How do you fund your RV Project?

[TrueAirSpeed]

I was deployed to Afghanistan in '04. All those tax free dollars went to build.

[bhassel]

Perhaps I'm a little different. I admire all the pay as you go. At one time I was in that crowd and very happy to be there. We lived in Dallas/Plano which had a really good cost of living and we made really good salaries. That was 7 years ago. We decided to move back to New Mexico. No one moves to New Mexico to further they're carrer or salaries. We moved back in part because my mother-in-law came down with Alzhemiers. My wife wanted to be with her folks and help them out while we could. That was a good thing for them and us.

On the downside for us I'm still trying to get my salary where it was 7 years ago and my wife is still a little below her 50% of her salary that she earned in Dallas. I just turned 60. Santa Fe is not a cheap place to live.

In the beginning 5k at a whack sounded easy and affordable. 6k, 7k, 8k and 9k at a whack now, not so much. I truly miss flying. My family is all back east.

Even if I were to go something like a cheap 172, I'd probably need to go through NAFCO. I still dream of an RV, who doesn't.

I say do it while you can. If you keep putting things off because life is getting in the way then life will continue to get in the way until its all over.

Go for it! You've never get any younger and your dreams never lose thier magic. I still dream. I still drive by the airport. I hope to actually get in a few hours in a 172 this year. That should feel good.

Live your dreams!

Bob

[sahrens]

Originally Posted by TrueAirSpeed

I was deployed to Afghanistan in '04. All those tax free dollars went to build.

My wife is wonderful at saving money, so three deployments later I have paid cash for everything so far. But I am getting close to needing a finishing kit, engine, prop and avionics. The wife thinks there is another way instead of deployment number four.

[sirlegin]

I saw a poor old lady fall over today on the ice!! At least I presume she was poor - she only had $4.20 in her purse.

[Nihon_Ni]

I worked part-time as a CFI for the past 7 years and saved my paychecks to jump start the project. Once we ordered the tail kit, I figured out how much more we needed to save divided by the number of months I expect the build to take, and I have that drafted from my checking account each month. I've cut back on flying and other life style while we're building to cash flow that savings. We're committed to building the plane debt free, so it may not be finished as soon as I hope, but when it is finished it will be all ours!

[panhandler1956]

I did mine the old fashioned way, I borrowed the money.
It was for the finish kit, fwd kit, engine-used, prop-used, avionics - (50k total). Like a true American, I didn't want to wait. No regrets!

[Tomcat RV4]

I agree with purchasing someones not finished project,glad to hear finish rate is higher...bought slow build -4 with runout 0-320 and been chipping away every week for last 4 years...empenage,flaps,ailerons,most fuse bulkheads done....LONG time getting undrilled wing spars and reinforcements done....had most of tools due to many years working on street and dirt track modifieds. Should have started airplane sooner
TomcatRV4 (slow build)
2012 dues paid (worth every penny and then some)

[MrMoisture]

Congratulation to all who have built & flown on tight budgets. My one observation is to absolutely minimize any debt you may be carrying. I know large debt like homes mortgages can be unavoidable but eliminating smaller revolving debt should be your first goal. It will make building & flying your own plane much easier. And ABSOLUTELY avoid usury level revolving Credit Card debt at all costs and of course stay away from any PayDay lender like it's a 900' runway with 50 knot cross winds.

[Subwaybob]

Originally Posted by sirlegin

I saw a poor old lady fall over today on the ice!! At least I presume she was poor - she only had $4.20 in her purse.

That's the best! Even from the Keller folks! (Cousin lives there. He says I'm the crazy for being in Dallas... )

[Cipher]

I'll have to add my two cents here for saving money. Last year I purchased an RV-4 and paid cash that I raised from selling mostly unwanted stuff laying around the house on Ebay - So yes - my ship was paid via paypal. I made an Ebay store - and things just started selling. My theory was that if I wanted and RV bad enough that I would have to give up some other luxury's that I already owned but really made no sense in keeping. So - with that I'm a little lighter on some old Magic Houdini posters, and old Ham Radio gear. With 200 hours on the RV in just over 14 months...I'm a happy guy!