several good choices listed elsewhere in the thread.



Not to mention the question that I hope you have asked yourself - but many
don't.

Do you want to fly or do you want to build?

If you want to fly and save a few bucks, by a used homebuilt. If you _want_
to build, great. Forget that I said anything.
Finding a "project" can save you some time if you just want to do "some"
building. But remember - a project that is 90% complete still has about 50%
of the work left to do ;-)

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

Do you want to fly or do you want to build?

Both, actually. But I'm so new to flying I'm still figuring out what
kind of flying I'm most interested in doing.

I like to build things.

I'm intimidated by tube and fabric, which, though it is of the
earliest aircraft technology, sounds really time consuming in the
extreme. Still I can imagine that it's very rewarding.

wrote in news:45da95af-e490-4f41-aae7-
:

Do you want to fly or do you want to build?

Both, actually. But I'm so new to flying I'm still figuring out what
kind of flying I'm most interested in doing.

I like to build things.

I'm intimidated by tube and fabric, which, though it is of the
earliest aircraft technology, sounds really time consuming in the
extreme. Still I can imagine that it's very rewarding.

Well, you can find half built bipes all over the place. A quick visit to
Barnstormers or trade a plane will reveal dozens of projects for sale. Just
be sure you get a well built one.
It's not so hard. I learned to weld and it's the fastest way glue something
you ever saw! Just like buidling a stick and tissue model. Well, almost.


Bertie

wrote in message
...
Do you want to fly or do you want to build?

Both, actually. But I'm so new to flying I'm still figuring out what
kind of flying I'm most interested in doing.

I like to build things.

I'm intimidated by tube and fabric, which, though it is of the
earliest aircraft technology, sounds really time consuming in the
extreme. Still I can imagine that it's very rewarding.

Welding up the truss is the easy part. Making all the little fittings,
hinges. control parts, EVERYTHING in front of the firewall, making the
canopy parts, blah blah blah is what takes the time.

I wasn't kidding when I said that when you think you are 90% done, 50% of
the work is left to do...

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote in
news:q5WdnXvPVuhO3_XanZ2dnUVZ_veinZ2d@wideopenwest .com:

wrote in message
..
.
Do you want to fly or do you want to build?

Both, actually. But I'm so new to flying I'm still figuring out what
kind of flying I'm most interested in doing.

I like to build things.

I'm intimidated by tube and fabric, which, though it is of the
earliest aircraft technology, sounds really time consuming in the
extreme. Still I can imagine that it's very rewarding.

Welding up the truss is the easy part. Making all the little
fittings, hinges. control parts, EVERYTHING in front of the firewall,
making the canopy parts, blah blah blah is what takes the time.

Easier now with water and laser cutting. all yuo have to do is clean them
up and bend them then. But making them by hand? Yipes!

I wasn't kidding when I said that when you think you are 90% done, 50%
of the work is left to do...


If anything, you were being conservative!


Bertie

On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:59:49 -0500, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea
Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote:

wrote in message
...
Do you want to fly or do you want to build?

Both, actually. But I'm so new to flying I'm still figuring out what
kind of flying I'm most interested in doing.

I like to build things.

I'm intimidated by tube and fabric, which, though it is of the
earliest aircraft technology, sounds really time consuming in the
extreme. Still I can imagine that it's very rewarding.

Welding up the truss is the easy part. Making all the little fittings,
hinges. control parts, EVERYTHING in front of the firewall, making the
canopy parts, blah blah blah is what takes the time.

I wasn't kidding when I said that when you think you are 90% done, 50% of
the work is left to do...

That's what I like ... an optimist. I always heard it was 90% done
and 90% to go and I'm still in the first 90% with only 1300 hours
invested in a 4000 hour project (If I'm lucky) and I'm working on a
kit. :-)) Albeit a Glasair III. After 1300 hours it's almost
beginning to look like it's going to be an airplane.

And it doesn't matter be it rag and tube, wood, or a fiberglass kit,
the little stuff is what takes the time in all of them.

BTW the G-III is a nice aerobatic airplane if you have lots of room in
which to maneuver, but it's definitely not a "starter". It's difficult
to keep under the speed limit at less than 10,000 feet for many
maneuvers. Chip Beck used to do a double loop (one on top of the
other) with an entry speed of 350 MPH.
I used 300 to 325 and 4.5Gs for a single loop, but I don't have much
time in one. Kinda like flying a war bird without the mass or expense
and it's still a great cross country plane. OTOH the wing loading is
only a few points below 30# per sq ft. Glide with power off gives a
rate of descent that is breath taking. :-)) Definitely not for flying
out of the pasture.

OTOH if you purchase a nice one you could probably get at least 2 to 3
Super Decathlons for the same price and it'll cost about 3 to 4 times
as much to operate.


Roger (K8RI)