So you've just built your dream plane... now what?

Greg G · #1 03-10-2008, 03:43 PM

I'm sure I'm going to break some etiquette with this one, but here goes. As I sit here in a commercial airport wasting hours away awaiting my air coach, I daydream about some day building an RV-10. My initial thoughts are that I'd use it to make trips every few months or so to take a family vacation, but reality tells me that that's not too much flying for $200k of hard-earned money and about 2000 hrs of my time (I expect to be involved with the usual family activities on most weekends such as kids' sports, housework, etc.). Not to mention this isn't good for piston aircraft that perform best when flown at a reasonable rate. When I owned a Grumman Tiger I had 3 other partners, so we were able to keep the plane flying at least once every 2 weeks. Without considering partners due to concerns about being sued if something ever went catastrophically wrong during flight, what kind of flying are those of you with young kids able to get in to justify the huge investment that this is? Thanks!

dwilson · #2 03-10-2008, 04:06 PM

I can not justify my RV9A from a dollars and cents point of view. Maybe not even a "time saved" travel point of view.

But I can tell you that building and flying MY airplane is one of the most satisfying and pleasant experiences in my life. One that I will treasure until the end of my days.

If you want it and can afford it, do it. You won't be sorry.

alpinelakespilot2000 · #3 03-10-2008, 04:11 PM

Just my $.02...

A lot of us went through the 2-place vs. 4-place question and settled on the 2-place for exactly the reasons you mention. It's hard to justify the -10 when, for the vast majority of flying, a 2-place is sufficient. On the rare occasion that you need 4 seats, rent it. Not ideal, of course, but you'll save a ton of money this way. Remember, all else equal, the -10 is going to cost WAY more than a 2-place, particularly because of the engine and type of prop needed.

If you fly as little as your post suggests, it sounds like aircraft ownership may be questionable period.

Good luck with your decision.

Jim P · #4 03-10-2008, 04:26 PM

I always seem to be one seat behind. I had (and still have) a single seater before I met my wife, then started the RV-7 prior to having kid #1. Based on that logic I'm not about to start a -10. Man, I'll end up a set of twins.

Seriously, you'll never justify this endeavor and it will never make sense. I assume that I'll take trips with my boy or my wife on occasion, but it's probably just going to me me on most flights. Although the family vacation thing seems like a good plan, I'm not sure how realistic it is. I actually thought that one day I may just buy a Navion for that purpose if I really had the need. But at this time, I'm just not seeing it.

Mike S · #5 03-10-2008, 07:06 PM

My wife loves to fly.

She makes more money than I do.

She wanted the 10.

I am smart enough-----at least sometimes

------to not argue with her.

Need I say more????

videobobk · #6 03-10-2008, 07:47 PM

I have to ditto Duane; I can't justify my 9A in dollars. I can't even justify flying!! But it is what I love to do. The 9A was within my means (barely) and is actually a little cheaper than renting. But flying a plane that I built, that will blow the wings off of almost anything else I could even rent--nothing can top that. I will admit that I thought that, if I needed a four place, I would rent one. I really don't have any desire to do that now. This is just too cool.

Truthfully, looking at the potential rewards of the eventual sale of a 10 MIGHT change your equation. Don't forget that.

Bob Kelly

Greg G · #7 03-10-2008, 07:53 PM

Thanks for all the good info! I like... check that... love to fly -- that's not in question. And I'm pretty sure that by the time I'm ready to build I'll have enough money to fund the project. However, I'm not really creative at finding things to go do while flying if life doesn't give to traveling much with the family. What kind of stuff do you guys do while flying (when not building!)? $100 hamburger runs, take friends up for a tour, maintain proficiency, ??? This will help me in answering what Steve brought up -- will a 2-place give me what I need instead of a 4-place? Thanks for bearing with me -- I'm just trying to make sure I do what's right for my family and I so I don't end up causing major trauma with a project that I'll love!

MacNab · #8 03-10-2008, 09:35 PM

The simple truth is that you can't justify it...but do it anyway.

Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of flying around the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico on vacations in my parents 182. The memories will be priceless for both you and your kids...just do it.

yakdriver · #9 03-10-2008, 10:18 PM

I see so many people pass up on their dreams because they can't "justify" it. Most of us that fly really can't justify our building or flying but it is good for the soul. Yes you have to weigh the pluses and minuses of your decisions and the affect on your family but if there is a slim chance you can do it go for the dream. When I get old I want to look back on my accomplishments and not kick myself in the *** for passing up something that I really wanted to do. There is nothing like building and flying your own creation. Don

Chappyd · #10 03-11-2008, 03:17 AM

Ditto on not being able to justify it. I went from a Cherokee 140 to a 65' Mooney C so the family could come more, lol. They didn't. We did have some very memorable trips though. Costs were astronomical compared to buying airline tickets. The last year I had the Mooney, they flew with me once in about 100 hours. That and an insane annual bill did it for me. With my RV-7, most of the time I'll have an extra seat, and that's ok. I don't have to justify it. I want to fly. No one in the family is sacrificing anything financially because I'm building a plane.