need help deciding if I should do it.

[ditch]

I desperately need help. I've been looking at the 7 for 1 year now and can't decide if I should dive into one. I have been through an A&P school but it wasn't that great and didn't learn as much as I wanted. I now want to build the 7 and I don't think I would have much troubles with the metal part of it but when I look at the pics of your panels with all the wires and stuff my brain hurts. Seriously, how hard are these things to build and how does a person get through all the tough stuff? Would it help to buy the small plans first and just go through them to see if its for me? Motors are not really my thing either and my brain hurts when I read some of the stuff posted about them to. HA. Actually it does. I would be fairly ok with the money part of it. I think I could have the money for the next step as I get to them. I just don't want to get the shell done and when it came to the instruments and engine, come to a grinding hault and not know what to do next. Do the plans tell you how to install engine components also? I could really use some advise right about now. Any help would be appreciated.

[mgomez]

The skills that are required are many, but none are all that hard to learn. You just have to want to.

You have to want to build an airplane. I'll say that again...you have to want to BUILD an airplane. Not just own one. Not just fly one. Build it.

There is tons of help out there. Very few of us knew how to do this when we started. Virtually none of us have an A&P license, so you're ahead of the pack. There are training courses, books, web sites, experts, and this forum to get help and to acquire new skills.

The plans don't say much about installing the engine, or doing the wiring, or the panel, but there are other sources to learn that. The best source is a builder who's done it before, so if you want some concrete advice, start by finding a builder in your area.

Good luck,
Martin

[bsacks05]

You kept your A&P textbooks, no? I started my RV after A&P school, also. The books and VAF along with builders websites were great help along the way. Ask yourself how much you want it. It's not as tough as you think.
BTW, why "ditch"? Is it because you didn't attend class?

[Carr]

Ditch

Why not look at a flying aircraft?
You can probably buy one cheaper than you could build one. And you could be flying tomorrow instead of 3-5 years from now.

No, I don't have one for sale.

Bryan Carr

[ditch]

Originally Posted by bsacks05

You kept your A&P textbooks, no? I started my RV after A&P school, also. The books and VAF along with builders websites were great help along the way. Ask yourself how much you want it. It's not as tough as you think.
BTW, why "ditch"? Is it because you didn't attend class?

No, ditch is sort of the shorter version of ditchpickle, which was slang for the green arcticat snowmobile. People called them ditchpickles and since I had one, it kinda fit. Funny thing, usually when i register for a forum site, its already taken. I would rather build one than just buy one. Everything I do I do myself and it would be an incredible accomplishment to look back on when I'd be flying it. Plus you can't get the performance out of a cessna like these. A guy I know built one and after a ride, I really had to have one. I do plan on joining the local EAA chapter and talk to some real owners first. Every day at work I have myself totally convinced to do it and when I got home I seem to switch gears. Want to be totally sure before I commit though.

[fstringham7a]

Ditch

Man do you bring back memories.....Early 2004 I began my search and went into the old should I .....but.....maybe I can...but.....it looks challenging......boy I would sure like to .....but .....do I have the patience.......will the family support me......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and on an on.....until August 2004 got the preview plans and ordered the emp. Work began officially on Sept 4, 2004. Since then I finished a standard build emp/wings/fuse and have started the electrical/panel/engine stuff. Like you I had trepidation about the electrical/fwf/panel stuff. My research on this forum/matrionics/Aeroelectric Connection/and the fantastic builder web sites has made the job much easier. I can tell you that the panel work has been enjoyable even cutting the holes to spec. was not the monster I thought it would be. The more challenging chores were the fuel tanks (you can by pass this up with QB option) , the tip up canopy ( really wasn't as bad as I thought), my patiences.

I could write a book about my build,Oh Dan (Sharpie), plus many others have already done that. I would though in my first chapter dwell on the personel traits of you the build. It would include a few important questions. Like: are you a patient person, do you like to do detailed / tedious / repetitive / sometimes boring activities (knowing that the outcome is going to be great), will your family support you in this endeavor, well you know when to walk from the project and give the family quality time, welling to study, listen to advice, be a perfectionest (but know when good enough will do and be safe in the bargine)enjoy long term projects where the reward is a ways down the road, willing to patiently listen to friends/neighbors/family that either think your crazy, not doing it right (alot of will meaning want to be's will give you great, but usually bad advice), or they will say that you are just wasteing your time ("buy a C 172 and just go flying")....................................

So I guess it boils down to YOU......do you want the pride of knowing you accomplished someting that few will ever try let alone finish.....do you want to fly one fine aircraft near and far.......do you want to overcome those things you think may be too hard to do but find the foretitude to learn/do/and finally overcome your objections and insecurities.

Ditch, it hasn't been easy for me. I have bought my fair share of parts that I messed up, drilled out many a bad rivet ( as a matter a fact I have become an accomplished rivet extractor), felt on some occassions I should just throw in the towel and buy that slow/old/spam can, but.......I want my wife/children/grandchildren/friends/especially on anagonistic EAA rich guy to know that when I start someting it will be finished. I lost my father last September 9, 2007 (he was 93 in good health to the end (except for that prostate cancer that got him) and I felt it dearly to the core. He took me to airshows, kindled in me the love of building stuff, to start someting no matter how hard and to finish it but more importantly do it well! My plane will be N74BZ in honor
of him and his life long nick name "BUZZ" . When I make that first flight in the next few months I will think of him and the motivation he even now gives me from the grave. I will also think of Van's and their great product and help, all you wonderful RV'ers and want to be RV'ers, all of the wonderful companies that provide new and innovative products that really enhance our flying experience, and last but not least my family for their suppor/understanding/and willingness to let me talk on and on about MY BIG PANE PROJECT.

Ditch give it a close look, determine your motivations, and then let it rip or should i say rivet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frank @ SGU RV7A 80% done 150% to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now

[ccrawford]

I didn't go to A&P school, so you are a couple of steps ahead of me.

I did go to a couple of the training classes at Oshkosh, but other than that I just dived in after trying out the Training Kit Van's offers. It seems overwhelming at first, but if you do it a step at a time and have someone to get advice/second opinion from you should be alright. (Obviously, joining an EAA chapter helps!)

As for the panel wiring, I'm way overwhelmed with that right now whenever I think of it. So I might either pay someone to wire it or use something like the Approach Systems' hub that takes a lot of the guess work out.

That said, I *am* looking forward to wiring and building the electrical system.

[tonyjohnson]

Ditch,

I agree with Martin in his earlier post. You are ahead of the great majority of us in your building skills and your knowledge of aircraft systems, because you are an A&P.

Most of us are guys and gals with no prior building experience. Nothing I learned in law school prepared me to build an airplane. It is a great learning experience. Each phase teaches you a different skill. None of those skills are outside the learning capability of most people.

This community is large and diverse. There is an expert here on just about any topic you can imagine that relates to building an airplane and all of them are willing to share that knowledge. There is no problem you can encounter in the build that has not been addressed by lots of other people here. The archives and search feature contain a wealth of knowledge. If you are stumped even after searching the archives post a question about your problem. It is not uncommon to recieve a "this is how I did it" response within 20 minutes. You can learn how to glue your canopy....and whether to glue or not...from Mickey in Switzerland. You can learn how to set up a warning light that will tell you if your beer is cool from our mate down under.

The RV community is great. I hate to think about building an RV without the resource of this website. You will make a lot of friends here who share your passion for building an RV.

Short answer....build it!

[ditch]

Well this is helping with the decision. One question I do have though, I noticed in all the pics most have their wings on while they are doing the wiring and engine stuff. Can you work it out so that the wings are the last part to be put on? Obviously some wiring and other stuff can't be completed until they are on but it would really help to get as much done as you absolutely can before you have to take it to a hanger and work on it there. Also, do most builders paint the plane as a whole when they are done or can you paint the individual parts as you complete them?

[tonyjohnson]

Ditch,

My wings are in my hanger at the airport. My fusealge is in the garage at my home. I have done my wiring leaving wires long enough to reach the wingtips for various devices mounted in the wings. I will do as much as I can here at home before taking the completed fuselage to the hanger to be joined with the wings.

You can paint the plane before you fly, or after. There is information on that topic in the archives which you can access using the search feature.