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View Poll Results: How old were you when you started building your RV?
19 or Younger 6 1.49%
20 - 24 13 3.23%
25 - 29 41 10.17%
30 - 34 49 12.16%
35 - 39 62 15.38%
40 - 44 39 9.68%
45 - 49 52 12.90%
50 - 54 59 14.64%
55 - 59 41 10.17%
Greater than 60 41 10.17%
Voters: 403. You may not vote on this poll

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  #31  
Old 09-17-2008, 03:14 PM
Lionclaw's Avatar
Lionclaw Lionclaw is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 659
Default

24, 25 now. Wings almost finished, fuse parts scattered throughout the house!

Huzzah for us younger builders! Gotta keep the older folks on their toes.

Oh! And my wife is the best co-builder a person could ask for! She was also 24, 25 now, and we're having a blast
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Andy Compton, PhD EE
RV-10 - #41414 (building)
RV-9A - N643AC (built,flying,sold,missed)
My blood and sweat, the Wifey's tears

Last edited by Lionclaw : 09-17-2008 at 03:19 PM.
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  #32  
Old 09-17-2008, 03:42 PM
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Low Pass Low Pass is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,012
Default

Interesting question. Probably 8 or 10 if you count the "prototype" models built as a kid. Then some scratch-built RC models starting at 15 or 16. Designing my own homebuilt at 20-22. Then got smart and found the RV series, driving first rivets driven at 31 or so.
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Houston
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  #33  
Old 01-29-2010, 04:46 PM
Ken9 Ken9 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Milwaukee Wi. area
Posts: 50
Default ken9

I was 60 in 2005 when I started #91201 RV-9. I retired a couple of years ago so am now a full time builder.

It will be in the air this spring with a little luck and some warm weather up here in the north woods. About 90% done so the last 90% should go faster.
It is a quick build...well...not real quick....not as far as i'm concerned.

I built a Kitfox in the early 90's and after putting about 800 hours on it was going to replace the Rotax 582 with a 912 when I realized I could build an RV for just a little more money.....right......about $60K more and still counting!

Can't wait to get it flying and with any luck, before i'm social security elligible.

Our EAA chapter has 6 other guys with RV's at about the same stage so we should have a squadron flying soon.
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  #34  
Old 01-29-2010, 05:25 PM
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DakotaHawk DakotaHawk is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 799
Default Started at 43!

Took 3 years and 10 months to build kit #72608, including rebuilding my IO-360, doing all of the wiring and painting.

An interesting "data point" is to look at your builder number (first digit is type, last four numbers are sequential number of empennage kits sold). Compare that kit number to your wing number to see how many empennages are out there that haven't moved on to the wing yet.

I don't have my wing number in front of me, but I think there is about 500empennages that have not ordered the wing kit.

Kit # 7...2608
Wing# 7...2115 (approx)
==========
493
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Scott "Grumpy" Stewart
RV-7 N957RV (First Flight on Dec 18, 2009)
RV-14 N144P (Empennage complete, wings almost complete, fuselage almost complete)
#866 on the Van's RV-7 hobbs
#6563 on Van's generic hobbs
Arlington, WA
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  #35  
Old 01-29-2010, 05:55 PM
dadroot dadroot is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksboro, TN (JAU)
Posts: 56
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Recieved my QB9A in May 2005, 53 years old. In Aug. 2005 I had an accident and spent the next 16 months in/out of the hospital. I am at about the 80% point with panel, canopy done and engine mounted. $60K invested and paid for. Hope to finish within the next 12-18 months. Accident has slowed me down, but also made me realize we do not live forever. So, enjoy your family, friends and "flying".
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Tommy Rutherford
Grumman AA5 N7351L
RV9A N924TR(reserved)
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  #36  
Old 01-29-2010, 05:59 PM
PropMan PropMan is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Donie,Texas
Posts: 199
Default 31 in 1995

Built my -6 starting in 1995. It took 12 years and 2 months. Been having fun since 1995 and a blast since 2007. I couldnt ever afford it and still cant but some how do. Now the passion has become my living. It cant get much better.
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Frank
RV6-N164FJ sold sadly
Legal Eagle w/Verner 3VW
Rans S7s
RV4- in progress
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  #37  
Old 01-29-2010, 06:39 PM
herricane herricane is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Gold Hill NC
Posts: 28
Default

I started this summer at the age of 39. Afford it you ask. Absolutely not I am unemployed and was when I started. If you started the dumbest builder contest I could enter it. The good thing is that I have had time to work on it. Emp is done and this weekend the wings will be also.

I just need to get a job so I can get my fuse kit ordered.
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  #38  
Old 01-30-2010, 01:49 AM
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hawkeyestof hawkeyestof is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Georgetown, TX
Posts: 91
Default I am defined by the challenges I accept.

Started just after my 71st birthday. Work slowly some days - don't work others!! Love it - tail feathers should be done in February and expect 8A QB wings and fuse soon.
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  #39  
Old 01-30-2010, 04:37 AM
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Flyguytki Flyguytki is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Fairbanks AK
Posts: 758
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Started this year when I am 22, plan on doing 4 years as an officer in the army so hopefully It will be flying before I turn 30. As long as you can afford it (well Sortof) I think this is the best time to start. I usally do most of my work past 10:00 each night. Really the only time available but its the perfect time to build.
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RV-7 N87DX Built, Flown, and Sold!
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  #40  
Old 01-30-2010, 09:36 AM
trib trib is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 474
Exclamation 24808

Started my 6A, #24808 when I was 37 in 1996. First flight was Dec 12 (last month). Raised 2 daughters and made family my priority, but the "project" was my haven when I had a couple of hours. Did everything myself, airframe, panel, ECi kit engine and paint. Only outsourced job was my mother-in-law covered the seat cushions.

16 hrs into phase I testing. Occasionally get withdrawels when I see my wife's van parked in the garage (after 18 years, since I had started a Dragonfly first) Of course this is only on the cold/windy/snowy days as otherwise I'd be out flying!

Can't believe how fortunate I am to have been able to do this!

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Tim Ribble
Virginia Beach
RV-6A (only took 13 years to build )
N621TR In unrestricted operation
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