Jim Cooper
I'm New Here
I'm looking for a good shop to build an RV-14. If you've had any RV built by one of the shops out there, I'd appreciate a recommendation.
As mentioned, you can't (legally) just pay somebody to build you an aircraft.
...All above board, since I am doing this for my own recreational and educational purposes...
...my cost + a reasonable markup, since the value of a flying/airworthy airplane is much more than just the kits/parts/labor...
I think it is legal to pay someone to build your RV...... but only in Canada. Definitely not so in the US.
Hypothetical scenario for discussion purposes here only:
I buy the RV-14 kits and assemble the entire airplane, then get the Airworthiness Certificate. All above board, since I am doing this for my own recreational and educational purposes. I immediately put the airplane up for sale for my cost + a reasonable markup, since the value of a flying/airworthy airplane is much more than just the kits/parts/labor.
I might even ask the potential buyer(s) what sort of accessories/avionics would "sweeten" the deal. No money changes hands until the airplane is registered and flying. I don't see anything illegal about my personal situation changing so that I no longer want/need the new RV-14.
And NO, I don't want to do this, Mr. FAA.
My best guess is as long as your intent was your own recreation and education, building and then selling would be OK. If your intent was to make income on the deal, I think it would not pass inspection. But this is just my own interpretation, and I?m sure there are others......
....the value of a flying/airworthy airplane is much more than just the kits/parts/labor....
You can get builder assist in Canada as long as you are directly in control or supervising the build, you have to declare how much 'professional' help you received at Final Inspection time performed by MD-RA & noted in Transport Canada's file on that plane, so would be very difficult to import that plane to the US as... TC talks to FAA.
Having someone build an airplane for you sounds very very expensive. Am I correct?
The first year I took my new RV-6 to Sun_N_Fun (2000?) someone walked up to me and asked "How much would you charge to build me a RV-6?".
As a coy way of saying I wasn't interested at any price I replied "You can't afford me".
The man answered "You don't understand...I can afford you".
It's all a matter of perspective (and zeros)...what is very, very expensive to some isn't to others.
The first year I took my new RV-6 to Sun_N_Fun (2000?) someone walked up to me and asked "How much would you charge to build me a RV-6?".
As a coy way of saying I wasn't interested at any price I replied "You can't afford me".
The man answered "You don't understand...I can afford you".
It's all a matter of perspective (and zeros)...what is very, very expensive to some isn't to others.
I don't get it. If he can afford it and he liked your work, why doesn't he just buy yours? Or one of the many really nice ones out there that come up for sale all the time? Is it a matter of customization? Because if he can afford it, then surely there's something out there that could fit his mission with a modest upgrade. Is it a custom paint job he's after? Money answers that question too. What could he be after other than his name on a plate by having you build it for him??? Doesn't make sense.
The first year I took my new RV-6 to Sun_N_Fun (2000?) someone walked up to me and asked "How much would you charge to build me a RV-6?".
As a coy way of saying I wasn't interested at any price I replied "You can't afford me".
The man answered "You don't understand...I can afford you".
It's all a matter of perspective (and zeros)...what is very, very expensive to some isn't to others.
At that point you should have simply told him how many millions of $$ you would need.
Couldn't a person just go to OSH find the 14 they like and offer $40k over the estimated building price? That would be all legal, pay the builder for time and allow them to build another.
Couldn't a person just go to OSH find the 14 they like and offer $40k over the estimated building price? That would be all legal, pay the builder for time and allow them to build another.