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-   -   Thinking about starting an rv10 build (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=165405)

Piper2 10-25-2018 06:51 PM

Thinking about starting an rv10 build
 
Hi all, I?m here because Ive been thinking about starting a 10 build within the next 6 months. The reason I?m on here talking about it though is maybe I should just be happy with what I have and keep flying and have fun. Right now I have a piper arrow ll. It has awesome paint, good low time engine and prop, all the low presti speed mods and so everyone says it?s an awesome arrow and best of all she?s paid for! What really grinds my gears though is I HATE having a shop tearing my bird apart and telling me how great my plane is but...oh ya it?s going to need the notorious wing walk repaired ($5000), nose strut needs work but cant make a simple repair you got to spend another $1200 there for one from a salvage yard and it just goes on every year. I?m sick of keeping mechanics and aviall in jobs. I think it makes more sense if I would like to upgrade to go to a used sr22 but I think my whole problem will still exist with any certified plane.

I?m a pretty good fabricator welding steel and such but have never done anything with aluminum. Am I wanting to build for the wrong reasons?

RV10Pilot 10-25-2018 07:04 PM

You have the right reason for owning an experimental. It may not be the right reason for building one. If you want to fly one of the best 4 seat single engine airplanes, buy a RV-10. If you want to spend the next few years building one of the best 4 seat single engine airplanes and then fly it, by all means build a 10.

David Paule 10-25-2018 07:08 PM

I think you're wanting to build for the right reason, maybe the best reason. But have you considered buying one instead of building it?

Building an airplane is, at least in my opinion, a fun but challenging activity. The RV-10 kit is a very high quality kit, but there are still many things to build. It's a large airplane for a homebuilt, and a very capable one. Depending on your approach, it can take considerable time to build and needs some space, too.

I'm sure other people will offer their thoughts. Mine are simply that it's a darn good idea provided you don't expect an instant airplane.

Dave
RV-3B still building
Cessna 180 flying

rocketman1988 10-25-2018 07:17 PM

data point
 
I have 2000 hours invested and am still not flying...soon, I hope!

amerkarim 10-26-2018 12:00 AM

Just my 2 cents..

If you can afford to buy it built, then just buy it and fly it. For the money, the RV10 is the best plane in its class in the world in my opinion, even prebuilt.

If you can't and are prepared to wait a while to fly it, don't like weekends or days off, and want a swear box full to the brim with quarters in your garage, then build it. I think I have about 20K in quarters in mine already :D

If you decide to build it, the final quality and finish of your build will be determined by how much time you put into it. Do you want a safe flying plane or a Grand Champion contender, its all up to you. People have spent years and 1000's of hours building an RV10.

I just wanted a safe flying airplane and I wanted to build it for my own knowledge, experience and satisfaction. I am 4 months down the line now in my RV10 SB, but I hope to test fly in early Dec, so you can also do it in 6 months if you are determined. The kit is excellent and the instructions are easy to follow.

Build or buy, there is no right answer.

Best wishes and good luck in whatever you decide

Amer

Piper J3 10-26-2018 02:34 AM

Not quit the same airplane but still a good story?

I owned a J3-Cub for 23 years and hated having someone else turn wrenches on my airplane that whole time. Airplanes are sacred? Call me paranoid, but I don?t trust other people working on my airplane.

Three years ago I traded my Cub for a flying RV-12 from the original builder. It is registered E-LSA which makes it sort of unique in that I was able to take a 16 hour LSA Repairman Inspection Aircraft Course and now I can sign for my own annual condition inspections. I totally enjoy the freedom to work on my plane and authority to inspect and sign for the annual condition inspection.

The only folks I?m beholding to now are transponder certification and bi-annual flight review...

pierre smith 10-26-2018 08:00 AM

Yep
 
We've had our -10 for 8 years and the love affair keeps getting better....the absolute best plane for the bucks!...plus we do all our maintenance and we're allowed such niceties as electronic (Lightspeed) ignition.

Best,

Piper2 10-27-2018 08:06 AM

Thanks for all the great replies. Technically no I can?t pay cash for one already built but building in phases shouldn?t be a problem. Also the biggest reason I?m little scared to buy is someone else?s build quality, and building would be the way I am capable to be able to know the systems enough to be comfortable to work on them. My thinking would be to keep my arrow until I?d be ready for the power plant and prop and that would easily pay for that as well.
I farm and own an excavating business which is good and bad. I have the shop, room and my time Is sporadic. Somedays I can work on it all day such as when it?s raining or snowing or middle of summer when crops are all in the field. Sometimes you just need a break with work and say heck with things so I could go and hide building I?m thinking. :)

N941WR 10-27-2018 08:34 AM

You will find the time, if you keep your eyes on the prize.

I was traveling full time during my build and still managed to finish it in just over four years.

There is nothing difficult in building an RV, jeast a LOT of nothing difficult.

Good luck with making up your mind!

One other thing, all those tools you already own won't help you much. Be prepared to buy some really cool new ones. For example, I have two inch-pound torque wrenches, one very small one and one medium sized one.

jcarne 10-27-2018 08:38 AM

As long as you think you can find the time for it it sounds like your heart is in the right place. My moto is to try and do something on it EVERY day. Building is pretty enjoyable (some tasks more than others) and very rewarding when you finish a large section. Good luck in finalizing your decision.


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