It is with great pleasure that I write this. Today is my one-year anniversary of drilling/riveting those first six holes on the elevator. I set a goal to build my own airplane when I graduated from 6th grade. Today I am one year into that childhood dream. When I started working on the plane, I wanted to average at least 10 hours a week. That has been challenging due to my work and home schedule. As of today, I am averaging 9.3 hours a week and have performed 480 hours (does not include research, reading plans and instructions). The tail feathers were completed in 165.5 hours (minus glass work). The wings have approximately 315 hours of work on them. My plans go everywhere I go, kind of like VISA ?everywhere you want to be?. I have learned so much over the past year. A lot about building an airplane and even more about myself. I find myself enjoying things that a normal person would find boring, a waist of time or just stupid. I also find myself loosing or just not finding patience during those repetitive tasks like deburring wing ribs.
I have made a few mistakes to date (all have been corrected). Some where fine however, I could not sleep at night so they were fixed.
1) Cut the R-710 rudder horn per plans and did not get the right edge distance.
2) Dimpled #8 screw holes on the tank skin and cracked a few dimples. I ordered new skins even though Vans told me to use them.
Few things that I have learned:
1) Sometimes good-enough works (just like in Test Pilot School). If I build every part that I am not 100% happy with, I will end up building about 3 planes.
2) My second plane will be much better.
3) If it is giving me a lot of problems, then I am doing something wrong. Put it down and pick it up some other time.
4) When I make a mistake, sometimes it is better to leave it than to try to fix it. Sometimes I end up making things worst.
5) I am very picky about my work and work environment. This is a hobby, I should be having fun.
6) I fear the unknown. When I read the plans, instructions and forum posts regarding a task that I have yet to perform, sometimes I get scared or just feel not confident. Once I touch the parts and work on it, that uneasy feeling goes away somewhat. Have not used proseal yet?
Goals for next year:
1) Spend more time with my girlfriend.
2) Strive for an average of 10 hours of build time every week or better.
3) Finish the wings.
4) Order the fuselage. Maybe after OSH. Last year Vans released the 100% pre-punched fuse. I am hoping this year the release the fastback myth.
I want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has help me so far. Especially to Mike Sumner for his A+ work. He is the only guy that I would allow to work on my bird unsupervised. Thanks to everyone at vansairforce.net (Doug) for answering all my questions. Also, thanks for all the friendships. Can?t wait until this childhood dream becomes a reality. If you just started, keep banging rivets. If you are flying, I will see you soon.
One year ago. Had the RV grin just holding the boxes.
The first 6 rivets one year ago.
Today.
Weekly progress for the first year.
Total hours worked during the first year.
Total percent of aircraft completed during the first year.
One year progress report
Congratulations!
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