Let's Buy a Kid a Kit, Not Doug...

gbrasch · #1 10-19-2008, 02:42 PM

Well, there goes my moderator position and good status on VAF, Doug is gonna delete me forever but hear me out. All the time we see young folks on this forum wanting to get into aviation. With all due respect to Doug, he is already an accomplished pilot with an airplane and money. Why not sponsor a young person and buy him or her a kit. Lets not get too complicated here, maybe have an established EAA Tech Rep nominate someone they deem worthy, and a kid they would agree to oversee in the process. It just seems like a better thing to do...................Glenn

lightning · #2 10-19-2008, 03:14 PM

i agree, not because i don't have a great deal of respect for Doug, i do have a great deal of respect for Doug and the wonderful thing he's done for Van's fan's everywhere..

but i think the buy a kid a kit could be an awesome way for the great people at VAF to keep the E/AB community youthful and enthusiastic!!

i volunteer to be the kid. JUST KIDDING

chrispratt · #3 10-19-2008, 03:31 PM

Glenn:

I don't think it's a case of "either Doug or a kid". All of this generous outpouring is an expression of appreciation for all the things Doug has done that have enrichened the lives of so many in the RV community.

Now that vansairforce.net exists and we have well organized forums, and a structure for communications and a myriad of other easy to use tools, it becomes easy to forget what building was like before this site existed. Certainly Van has never undertaken to provide such a forum, he hasn't even bothered to update the pictures on the company site that must be five years old by now. Heck even some of those were donated by Doug.

Doug took the initiative to build this site, has stuck with it over many years, and endured the slings and arrows from a few naysayers that most site viewers have never gotten wind of, but I can assure you they are out there.

So it isn't about doing something for a needy would be builder, or inspiring a youngster -- it's about saying "Thanks, Doug" for making a real difference.

Let me add my own thanks to Doug, and my contribution to the build fund as soon as the phones are open.

And if you'd like to start a fund for a needy young aviator/would-be builder, that's fine too.

Chris

Rick6a · #4 10-19-2008, 03:54 PM

Glenn,

I hear what you are saying about sponsoring a kid but is that really a practical idea? Building an airplane is a major endeavor, requiring an almost single-minded commitment. As you can see right here, some long time and a few very long time keyboard-loving posters have yet to actually complete the project. The challenge of building an airplane more often than not spans many years and its hard enough for any financially and emotionally stable adult to cope with. Now let us think for a moment about all that's going to naturally occur in that kid's life while building the airplane. He or she is likely to be attending school, will want a car at age 16, become interested, even consumed with the opposite sex and go out on dates. The kid will likely have to find a part time job just to finance all that and more. Do you really think a young person will want to stick with building an airplane through the entirety of those formative teenage years? How can anyone, let alone that kid anticipate what heady diversions those years will bring? Okay, lets say that child is truly exceptional or gets really lucky and somehow manages to finish the project by age 19 or 20. Now he or she can look forward to the permanent ongoing care and feeding expenses that go with airplane ownership. By age 20-21 college, military, and marriage are potentially on the table now and we know how many dreams of aviation have been postponed...sometimes for decades...because of such things. The way I see it, the few kids capable of managing such a thing will likely be children of a relatively well-off families. Such families can finance their own child's dream without any help from us.

Doug Reeves has given us.....hands down....THE most popular, well regarded RV forum in existence and because of it, I believe it is safe to say that uncounted RV's have been finished and flown because of the vast amount of information that continues to be collected and shared right here. Doug did not ask the membership to do this thing for him, it was a spontaneous gesture done in the spirit of giving something back for what he has given and we...all of us would be hard pressed to make a better case for someone else be more deserving.

Geico266 · #5 10-19-2008, 03:57 PM

Do both. "Require" DR to have a few local young people involved in the building of the RV-3.

I am looking into starting a "building club" with that purpose in mind. The RV-12 is just about perfect for that mission.

Special Delivery · #6 10-19-2008, 03:58 PM

While I agree 110% with your suggestion... possibly a greater good could be served if VAF sponsored a small group. I know of at least one person (a flight director for NASA) that fondly recalls his years in an aviation troop/post of the Boy Scouts of America, and who also credits that experience as an influence in is life and career. VAF has an abundance of resources to host a group build program. The most difficult decision will be where and who. I envision (1 a group of VAF members volunteering to assist in the selection of an individual and/or group; (2 that for obvious reasons the first build be conducted at 52F; (3 that the project be promoted in local and national news; and (4 that if found to be a successful program, that future build projects be held around the country and started on an annual basis with completed projects displayed at LOE, SnF, and OSH. Given the vendor support demonstrated at LOE, this type project should place very little financial burden on VAF individual members. If you can't tell by now, a project of this nature a personal dream, and I'll guarantee the financial support needed to complete the first build.

Bob Axsom · #7 10-19-2008, 04:33 PM

No one that is young can benefit in life by being given an airplane kit. Life is a struggle and a young person trying to find their place in life is not well served by having an obsolete technology albatross tied around their neck. Group activities like the "build a plane project" are good for a lot of reasons that I will not attempt to itemize but big gift items are a two edged sword that can hurt a young life and disappoint the giver.

Bob Axsom

cytoxin · #8 10-19-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geico266

Do both. "Require" DR to have a few local young people involved in the building of the RV-3.

I am looking into starting a "building club" with that purpose in mind. The RV-12 is just about perfect for that mission.

come on now..i think the no strings attached is the best idea.
he may not even want to start it quite yet...

besides he's got his own kids.

if someone gave me a kit my wife would probally kill them or me or both.

lightning · #9 10-19-2008, 05:28 PM

i really like Ernie's small group idea!!

n5lp · #10 10-19-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cytoxin

come on now..i think the no strings attached is the best idea.
he may not even want to start it quite yet...

Yep, the RV-3 kit gift idea is great, but something with conditions is not a gift, it is a burden and a responsibility.

If someone offered me a "gift" and said I had to do this and this I would just say no thank you.