How cheap can you build?

[pierre smith]

Hi guys/gals,
Several recent posts prompted me to write this since I have a couple of friends who built a -6 several years ago for a little over $30,000 and flying!
They bought a runout 0-320 with around 1950 TT on it and built it unpainted, day VFR. It flew for years before they needed engine work and then did it themselves. The airplane was sold but still flies often (fast, too!). Obviously it was a slow build.

I'm curious as to what the lowest cost 6, 6A or 7, 7A might be and how you managed to keep it low. With all the expensive Subes and high-priced new Lys, glass panels and autopilots, is there anybody who still abides by KISS??

[Captain_John]

Pierre, I think there are PLENTY of those guys out there. They are just quiet and are happy flying their planes and don't say a word. They built their plane mostly by themselves and fly it the same way.

CJ

[painless]

Pierre:

Having 4 kids that are at or approaching the college years, I made it a point to not go too crazy with expenses for my 6A

One of the areas that I throttled back was my panel. I call mine a "poor man's glass panel." It includes a Dynon D10 (the only extravagance, but it saved buying several other instruments), a Lowrance Airmap 1000 GPS that is panel mounted, and a RMI engine monitor built from a kit.

Add to that an Icom A200 com that I bought used, but yellow tagged, a used Narco AT150, and a Narco Escort II (mostly to hear my home base Awos broadcast on the VOR). Also have a PS4000 intercom/audiopanel, as well as a Navaid wing leveler.

All the above cost me around $9800.00 and I am wanting for nothing at present. I may add another GPS with weather, but I will wait for awhile to see what else comes out in the next year or two.

I have seen panels that have cost well over $50,000. Not for me. More power to those that go that route, but for the mission profile of my airplane, I'm a happy camper.

YMMV of course............


Well put John.


Regards,

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Hi guys/gals,
Several recent posts prompted me to write this since I have a couple of friends who built a -6 several years ago for a little over $30,000 and flying!

$30,000 is a pretty good record and recall that number. We have to be realistic now. That $30,000 record may be a little old. I think it still can be done but it's harder now than 10 years ago. Things have inflated. My first RV kit in the late 80's was about $8K. However to Van's credit he has always kept the price low and value high.


The big ticket items that are NOT optional: The KIT, ENGINE, PROP, AVIONICS, INSTRUMENTS.

I can think of some cheapskate dream scenarios that will give you a good start at the cheapest RV record. If you luck out with a FWF (I mean everything) off of a RV for cheap, that's a great start. Better a kit started with all the parts: eng, prop, inst for cheap.


Cheap would be a TRUE DAY VFR plane, no paint, interior like a aluminum canoe, no transponder for Class G, E airspace only (or a used one of course). Avionics - com/nav - handheld?


Optional items not needed: Paint, Upholstery and Lights.

Night - A big cost, can be well over a grand.
Paint - can cost $2,500 - $12,000
Upholstery - There are the deluxe $5,000 leather jobs or plan foam (FREE if you know where to look).


How cheap can you get with a day VFR class G/E airspace, no paint and boat cushion seat RV? Pretty cheap. There's no answer. I am a bargain hunter, but I pale in comparison to some of my friends that are wheeler dealers, who trade, barter and negotiate like crazy.

I think a realistic number now a days for a nice RV in the $40K-$50K range.

Kit 16K
Engine / prop (used) $14k
Panel $6k
Misc $4k

Total approx $40K-$45K (VFR - may be night with a decent panel and basic upholstery and no paint)

[szicree]

If I were building with cheap the number one priority, I'd find an abandoned project/kit(s) and show no mercy on the price. I think a good plane could be done for 35-ish by going this route. For me, this would not be acceptable since I want to know every rivet and nut on this bird. To each his own though. BUILD ON!

[briand]

I'm shooting for $35,ish.

19,000 for the kit leaves me with 16,000 for everything else. Should be doable.

I'll let you know how it works out in a couple years.

[Paul Eastham]

Don't forget about the cost of tools, unless you've already got em.... this too can be done on the cheap (used toolkits from people done building, ebay, etc). I haven't added it up exactly, but I bet I'm in for at least $4000 on (nice, mostly new) tools. Including a new compressor and a used squeezer from ebay.

[pmercier]

With the project nearing completion I"m on track to come in at about 32,000. I've kept the project simple, a day night VFR RV-4 with partial time O-320 and wood prop. Dynon D-100, EIS-4000, Used Garmin 196 and GTX-320 and my Icom A-5 portable radio.

[pierre smith]

Very nice, Philip.......the kinda EAA I'd like to see more of. This particular post should also be an encouragement to those guys who can't see an RV in their future for less than $50-60 thousand.

Your 4 with a decent VFR day/night package is a GREAT price.......and upgradeable at a later time, as is the case with interiors, IFR instruments, paint, etc. The kinda homebuilding that EAA was first founded upon.
Thanks

ps. I also know guys who learned to "stitch-and-sew" on a used sewing machine and tailored great interiors.......!

[Captain_John]

I am closing my eyes and placing the orders!

Mine may well be the most expensive slow build on record!

CJ