66mustangfan
Member
Hey guys, this is my first post! I?ve been following VAF on and off for a couple years now. I thought it was finally time to get a login and get my feet wet. I thought I would kick this off by asking for your expert opinions on my thought process regarding my mission.
First off, my mission includes a completed plane? With that said, the RV10 is not an option right now at +130k to build considering my wife and I just bought a home (they are not cheap in SoCal- I could have had a nice 10 with the down payment), we just had our first child (daughter- 5 months), and my wife is now a stay at home mom. I guess that my daughter may be 5 or 6 when the project is completed and I beleive I may have another child within 3 years. I?m leaning towards a 7 with small jump seats in the cargo area (aft facing with leg cutouts in the tail cone separator). My Mission mostly includes vacation flights to visit family about 650 miles away and the occasional $100 burger run. I know that luggage will be an issue, but I think we can manage as relatives have a washer/dryer and there is a local Walmart . As stated, since the budget is of concern, the fuel burn of a 360 sounds appealing verses that of a 540. Do you guys see my dilemma? Am I going to regret the 7 and hate it as it will limit my mission?s needs? Will I want the 10 (yes, I?m sure?)? If I were to build the 10, the build time could be doubled strictly do to budget limitations. I was thinking I could sale the 7 when the kids were too big for the rear jump seat and upgrade at that time. Any input as to these concerns would be appreciated. I?m sure builders have kicked these thoughts around in the past.
Also, I know some of you guys may state that it is ?cheap and easy to buy a plane and fly now,? but this is not part of my mission. I WANT to build. I want the satisfaction of saying ?I built that? and I enjoy building things. It will also help me spread the costs of the project as I will not finance a ?toy.?
Currently, I?m in the dreaming stage (I don?t even have a PPL yet) and don?t plan on starting a project for a while. However, I still would like to get involved in the local EAA and check out some projects. Is there anyone in the Los Angeles, CA- Southbay area that would like to show off their project? This could easily push me past the dreaming stage.
Sorry for the long post, but there is a lot going through my head?
First off, my mission includes a completed plane? With that said, the RV10 is not an option right now at +130k to build considering my wife and I just bought a home (they are not cheap in SoCal- I could have had a nice 10 with the down payment), we just had our first child (daughter- 5 months), and my wife is now a stay at home mom. I guess that my daughter may be 5 or 6 when the project is completed and I beleive I may have another child within 3 years. I?m leaning towards a 7 with small jump seats in the cargo area (aft facing with leg cutouts in the tail cone separator). My Mission mostly includes vacation flights to visit family about 650 miles away and the occasional $100 burger run. I know that luggage will be an issue, but I think we can manage as relatives have a washer/dryer and there is a local Walmart . As stated, since the budget is of concern, the fuel burn of a 360 sounds appealing verses that of a 540. Do you guys see my dilemma? Am I going to regret the 7 and hate it as it will limit my mission?s needs? Will I want the 10 (yes, I?m sure?)? If I were to build the 10, the build time could be doubled strictly do to budget limitations. I was thinking I could sale the 7 when the kids were too big for the rear jump seat and upgrade at that time. Any input as to these concerns would be appreciated. I?m sure builders have kicked these thoughts around in the past.
Also, I know some of you guys may state that it is ?cheap and easy to buy a plane and fly now,? but this is not part of my mission. I WANT to build. I want the satisfaction of saying ?I built that? and I enjoy building things. It will also help me spread the costs of the project as I will not finance a ?toy.?
Currently, I?m in the dreaming stage (I don?t even have a PPL yet) and don?t plan on starting a project for a while. However, I still would like to get involved in the local EAA and check out some projects. Is there anyone in the Los Angeles, CA- Southbay area that would like to show off their project? This could easily push me past the dreaming stage.
Sorry for the long post, but there is a lot going through my head?