Buyer in a builders world

fireandfly · #1 04-08-2007, 06:39 PM

I'm looking for some honest answers on what you builders think of us buyers.
After 1200 hours of renting, teaching and owning (a spam can) I was looking for a plane that would last a lifetime, both in reliablility and excitement. I was looking for a nose dragger, stick and rudder, side by side. Not too many spam cans like that. A friend said "check out the RV6A" I did and fell in love. I found a plane that was beautifully built and gets a lot of attention at the fuel pump from other RV folk. But the first thing I say out of guilt is "I didn't build it." I usually get a Hmmm. The bonding tends to stop there and they causually drift away. At my field there are about 40 experimentals and the guys have been great, of course I'm right there everyday.
BUT!! I still feel like (like I said in another thread) the only sober one at a party.
I love my RV - I love flying - and I understand the difference between spending years building your dream and sharing experiences with other builders, and someone who just paid for it.
So what do you think when a "buyer" shows up at a fly in, puts their plane on display, wants to fly with the gang to breakfast.
Like I said - I love flying, been doing it for 17 years on my own and with friends. Feelings won't get hurt, I'm ready for it, break open a beer and start typing. I'll even take PM's if you don't want to write it in an open forum. :-)
Thanks, Jeff

DeltaRomeo · #2 04-08-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireandfly

snip....So what do you think when a "buyer" shows up at a fly in, puts their plane on display, wants to fly with the gang to breakfast....snip

I say let's go eat

.

Most of my formation time is with a guy whose building experience consisted of signing his name on a check. Honestly, it never really occurred to me to treat Scorch with anything but the normal about of contempt I usually treat him with.

You know, come to think of it, most of the RV people around our airport don't seem to talk about building that much. I guess it's because we are having so much fun flying we talk about flying things.

b,
dr

dan · #3 04-08-2007, 07:06 PM

I'm with Doug. Honestly, I have a lot more FUN flying with the folks who "adopted" RVs than I do with the folks who are still toiling over their project in garages after years and years. And I have a ton of respect for those who are honest with themselves about wanting to fly more than they want to build. I say do it however you can...just do it!

tcrv7 · #4 04-08-2007, 07:35 PM

Very Very few of us build our own cars. But many of us develop a bond kinda thing with them. Same can happen with only buying someones build other than your own.When you fly over at 10,000 ft, as I rivit, I don't Know if you built it or who. All I know is YOUR FLYING

RV8RIVETER · #5 04-08-2007, 07:48 PM

Jeff

Most of the guys I know welcome "RV'ers" regardless of how they came to fly them. After all not everyone is inclined or able to spend upteen years building their own aircraft. You should keep in mind that some of those asking may be building and looking for advice or the answers to questions ( I know I am one

). They may feel a bit disappointed you will not be able to enlighten them.

My one and only beef with buyers are the ones that use a "hired gun" to build their airplane, put their own name on the certificate, and then enter "their" airplane at Oshkosh or other fly-ins for awards.

Bob Brown · #6 04-08-2007, 09:50 PM

Just go out and fly and share the bond of commonality of people who fly these wonderful airplanes. There may be people who look down, don't worry about them...they're outnumbered by the "friendlies". It's the people you meet...

N674P · #7 04-09-2007, 12:47 AM

I agree with everyone else. Besides, if there weren't buyers for these planes, where would the funds come from for the next project? Or "permission" from a spouse in the first place? (It's like money in the bank, honey! See, when I'm done if you don't love the flying, we can get the money back with interest!)

I'm building because I want to build more than I want to fly - if it were the other way around, I'd be a buyer, too.

John Clark · #8 04-09-2007, 01:04 AM

Some wise person once told me that there were two kinds of homebuilders. Those who want to build an airplane and those who have to build an airplane. I am a "have to," that is, I wanted the airplane to use more than I wanted to build it. I was fortunate to find an airplane that was just to the point that I was able to add my personal touches through paint, equipment and the like. The only downside I can think of is not being able to do my own condition inspections. Small price to pay for getting in the air several years sooner than I had planned.

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

David Johnson · #9 04-09-2007, 01:38 AM

My policy with that sort of thing is to never say anything more than I have to...if that. If they don't ask you if you built the thing, there's no need to raise the issue.

dav1111 · #10 04-09-2007, 06:23 AM

I bought my first RV (N65RV - RV6A) and very shortly after buying it I was putting it in my rented hanger and a guy walks over and starts asking me all about it. After telling him how wonderful an airplane it was he asked if I built it. I told him "No, after getting a ride in an RV-6 I was so hot for one I just couldn't see waiting for 3-4 years to build."

He then invited me over to see his airplane in a closed hanger across the way. When he opened up the hanger door there sit a gorgous RW&B RV-6A. That was my first expierece with the sly grin Terry Cole is known for all over the RV community.

Terry got me started with the local EAA chapter and drew me into the RV community and we became best friends. Terry and I were building RV-10's side by side when he passed away in 2005 with a heart attack.

Don't worry about building vs. flying the RV crowd has got to be the best bunch of guys and gals that God ever created.