What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Things non-builders have asked you about your project

Paul Tuttle

Paul Tuttle

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

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".....
 
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"?
 
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
 
Coworker at psychiatric institution.:D

I've heard you built a plane.
Ya.
Even if you give me million dollars I would never ride in it.
 
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.
 
Q: How are you going to get it to the airport? Fly it down the street?
A: Yep, I was meaning to talk to you about cutting down some of your trees so I won?t hit your house.
 
My favorite was when my Cozy was near completion in the garage, no wings of course, a sweet little 7 year old girl came up to the door;

Her:"Did you build that"
Me: "yes I did!"
Her: "it sure is nice!"
Me: "why thank-you!"
Her: "what is it?"

You had to hear how she said it but I still smile remembering her.
Tim
 
Vlad said:
Coworker at psychiatric institution.:D

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

I've got a long list of people wanting a ride, and I only have a tail and one wing skeleton.
 
A neighbor kid about 10 years old used to come by when I was building in my garage. I had the panel in and he pointed to a switch labeled "Lightspeed".

Him: Really?
Me: Yup
Him: Whoa!

He ran and got one of his buds and they took turns sitting in the front seat quoting lines from Star Wars.

I still think of that sometimes when I flip that switch.
 
I built my plane in a pretty densely packed housing development in the hills. Two funny comments from folks walking dogs when they saw me working on the plane in the garage:

Q: Is that an airplane you are building?
A: Yep
Q: When it comes time to fly it out, are you going to have to get a special clearance?

---
Different day/person - picture the front of an RV7 with an uncowled engine/prop
Q: Wow - are you building a boat?
 
Vlad said:
Coworker at psychiatric institution.:D

Even if you give me million dollars I would never ride in it.
Click to expand...

I usually tell them that they first need an invitation!

Tom, they always ask me the same thing too. How are you going to get it to the airport? My reply is the same as yours, "oh $hit"! Then i stare at them with a blank look and tell them that I wished they came by sooner!

Hahaha

;). CJ
 
Most irritating repeated comment during the build, from someone who built a Glasair and is only familiar with RV 6 spars:

"That spar doesn't look strong enough".

"If you think that, just based on looking at it, then you should scrap your Glasair and only fly something with king posts and flying wires or struts, because a cantilever wing doesn't look strong enough!"

Most common question, next to "how long did it take":

"How much does it cost to build one?"
"The price varies A LOT depending on how you equip it yet strangely, they all cost the same...just a bit more than you've got.:D
 
The most frequent surprise question from first time viewers is: "Is that a radio controlled model or can people actually ride in it?"
After all, there are two full sized seats installed in there!
 
The question i hate the most is "How much did it cost?"

There are so many other cool questions one could ask, and all you can wonder is how much it cost?

Even if i give a number like $X, all a non-builder can do is compare it to the cost of a car let's say. However, how does one cost 6 years of blood sweat and tears and the risk of life and limb in that first flight? What a stupid question!
 
Last edited:
I am enjoying reading all of these questions and answers.

That said, when I get these questions I guess I don't see them as quite so strange. Most people out there have never considered building anything for themselves, sadly. They would have a hard time imagining building their own piece of furniture, much less house, car, or plane. Heck, some people these days can't even make their own dinner. Many that can think the origination point was the grocery store. I just anwer their questions, watch the bewildered, confused, concerned, sometimes excited looks, and move on appropriately.

For those that say they would never ride in it, I just explain that it will have a big placard on it that says "Experimental" and anyone who is nervous about that won't be allowed in it.

Tim
 
Them: "oh, it's one of those kits that you put together."
Me: "yep, just like Home Depot is a house kit. You just have to put it together."
 
From one neighbour. "You're building an airplane? Don't think I'll fly in it!"

The opposite neighbours kid "You're building an airplane? That's really coooooooool!"

My dad "If it costs that must you had better make sure it flies" My dad and I have a very dry sense of humour.

Dad again "It really flies that high and fast?" He was surprised how good these RV's are.

Dad "How long will it take to build?"

A colleague at work " You're building a plane? Wow!"
 
My neighbor came over and thought I was building a canoe. He was wondering how I am going to seal the area where the paddle sticks out (wing attachment points) I honestly didn?t know how to tell them as not to embarrass him.
 
I had a lot of fun when I pulled the RV-6A out to fit the wings in my driveway. It was still upside-down in the cradle and I was jigging the gear legs as I was fitting the wings. Many neighbors from all over the subdivision stopped to ask questions. My favorite: 'Where are you going to sit?' Well, it WAS upside down but still, the gear legs should have been a clue.:rolleyes:
 
Our women friends always wanted to know what we named the plane. I have never felt the need to name planes, cars, etc. so I always drew a blank. One day my wife and I were watching dog agility on TV and there was a guy working with his dog, Loretta. We thought that was a pretty funny name for a dog, so the plane became Loretta.

When I was at the building-in-the-garage phase all the school kids would look as they walked by. The boys were too cool to come in, but the little girls would walk right in and start asking questions. The reverse of what I expected.

Jim Berry
RV-10
 
my favorite question

One of the physicians I work with, an infectious disease specialist, knew that a few years ago I got bored and started making ukuleles. He was impressed. Then I did a few guitars, and ultimately made a left handed Lloyd Loar inspired F style mandolin for a neurologist friend. ID guy now very impressed. When I recently showed him some photos of the AIRPLANE I was building, there were a few moments of silence. He looked me directly in the eyes, and with utter seriousness asked, "Can you build me a submarine?"
 
stevemcgirr said:
One of the physicians I work with, an infectious disease specialist, knew that a few years ago I got bored and started making ukuleles. He was impressed. Then I did a few guitars, and ultimately made a left handed Lloyd Loar inspired F style mandolin for a neurologist friend. ID guy now very impressed. When I recently showed him some photos of the AIRPLANE I was building, there were a few moments of silence. He looked me directly in the eyes, and with utter seriousness asked, "Can you build me a submarine?"
Click to expand...

This one is very good Steve!

-When is it going to fly?
-Wednesday
I never told them which one..Finally I first flew a monday. :D

-How long will it take to build you plane?
-Maybe 2 or 3 years
-What?? You just have to put the parts together... why it will take you so long?
-:mad:

Mum, Who's the man working on the garage? It's your dad.... (I never heard this one but it make me laugh when I saw it in an other thread)


Good thread, can't wait to see the following questions
 
Before the kit boxes arrived, I mentioned to a few friends what I was about to be starting. The common question, without even seeing a picture, was "What color are you going to paint it?"

As gently as possible, I explained that it would be a few years before I got that far.

Once I started, nobody asked that question. But I've had to set up practice pieces and let people try riveting.

Dave
RV-3B, now on the rudder
 
Last edited:
Questions

I had my RV8 fuselage completely clecoed together , upstairs in my home theater room, the house was for sale and between the realtors and potential customers there were a lot of questions . One realtor told me she could never sell a home with an airplane in it . House was sold in June , fuselage is complete , working on wings .
 
When the fuselage was still in the canoe phase, my niece was stumped trying to figure out where we would sit. She thought the pointy (tail) end was the front!
 
Perspective

upperdeck said:
"Who the heck builds an airplane for f**ks sake?"

"Me?"
Click to expand...

...and the Wright Brothers. I get a kick out of that one, and I get it all the time. Few people realize that the first aircraft (and many more after that) was a home-built. :cool:
 
I finally made a sign and hung it on the hangar wall

Answers = free
Correct Answers = $5
Answers Requiring Thought = $10
 
Tuesday is correct

Now let's get this straight, the official finish day for all RV's is TUESDAY. If you use Wednesday or Thursday you are allowing too much fudge time. Friday and Saturday are when you are making the big finish push but you will still have a few more things to do at the end of the day. Sunday, is the day of rest when you sit with a beer and stair at your creation, dreaming of the day you will be in the air and making the final check list of things to do. Monday, well Monday just is not a project finishing day, it is a project starting day. So we are back to Tuesday, when all RV's are completed.
 
Boys and Girls

Hey

Yes why is it girls will come straight in and ask questions, but the blonde girls always ask the same question "Is it a real aeroplane?"
 
I always like the inevitable series of revelations when someone hears about the project.

"I heard you're building an airplane. That's so cool, I love model aircraft!"
"Well, so do I, but this one is going to be a flying airplane."
"REALLY?!?! R/C planes are even cooler!"
"No, it's a full-size airplane that I will fly in."
"Wha?"

And of course, the usual suspects, as mentioned a lot in here:
"So when will it be done?"
"Good question!"

"How much does it cost?"
"It depends." (this one is best delivered totally deadpan)

"No way I'd ever fly in an airplane I built!"
"Well, if you think about it, I have a pretty hefty interest in making sure it's built correctly."

The worst, however, came from a former coworker, who was notoriously annoying. I generally avoided conversation with him if at all possible, but one day he came in my cube and was asking questions about the plane. He got really excited when he found out it was a tandem.

"Oh man, when you get it done, you've got to take me up, and I'll sit in the back and run lines from Top Gun. 'TOO CLOSE FOR MISSILES, SWITCHIN TO GUNS'"

I actually felt slightly physically ill at the prospect of being trapped in a tiny cockpit with this guy spewing bad movie lines in my ear.
 
Like a lot of you, I get asked when it will be done (Tuesday has always been my answer - delivered deadpan). And of course, how will I get it out of the basement? I have a friend (Steve) who comes to town to help me occasionally and he has a brother who lives an hour away. Well, his brother wanted to see the project; apparently no one in Williamsburg, VA that he knows is building a plane in their basement. So, I asked Steve, "How long do you think it will take your brother to ask how I am going to get it out of the basement?" Steve assured me his brother was too smart to ask that question. Well, his brother comes over, gets one foot in the rec room and the other foot is still in the hall and he asks the proverbial question. I howled, Steve scowled, and his brother looked silly.

The best question I've been asked so far though was from the wife of an A&P IA that did the annuals on my Cherokee. She wanted to know if it was going to be a boy or a girl. With a pink cowl I assured her it was going to be a girl. Most questions do affect me much, but after she asked, I've never looked at the air inlet for the snorkel quite the same again.
 
And from the "You're Missing the Point" files:

My dentist buddy is visiting the man cave, home of a tail and half a wing at the time. I give him the cook's tour and the he looks up and asks the only question he asks: "who did your deer mount?" (There was a deer head hanging on the wall). Swing and a miss.
 
Work and Airport Questions

Question at work:

Him: "I heard you're building an airplane."
me: "Yup"
Him: "I''d NEVER fly in an airplane I built"
me: "I'd never fly in an airplane you built either."

At the airport:

A young lady from the next door hanger (They have a Piper Malibu!) walked over and asked: "Why are you building a canoe at the airport?"
I said: "It's an airplane. A two seater."
She said: "Oh. Can it fly?"

Dkb
 
Bastien said:
-When is it going to fly?
-Wednesday
I never told them which one..Finally I first flew a monday. :D
...
Click to expand...

So, Bastien, were you two days early or five days late?:D

My manager, asks "What engine are you going to put in it?"
I answer, "I'm planning on a new Lycoming; that's an engine designed for airplanes."
After a bit of a blank look he asks, "How many RPMs will it turn?"
I answer, "It redlines about 2700."
After a long pause and a very concerned (confused?) look, he says "Is that all? I figured you'd get something that turns at least 10 grand..."

I guess that's why he's a manager and I'm an engineer...:confused:
 
From the "most irritating questions" vault ...

"Are you still working on that thing?"
(My response: "Yeah ... I look at it as a career.")

"When are you gonna FLY that thing?"
(My response: "Not a day sooner than it's ready.")
 
Mere citizen- "Are you going to stick a lawn mower engine on it?"
Me - "No no, I'm planning on putting about 180 hp on it"
Mere citizen- "180 hp? That's all? Won't it be kinda slow?"
If only they knew... :D
 
"I'll never fly in *that* thing".

"Well, that's a good thing because you're sure as XXXX not invited"
 
Some of these Q&A stories are cracking me up. Thanks for sharing the grins!

Our aircraft was sitting on its wheels, engine hung, tail surfaces in place... but no wings. A young fellow with all of 11 years of experience in his pocket looked seriously at the airplane then asked that usual "is that the airplane you're building" question. Of course I answered in the affirmative.

What he said next still makes me grin.
"It must be a ROCKET because rockets have their wings on the tail."
 
I have gotten most of all these questions.
My favorite though is how much will it cost and for me that is easy.
"It cost me a kitchen."
I had to agree to re-doing the kitchen for my wife before I could start the build. Luckily I ordered the empennage and the cabinets at the same time and I had the tail done before I had to start the kitchen remodel. Then I had time to get it done before the wing kit showed up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top