Things non-builders have asked you about your project

[Paul Tuttle]

With my -8 now at the airport and me being there most every day, I've been fielding some questions from people who have never built an airplane.
Most people are impressed and supportive, but some of them are comical and others kind of irritating with their ignorance.

Here's some of the things I've heard over the last few weeks along with my responses.

Q-Haven't you finished that thing yet?
A-I'm not sure why it's taking me so long. How's your plane coming along?

Q-Those little dents where the rivets go, are they supposed to be there?
A- Naw, I just pounded them extra hard cause I like the look.

Q- Did you know there's a small crack in the canopy?
A- Yeah, they come like that from the factory.

Q- Aren't you afraid you might kill yourself in that.
A- What are you hoping to die from?

My favorite. Will you take for a ride in that crate when it's done?
A- Why sure, you'll be first on the list.

Has anyone else been asked some "interesting" questions about your airplane?

[gib]

My favorite has been "Is that a real airplane or a radio controlled one?" or "Are you going to fly that thing?"

[Bartman]

I live at a airport (its a mixed blessing) .....My favorite one and most of the time its from someone that has two or three planes that they took apart and could not get back together or kits they started got about ten percent done and have not touched it in years.............The come over about once a week (and there are a lot of them where I live) and say to me "Can I Make a Suggestion".....

[David Z]

Q: How long do you think it will take?
A: I'll find out when I'm done.

Q: How big is it going to be?
A: Airplane size? Enough room for an engine and two seats.

Q: What sort of engine are you going to use? Ford? Chevy?
A: An airplane engine, Lycoming.
Q: What's a "Lycoming"?

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by gib

Snip....."Are you going to fly that thing?"

A: Uhhh..yea.

And number 2 for me:
Q: How much will it cost to build?
A: Enough

[Ron B.]

I'm helping a friend finish his Zenair 701. He's finding it hard to get motivated in finishing his plane. Yesterday he stated that it was fun when he started the project. I answered it's not even my plane ( no charge for my time) and I cannot pull myself away, I enjoy working on planes. I'm hoping he's not upset with rework (I'm doing just about all of it and that's fine with me) but the plane needs to be up to standards. Not quite on topic but I thought that was a funny scenario.
One of the funniest questions I recieved was how I got my helicopter up on a corner loft in the hangar? I replied I flew it there. You must be a good pilot. There was no roam for the blades to rotate.
Ron

[mburch]

"Did it come in a kit, or did you have to build it?" :-)

mcb

[Vlad]

Coworker at psychiatric institution.

I've heard you built a plane.
Ya.
Even if you give me million dollars I would never ride in it.

[NYTOM]

Q. How are you going to get it out of the basement?
A. Oh' **** I never thought of that.

Q. Will it go 1000 miles per hour?
A. Almost.

[rockwoodrv9]

Originally Posted by NYTOM

Q. How are you going to get it out of the basement?
A. Oh' **** I never thought of that.

I get the, "How are you going to get it to the airport" question quite often. I give them the same answer!