Discussing RV Safety

[Mel]

One of my favorite responses to these people is, "The Titanic was built by professionals. The Arc was a home-built!"

[rightrudder]

I'd always tell people, "I built it as if my life depended on it."

It did (and does)!

[rmartingt]

My dad's project was the talk of the street and all the kids dropped in to see our progress. They all thought it was the coolest thing; I never heard what the adults thought.

I told my wife on our first date about that airplane (it hadn't flown yet) and said one day, I was going to build one myself. She was warned

In college, I was at work one day (at my co-op job) and a couple of ladies were discussing an accident that claimed one of our senior engineers. One of them made the comment "what kind of person flies an airplane they built in their garage, anyway?". Being in earshot, I immediately snapped out "well, I do". The "brook trout" look on their faces was priceless.



By contrast, I think my project was a major factor in getting hired for my current job, especially when I mentioned my wife helps with the riveting. A couple of the other guys have homebuilt experience too. Though, one guy who used to be a mechanic gives me **** about engineers having tools

I've had a few of them over to see the project, and it's interesting seeing the looks on their faces. Most of them have only worked large aircraft, so when they see most of the structure being .025 and .032 and held together with -3 and -4 rivets they get a little freaked out.

[tjo]

Basically, it is a great opportunity for educating someone. I always tell them it is an all metal, riveted structure the same as a Cessna, or for that matter, a Boeing. Uses basically the same engine as a Cessna 172, and better instruments than both of them. Then answer questions as they come. Most get interested and some education. Some say they would never go up in any small plane. To each their own.

Tim

[Capt]

If anyone I wish to take flying in my RV shows signs of not trusting me or the machine I eliminate the issue, they simply don't fly!

[RV10Man]

My dad was a PPL and in the "fly a homebuilt----you die" camp.
One day at OSH, after he found out my brother was building an RV9A, he wondered over to the sea of RVs. He studied a BUNCH of them, and asked a few builders some (lots) questions. He came away with a completely different attitude.

He then enjoyed helping my other brother work on his Zenith CH640, during construction. He even rode several times in the RV.


Oh BTW. I'm going to steal Mel's response.

[Eddie P]

Originally Posted by Mel

One of my favorite responses to these people is, "The Titanic was built by professionals. The Arc was a home-built!"

OK, that's just funny right there, and it really doesn't matter what anyone's belief system is, it's still funny and a great ice breaker anyway

[Scott Hersha]

((Oh BTW. I'm going to steal Mel's response.))

Me too!!! That?s the best response I?ve ever heard.

[Robert Sailor]

Originally Posted by Scott Hersha

((Oh BTW. I'm going to steal Mel's response.))

Me too!!! That?s the best response I?ve ever heard.

The Titanic was real, the Arc is a story but it?s still a clever response.

[plehrke]

Originally Posted by Robert Sailor

The Titanic was real, the Arc is a story but it?s still a clever response.

Huh, I thought the Arc was real.


Better one is that Langley was a professional but the Wright brothers were amateurs. Of coarse you need to know who Langley was.