Funny Math....

[Ironflight]

You know how you often see people posting about how you can sell a well built RV for about $20K more than the parts costs, and if you build it in 2,000 hours, that means you’re earning $10 per hour? Well I got to thinking today that those folks have it all wrong….consider an alternative point of view: It’s not about how much you could make, but about how much you enjoy the build!

If you don’t enjoy the building process, then it is work, and while you might expect to get paid for that work, I have to wonder what kind of masochist will go and drill holes in their own fingers for $10 per hour?! There are easier ways to earn more money! Ahh, you say, but there is the ENJOYMENT of it! Well…I agree 100%! Building isn’t a job….it’s recreation!

Now think about what people pay for recreation these days. Oh, not the simple, old-fashioned free kind – like fishing (oh, wait a minute – licenses, rods and reels, bait, boats, gas…), or walking in the woods (oh yeah….boots, clothes, collapsible hiking staffs – and don’t forget park entrance fees!), or…well, how about the COSTLY recreation – a daily ski lift ticket? I hate to ask! A round of golf at a respectable course? Heck, that’s a days pay for many! Going “camping” in a 4-wheeled RV? Price of the camper, gas, food… Hey, even staying home costs money when you consider the cost of a big-screen TV and a comfy chair!

So let’s say that you enjoy your building. Let’s also ignore the price of expensive things, like engines and avionics – most of your “enjoyment time” is going to come from working with the parts in Van’s kit anyway. Let’s then say you want to build an RV-3. No quick build option, no pre-drilling (hey, you’re lucky you don’t have to mine bauxite!), so lots of enjoyable build hours there. The current price for the kits? $12,530 – let’s call it 12.5K. Build time? Well, I did my QB -8 in 1,000 hours, but most people take at least twice that time, and those who want really fine airplanes take much more than that. So let’s say you knock out the -3 in 2,000 hours…..how does $6.25 per hour of recreation sound? Hmmm….I bet that’s cheaper than skiing or golf. More expensive than cane-pole fishing on a creek, but hey, you’ve got to get access to the creek!)

All in all, airplane building is a wonderful pastime. (It might even be cheaper per hour than building models, judging by the number of cashed models I see in serious R/C’ers workshops!). When you’re done, you have paid for the parts required for your pastime, but how is that different from any arts and crafts materials? (Hey, I almost forgot gardening – now THAT is expensive that way I do it - buying those plants over and over again costs …..!) In the end, enjoy the time in your shop, and chalk up the materials cost to recreation – even if you DO make ‘em and sell ‘em…that way, you get paid twice!

Paul

(The preceding was a humorous post with a grain of truth....and is intended for the entertainment of the reader. Any attempt to reconcile the numbers with actual dollars or time spent may result in disappointment or possible depression. Dizziness may be the result of leaving your MEK can open. See your Tech Counselor if symptoms persist.)

[Chino Tom]

Try recovering your cost of a new $70-80K car you buy. At least the RV holds its value. But then again you don't have to rent a $400/mo garage to park the car in I've long since given up trying to justify this passion.

[Ironflight]

Oh yes, of course, I forgot to point out that, as Scorch likes to say, the airplane is free....becasue you can pretty much always get your money back out of it.....

[carguy614]

Spin the numbers all you like, it will never make any sense!! When asked how to justify the RV experience, my wife's reply is "it's a thing" She may have hit the nail on the head.

Regards...Chris

[DeltaRomeo]

Cheaper than therapy, I tell people.


b,
d

[pierre smith]

therapy........I tell people,

Yes,

[AlexPeterson]

You see, I saved money by building an airplane. I sold some stock in about 2000 to pay for instruments, engine, etc. The next year, the stock crashed, but my money was safely tied up in hardware in the garage.

Think of the trauma I avoided...

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

therapy........I tell people,

Yes,

For sure!

I just spend six weeks grounded with no RV-8 project going and felt like life was changing and not for the better. Got the 7 flying again and my clock was re wound.

It is therapy. A pile of money (spent on the effort) instead of the airplane would be very depressing.

[bsacks05]

This morning's flight was priceless - courtesy of my RV.
My daughter and I were wheels up by 8:45, encountered a headwind which kept us to 120 kts g/s at 2300rpm on our way to LZU just east of Atlanta for the EAA breakfast, but the weather was perfect so no big deal.

((it was freakin awesome!!
verry yummy[:
teehee
loveyou daddy!
by: diana))

The smell of cooking sausage greeted us before we could climb out and a delicious breakfast for the two of us cost 7 bucks. We talked RVs with some great folks, then set sail for home in the clear blue. Turning on course we were rewarded for "suffering" through the headwinds on the way up. At 2300 we were at 160kts g/s, YEAH! and I could have gone much faster if I wanted.

I can only put a dollar amount on what I spent to build my plane, but the memories of this past year and a half with my -9 are priceless indeed.

[rv72004]

Only build a plane for the joy of the build. If it flies its a bonus. If you dont enjoy the build ,save yourself a lot of stress and buy a flying plane .
I would go out on a limb to say that the vast majority of flying planes were built as Paul said "for cheap recreation". The dusty unfinished ones were a means to a end.