After seven years of thinking about it I finally took the plunge! I am now officially a builder, kit number 140313. Over the past week and a half I built most of my empennage at Synergy Air in Oregon (a great bunch of guys in case any one is curious).
I wasn't sure if I was going to like the "building thing" but as it turns out I love it. It was really cool to see a bunch of light bits and pieces turn into airplane parts. I'm also amazed at how careful one must be since it is so easy to make mistakes. One bad rivet and you spend the same time drilling it out and starting over that it would have taken to squeeze the next 20 rivets.
This will probably also be my most expensive year of my life since I am building a new workshop as I type this to have the space to build my 14 (see attached photo of the construction as of yesterday-assuming I did the link correctly). Buy the first kit, pay for travel and taking the Synergy class, build the workshop, equip the workshop, renovate master bathroom to keep the wife happy, etc... I can't wait to keep the project going!
I wasn't sure if I was going to like the "building thing" but as it turns out I love it. It was really cool to see a bunch of light bits and pieces turn into airplane parts. I'm also amazed at how careful one must be since it is so easy to make mistakes. One bad rivet and you spend the same time drilling it out and starting over that it would have taken to squeeze the next 20 rivets.
This will probably also be my most expensive year of my life since I am building a new workshop as I type this to have the space to build my 14 (see attached photo of the construction as of yesterday-assuming I did the link correctly). Buy the first kit, pay for travel and taking the Synergy class, build the workshop, equip the workshop, renovate master bathroom to keep the wife happy, etc... I can't wait to keep the project going!