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  #1  
Old 08-24-2014, 08:51 AM
speyers's Avatar
speyers speyers is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 121
Smile Ultimate homebuilt project.

After last year's Oshkosh, my wife and I decided it was time to start working on a homebuilt. We had seen lots of different models and options and decided we would shoot for a single place but if things got away from us a two place would work out just fine as well. My wife comes from a homebuilding family where her brother has already completed 3 projects so she had a good idea what we were getting into.

It did not take long to get started and by Christmas we had already done some preliminary testing and laid out two parallel lines on a test strip which assured us we were positively on our way. Bit by bit we were able to see the project grow during the following months, slow and steady wins the race.

My March it was evident to the rest of the neighborhood what we were up to. You can only keep a homebuilt a secret for so long before people start asking all the normal questions. "When will you get done?" Thursday. "How fast will it go?" Very fast, it has 4 valves per cylinder.

Thanks to some 3 and 4D computer imaging, we were able to nail down the design. A single place, dainty nose dragger was what we settled on. I got to work painting the bits and pieces the right color in the shop, and my wife also pitched in with odds and ends, she called it "nesting". Women are so wierd.

After more visits with our tech counselor we knew we were getting close to the 90% done, 90% to go part. As our homebuilt got bigger and bigger, it became a little more difficult to find any free space for it. They say these things become all consuming, and they are not kidding!

After more than 6700 hours of built time (equivalent to 40 weeks nonstop) finally, the big day arrived. In the end, the final push only lasted 15 minutes. With the help of the local DAR (Delivery and Recovery) we held the fruit of our labor in our hands. As many of you know, words can not express the joy, excitement, and satisfaction of seeing that completed project for the first time.

Pertinent stats are as follows:
Weight: 7 lbs 9 oz.
Length: 20 inches
Date of completion: August 21st
Type: Experimental Aircraft Speyers (or Emily Anne Speyers)

I have assumed the role of doing all the preventive maintenance, oil and filer changes, while my wife is keeping her all topped off with fluids. For those who are still on the fence about homebuilding, I can't recommend it enough, it is exhausting at times, you lay awake in the middle of the night thinking about it, but in the end, it is worth it!





As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
-Ecclesiastes 11:5
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David Speyers
CFII, A&P IA
Denton, TX
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  #2  
Old 08-24-2014, 09:20 AM
Christopher Murphy Christopher Murphy is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: colorado
Posts: 873
Default sweet!

Congrats!

You are about to learn the meaning of life!

cm
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RV-4 "Mr. Twister"
Pitts S1S "Mexican Red" sold and missed
Mr. Twister Airshows
Rocky Mountain Renegades
the mission... have fun.
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  #3  
Old 08-24-2014, 09:23 AM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
Default

Well, congratulations! Welcome to the club.
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Dale

Omaha, NE
RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
Fisher Celebrity (under construction)
Previous RV-7 project (sold)
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  #4  
Old 08-24-2014, 09:24 AM
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ColoRv ColoRv is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tampa (BKV)
Posts: 926
Default

Congrats! We are 11 months ahead of you. A lot of very cool firsts in your immediate future. Take a lot of pictures!
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RV-8 Flying
1,235th flying RV8
SARL Race#95
SnF Homebuilt Judge

2015 Sun n Fun Kit Built Reserve Grand Champion
2015 Oshkosh Kit Built Champion
2015 Jeffco Kit Built Grand Champion
2014 Oshkosh Outstanding Workmanship Award

Broken Warrior of the Jarhead Clan
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  #5  
Old 08-24-2014, 09:51 AM
Guy Prevost's Avatar
Guy Prevost Guy Prevost is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: albuquerque, nm
Posts: 1,167
Thumbs up

Congratulations!

We had our first about 14 months ago. It's the best project ever. Completely eclipses the RV home built.

Guy
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Guy Prevost
Albuquerque, NM
RV-8a Built, Enjoyed, Sold
Two Kids: Built, Enjoying
RV-10, Bought, Rebuilt, Enjoying
Build / First Flight Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9HXzZT1dE
Build Log: http://websites.expercraft.com/geprevo/

Arguing on the internet is like having a competition to see who can hit a brick wall the hardest. You may win, but you're still an idiot.
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  #6  
Old 08-24-2014, 11:08 AM
N941WR's Avatar
N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
Default

Great news and congrats to all three of you!

My latest project arrived almost six years ago and now he is begging me to build him a Pitts. Not a peddle Pitts but a real Pitts S1. What a boy!

Of course, if I do that, I'll have to build two, one for each of us.
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Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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  #7  
Old 08-24-2014, 05:54 PM
Texas Flyer Texas Flyer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 73
Default Beautiful Story

Beautiful story!
Congratulations and many years of health and happiness.
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  #8  
Old 08-24-2014, 07:07 PM
crabandy crabandy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Ottawa, Ks
Posts: 2,188
Default

Congrats!!
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RV 7 400 hours and counting
19 donation done
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  #9  
Old 08-24-2014, 07:24 PM
RV3bpilot's Avatar
RV3bpilot RV3bpilot is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Ulm, Minnesota
Posts: 283
Default Beautiful Project

Thank you for sharing God's handy work, "Beautiful Child"
You make feel old as I have a grand daughter about 2 years old now.
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Robin Mckee
New Ulm, MN 56073
RV3b N219BB
420 hours and counting
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  #10  
Old 08-25-2014, 06:06 AM
pierre smith's Avatar
pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default

A wonderful early Monday read...and thanks for the scripture.

Best,
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Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132


Dues gladly paid!
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