When to start building?

KevinP · #1 04-25-2008, 10:02 PM

Hi guys I have been lurking for a few days now and just joined!

My name is Kevin Pereira I live in San Jose and i'm a college student. I have a PPL I earned from Amelia Reid Aviation that focuses on taildraggers and old school flying, rarely used the GPS in their Citabrias and have yet to use a VOR, isn't that great?

Well I am considering starting to build a RV7 pretty soon,maybe later this year, or at least that is my dream. I think it would be a great project for me and give me something to do on my downtime.

My question is, is it wise to start building before you can afford to complete the whole aircraft? I'm not rich my any means but I figure with a part time job I can buy some tools and start building the empennage. I can use my garage so space is not an issue, just money. I'm sure I will be more financially stable when the time comes to buy an engine and avionics, im just wondering if it is common so start constructing without much financial backing in the beginning?

Also, if anyone is located in my area I would love to help build or watch, maybe even ride

Thank you for any comments.

Ironflight · #2 04-25-2008, 10:49 PM

Welcome Kevin,

When to start? "You'll start building when you can't stand to not be buiding..."

Just remember that while many start and never finish, those that never start - never finish!

There is nothing wrong with jumping in to the deep end before you are sure that you can swim - a tail kit and tools is only a few thousand bucks after all. Now, if that statement about that amount scares you, then you might not be quite ready yet. But lots of people stretch out the build over a very many years. The question is - how passionate are you about building, about flying, and about aviation in general? If you have enough passion, you'll find a way to finish. There are going to be lots of hurdles along the way, and frankly, if you look at the statistics, most people build in their 50's - after the kids are gone, they are financially stable, and the money is there to spend.

But if you start a tail kit now, you'll learn some valuable lessons about yourself - not only if you have the skill and interest, but if you have the drive. Hey, you might build it and then discover that the real world of a job and family make it too difficult. You can always sell the tail, keep the tools, and if you find you really, really love it, start again when the situation is better for you.

Can you afford a few thousand to find out? Can you afford not to? Answer those questions and you'll know if you have the passion or not!

Good Luck,

Paul

RatMan · #3 04-25-2008, 10:58 PM

Common question, "why are you building an airplane?" Answer, "cause I can't afford to buy one."

I started with about 2 grand in the budget. I admit, at times I would add up what was left and got a bit depressed but I purchased items as I went and always had more work to do than time to do it.

Don't know if it's all that common to buy the entire kit at once.

April 1st was my three year anniversary building my -8. She's on the gear, mostly painted, engine installed and a fair bit of wiring left to do. Pay as you go is a good way to do it.

lorne green · #4 04-25-2008, 11:14 PM

I think a lots of folk could afford 25 grand on a Cessna 152, but really, why would you. If you enjoy performance. Kevin, here's my take. You'll spend: minimum 500$ on tools and $2000 on the emp kit. BUILD AWAY!. Aahh but here's the kicker. If you get hooked, expect to spend BIG bucks after that. But the beauty is that you can take as much time as you want or need to, to finish your project. Oh ya, go for it, because you don't want to think years from now..." Gee, I should have built that RV...." Better to have attempted to build than never to have built at all! Or somethin' like that

Bob Axsom · #5 04-26-2008, 03:21 AM

"My question is, is it wise to start building before you can afford to complete the whole aircraft?"

College students come in a lot of varieties but your choice in airplanes, training, navigation and the question itself reflects something about you.

First of all I recommend that you attend one of the "RV" construction classes to get some hands on experience and learn the techniques of high quality sheet metal aircraft construction.

Then it makes sense to order a tail kit and start the next level of commitment. It is a big deal but the work offers lots of rewards for the least financial commitment. I Don't think you should rush it.

Getting the best education you can is the very best thing you can do for significant success in the future - it deserves a lot of focus. Building an RV-7 tail is not a bad diversion and in fact it will broaden your knowledge and skill base.

Bob Axsom

flion · #6 04-26-2008, 07:50 AM

I started building in '93 with just enough money for the tail and tools. I deliberately went slow as my wife was in her first year of med school and so I knew we wouldn't have major money for at least eight years. My plan was to take that time and build the airframe. As it turned out, I had no place to build during her residency so the fuselage had to wait until we got settled. I took a couple of years on that until she made partner with the local anesthesia group, at which point the pace accelerated and the past three years have seen me get the project in a hangar, the panel built, the engine just built and hung, and the prop is now on order. I hope to be flying by year's end.

That said, if I had waited until all the money was in place, it might still not be there. Assuming it was, I'd just now be starting and it would probably be two or three more years before I got it in the air. Also, part of the fun of owning a kit (unfinished, I mean) is that you are connected to aviation, even when you can't afford to fly regularly. This project has been a mental anchor for me for the past decade+. Don't wait to start and don't be discouraged if the project gets sidelined from time to time. As long as you don't give up, it'll make it into the air.

KevinP · #7 04-26-2008, 11:34 AM

Thanks so much guys so the support.

I will for sure try and take a RV construction class and save up some money for tools and the tail section this summer. Hopefully I can start construction around the end of summer.

Looking forward to it!

Thanks again!

DaX · #8 04-28-2008, 07:06 AM

Kevin, welcome!

I am a college graduate (August 2006) and started building a year ago. As of right now, I cannot afford the entire aircraft, much less maintenance and a place to put it! I'll get all that figured out as I go. You're a few steps ahead of me - I don't have my PPL yet!

I sold my pride and joy car (1991 Honda Beat) and some project cars (1971 Honda N600's) to fund buying the tools and empennage. One of the great things about building these airplanes is that you don't have to drop the whole motherload of money at one time. Buy the next kit when you can afford it.

Good luck in your decision...

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinP

Hi guys I have been lurking for a few days now and just joined!

My name is Kevin Pereira I live in San Jose and i'm a college student. I have a PPL I earned from Amelia Reid Aviation that focuses on taildraggers and old school flying, rarely used the GPS in their Citabrias and have yet to use a VOR, isn't that great?

Well I am considering starting to build a RV7 pretty soon,maybe later this year, or at least that is my dream. I think it would be a great project for me and give me something to do on my downtime.

My question is, is it wise to start building before you can afford to complete the whole aircraft? I'm not rich my any means but I figure with a part time job I can buy some tools and start building the empennage. I can use my garage so space is not an issue, just money. I'm sure I will be more financially stable when the time comes to buy an engine and avionics, im just wondering if it is common so start constructing without much financial backing in the beginning?

Also, if anyone is located in my area I would love to help build or watch, maybe even ride

Thank you for any comments.

kentb · #9 04-28-2008, 03:55 PM

I don't want to discourage you from building the perfect (RV of course) airplane. There is nothing wrong with taking a long time to build and pay as you go. I think that someone willing to scrounge for parts and go with used parts could still build one of these planes for under $35,000.00. Maybe even cheaper.

But the down side would most likely be that you would put all your resources into the building of your plane.

I think if I were in your position, IE starting out with very little resources, I would think hard about weather I wanted to fly planes or build them. If you start down the road of build, you won't have the money to fly much.

Here are some steps that I would take.

1. Join EAA.
2. Find a local chapter and go the the meetings. Find someone there building an RV or anything else.
3. Offer to help them build. You will learn something and also get a change to determine how much you like building. With EAA chapter friends you should be able to bum a ride on all kinds of planes. Also if you are helping someone else you don't need to spend money on a beginner building class.

4. Depending on where you interest are at this point, start collecting tools and order the tail kit. Or spend you money on getting time in somebody else's airplane.

Good luck and I am glad that you are in the forum.

Kent

mackd · #10 04-28-2008, 04:48 PM

I just want to second everyone else who told you to go for it. One of the reasons I opted to build an RV (ignoring all of the other great reasons) was the fact that I could get started then, while I wasn't able to afford an entire plane. I felt like I was still making progress toward my goals in aviation despite not having much money.

On the other hand, as some have noted, you'll have less money/time for recreational flying, which could be discouraging. The way I see it, I'm trading the lack of flying now for the ability to fly as much as I want (heh) in the future.