a couple of observations and questions
I applaud the gentleman that started this thread for rethinking his position, and I hope he finds the plane of his dreams. I hope he and everyone else on this forum and elsewhere in the experimental aviation enjoy their aircraft as well as the hobby itself. Its growing fast and offers so many wonderful choices that pilots and builders never had in years past. I have met many wonderful people since I started building and enjoy the building process as well. Its a great priveledge that we all have to be able to enjoy this hobby.
First, I think its great that so many people here learn to build with help from friends/family and have a wonderful plane when they finish after enjoying the build.
Second, I think it is a great thing that there are so many "builder assist" centers (where the builder/owner, builds the plane, but has paid assistance/instruction when they need it) out there to help people who want to build, learn and take part in the construction of their own aircraft. While I am taking my time and enjoying every minute of building my 6A, I built my tail kit Alexander Tech center with their instruction and assistance, and learned alot. But, I was involved in every part of the build there, setting up jigs, riveting, etc. I am sure we all have seen other kit plane companies offereing things like "two weeks to taxi" etc. I think the main goal of the assistance centers are to have the owner, be involved in the building and learning about building, repairing, and flying his/her new plane, which I think is wonderful because the owner is involved and is learning. The regulations state in lay terms, that the person filing to register the plane to have built it for their own education, enjoyment, etc, and also they can have a level of assistance and help during the process.
Third, there are the people who advertise openly to "professionally build" an experimental aircraft, turn key, for someone at a cost. There have been ads over the years posted on various classified websites offering to build this kit or that to your specs, while you sit at home and write the check. These are the ones that I feel actually cross the line because the builder really has no involvent other then writing the check and picking the equipment he wants out. Also the regulations require so much of the aircraft 51% or more to be amatuer built, which rules out a 100% professionally built plane.
Forth, since this topic has come up a few times, I have a few questions for people more knowledeable then I am. Not really to "what if" every possibility. I understand there are fines and other legal penalties that can be imposed by the FAA for someone who "professionally builds" an amauter built aircraft for another at a cost. Would the person who entered into the contract with the "professional builder" be just as legally responsible for fines and damages that came out of the contract? Would the liability insurance and airworthiness registration still be binding since the aircraft was built by a professional, and such was outside of the regulations pertaining to its amatuer built registration?
In my own humble opinion, I think the real looser with haveing a "professional builder" build an entire aircraft is the whole experimental aviation community. We all may loose because sooner or later, when/if the "professional builders" proliferate, something will happen, and the priveledge we all enjoy will be restricted more by the government in the end. I am not trying to put down anyone at all, and I wish everyone well, but I think the "professional builds" are past the line when it comes to the spirit of the amatuer build status, and is also in violation of the law as written and I understand it.
Erik
RV-6A last few details on fuse
