Moving from France to South Carolina

herve-RV7 · #1 04-26-2009, 01:36 AM

Hi All,

I'm currently at finishing stage of my 7A in France. I have a proposal for my job to move South Carolina for a couple of years (Plus one optionally).
Is there a RV builder community in the area of Greenville ?

I'm wondering what to do with my Project : Store somewhere in France, but 2 or 3 years is a long period to wait; Sale the project and restart when I will be back (I don't really think I can do that after so long efforts), or bring with me in the US. In such case, what about registration of the plane in the US ?
Any advise would be welcome.
Thanks in advance

flion · #2 04-26-2009, 08:22 AM

My project was stored for four years in Chicago because I had no place to build. It's tough but I think storage may be your best option. It would save you the hassle of moving the project (twice!), and dealing with registration in the US and then registration again when you return to France. Instead, maybe spend the time meeting people with flying RVs and get some transition training; most builders find their skill atrophy during the building process.

Bob Axsom · #3 04-26-2009, 10:38 AM

Early in my career I had a similar decision to make and I made it the wrong way (in favor of my hobby). In the long run everything worked out well but that decision still bothers me. Building an airplane is such a long term project that two or three years of thought and anticipation are not a real problem.

Bob Axsom

Mike S · #4 04-26-2009, 10:55 AM

Herve, how far along are you??? This might effect the process.

Could you bring along some small sub assemblys to work on here, but leave the main components in France?? I.E., bring parts to build flaps, but leave wings there.

Are there things you still need to purchase, that you could get here, work on, and they ship home??

rv8ch · #5 04-26-2009, 01:08 PM

Salut Hervé,

Not sure what kind of work you will be doing in the US, but if you believe you will have time to build and finish the aircraft, that would be a great experience to fly it in the US. France is a fantastic place to fly - probably the easiest in Europe, but it's even easier and cheaper in the US.

If you could finish the aircraft in the first year, then you will have 1 or 2 years to fly around the US in it before you bring it back. I'd check with the DGAC to see what needs to be done to bring it back and get the F- registration. I know Barry has changed his RV6 from an N- to and F- so it can be done. Not sure how much work it is.

Shipping it should not be that expensive given today's market - who knows, perhaps you'll want to fly it back!

Best of luck with it!

MNForrest · #6 04-26-2009, 04:18 PM

Maybe purchase (or buy in on) a local RV here, get lots of hours flying around the States, sell it when you leave.

ff

Tom Navar · #7 04-26-2009, 10:17 PM

Herve: Alors, tu pourrait te rester ici, te devenir Americain, finir ton avion ici, voler toujours, a toutes directions, plus economiquement, et faire des vacances a la France... Bienvenut!!
Thomas

Terry Lutz · #8 04-26-2009, 11:12 PM

Herve, Give me a call +33 6 78 21 58 01. I am an RV8 builder (now flying), living in France and we can talk about the options you have.

Barry · #9 04-27-2009, 12:42 AM

In 1997 I moved to the US for 5 years and took my partially finished RV6A with me. I was luck as I was working near to Dallas and was able to finish my plane in 1999 with the help of George Orndorff who had at that time a builders help center near to Fort Worth. Fortunately when I started building my RV in France I opened up a "dossier" with the DGAC and they gave me a builders number. Also I had the DGAC inspect and sign off the wing spar before I left for the US. Because of this I was able to have my plane put on the French register when I brought it back to France. I am sure you are aware of the fact that you can not import a home built plane into France unless it was originally built in France. If you want more information on all this email me off list at ward.barry at neuf.fr

Barry

N941WR · #10 04-27-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry

... I am sure you are aware of the fact that you can not import a home built plane into France unless it was originally built in France. If you want more information on all this email me off list at ward.barry at neuf.fr

Barry

There is one other small issue. In this post 9/11 world foreign nationals cannot register a plane in the US. A friend of mine went through this but got his "papers" just before the inspection.

Best of luck with the move. Where in SC are you going to live?