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  #1  
Old 09-03-2012, 12:05 PM
danboy danboy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Wausau, WI
Posts: 41
Default Time to build?

I'm wondering how long it's taken some of you to build your 9 ? More specifically, slow build with full IFR panel.
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Last edited by danboy : 09-03-2012 at 12:32 PM.
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  #2  
Old 09-03-2012, 12:48 PM
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Vlad Vlad is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danboy View Post
I'm wondering how long it's taken some of you to build your 9 ? More specifically, slow build with full IFR panel.
5 years Day VFR. For full IFR panel add 2 more years I guess.
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  #3  
Old 09-03-2012, 01:45 PM
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bruceh bruceh is offline
 
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Location: Ramona, CA
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I built the tail in 2 months. About 6 months for the wings. Over a year for the fuselage. Now working on the finish kit for the last year. I've been at it for exactly 3 years, putting in steady build time, but less recently due to travel, family stuff, etc. I probably have a year or more to go. I gave myself a 5 year plan, so I'm probably just a bit ahead of schedule. Slow build, VFR, fixed pitch. The slow parts of the build are when you have to make decisions like panel, electrical, engine, prop, and the instructions tend to get quite terse after the tail and wing kits.
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  #4  
Old 09-03-2012, 04:55 PM
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rzbill rzbill is offline
 
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Hmmm. 7 years.
First year finished tail and got the wings and fuselage up to equivalent of quickbuild purchase. Thought I was on a 3 year track.

THEN LIFE GOT IN THE WAY.

Restarted 2 years later and worked inbetween significant business travel. 4 years on finishing fuselage, scratchbuilding panel, wiring, canopy, engine and Fw fwd, cowl (ugh), and all the rest of the fiberglass (double ugh)

And yes I know I did a 7 not a 9, but they are close enough for this.
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Last edited by rzbill : 09-03-2012 at 06:55 PM.
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  #5  
Old 09-03-2012, 05:42 PM
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Jeff R Jeff R is offline
 
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Location: Merritt Island, FL
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5 years to the month for me. The tail kit, wings and fuse went by pretty quickly. The canopy took forever, but I didn't start that until I moved the plane to the airport. Then the wiring, fiberglass work, etc. Those things took a good 3 years. (If you have someone around who knows what to do and can help, the learning curve will be much less steep.)

Not sure what you mean by "full" IFR panel. I have dual Dynon 10" Skyviews and a Gamin SL30, which will do IFR. Adding a certified GPS setup shouldn't impact the build time too much.

I was able to work fairly consistently, but once you move the project to the airport, your ability to work on it drops down drastically. You just can't step out to the workshop to work for an hour or two each evening.
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  #6  
Old 09-03-2012, 09:23 PM
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rv9av8tr rv9av8tr is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Portland, OR
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Default Time to build..

Everyone has answered in calendar time rather then build time. Depending on how much a person works on the project will have direct bearing on how LONG it will take. I've seen 1 yr to 12 yrs... so that really isn't helpful in answering the real question.

I did QB Fuse and wings.... hands on build time to first flight was 1660 hrs.
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  #7  
Old 09-03-2012, 11:29 PM
Captain Avgas Captain Avgas is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rv9av8tr View Post
Everyone has answered in calendar time rather then build time.
It's irrelevant either way unless you can view the final product. The number of years in building can vary enormously. The number of hours in building can vary enormously. But more to the point is the fact that the quality of construction can also vary enormously.

An RV built in 1500 hours that is a dog only tells you that 1500 hours by that builder was not enough.
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  #8  
Old 09-04-2012, 07:11 AM
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rv9av8tr rv9av8tr is offline
 
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Agreed, but for the most part that would be at the extremes of scary or OSH winner. The vast majority aren't at the extremes. It takes X hours to complete Y tasks, plus or minus a few variables. I'd bet build time will look a lot like a bell curve. Telling someone how long it takes in calendar years is completely useless.
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Last edited by rv9av8tr : 09-04-2012 at 07:21 AM.
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  #9  
Old 09-04-2012, 09:55 AM
Rupester Rupester is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mahomet, Illinois
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Default I'm admittedly s-l-o-w ...

My not-so-Quickbuild took 6.5 years and 2700hrs. Two significant factors above others: a) I HATE do-overs with a passion ... I' d rather take twice the time and do it right the first time than scrap the first one and reorder parts from Vans, b) cash flow ... My build coincided with my daughter attending a private college on the west coast. There were times I was simply held up by my bank account. The good news? I am totally pleased with the product ... Passed my DAR inspection with no squawks.
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  #10  
Old 09-04-2012, 10:55 AM
JSOliveira JSOliveira is offline
 
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Location: Port Townsend, Washington
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2040 Hours. Spread over 12 years. 1500 hours were in the last two years after retirement. Before that job, and a cross country move interfered greatly. It is a VFR panel with Dynon 180, slider. Time includes polish and paint prep for fiberglass parts.

Flying now for 53 hours.

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