LettersFromFlyoverCountry
Well Known Member
When my Meniere's flareup forced me to sell the beloved 7A, I started building an RV-12iS, mostly because I like building airplanes.
I let the medical expire with the possibility I could fly under sport rules. I'm building to LSA specifications.
Meniere's is a slow progressive illness that eventually leaves you (mostly) deaf. The process of destroying a vestibular system is difficult -- lots of dizzy spells and the accompanying throwing up etc. Not fun. But your brain begins to adjust and compensate and eventually you get some stability, which is why the FAA still issues special issuance to people with Meniere's.
As I get older and things begin to deteriorate, though, I increasingly think I'll just stay on the ground, especially since I haven't flown since the day I ferried the 7A away.
But there's this thing I have for building airplanes.
The challenge is once it's done. Painting. I can't do it myself and I wouldn't want to. My 7A was done by Midwest Aircraft Refinishing in Hibbing (probably the 3rd RV they did) and they were great. But a ferry flight to Hibbing would be out of the question.
Fortunately, Wipaire's paint shop is about 20 feet from my hangar and while they're expensive and sometimes have provided unsatisfactory results to at least one of my RV-10 pals, that seems like a reasonable alternative.
The problem? Flight testing.
The LSA requires five hours and at my home field - KSGS - you're not allowed to return until after testing (too many of the RVers on the field ignore the rule and are ready to claim they had high oil temps. I don't do business that way).
So that would require hiring someone to do that first flight and testing -- and demo flights to prospective buyers.
So I'm interested in hearing from other people who've done this . What unforeseen challenges await. What would be a fair price for a test pilot to spend a day testing an RV-12iS? etc.
I let the medical expire with the possibility I could fly under sport rules. I'm building to LSA specifications.
Meniere's is a slow progressive illness that eventually leaves you (mostly) deaf. The process of destroying a vestibular system is difficult -- lots of dizzy spells and the accompanying throwing up etc. Not fun. But your brain begins to adjust and compensate and eventually you get some stability, which is why the FAA still issues special issuance to people with Meniere's.
As I get older and things begin to deteriorate, though, I increasingly think I'll just stay on the ground, especially since I haven't flown since the day I ferried the 7A away.
But there's this thing I have for building airplanes.
The challenge is once it's done. Painting. I can't do it myself and I wouldn't want to. My 7A was done by Midwest Aircraft Refinishing in Hibbing (probably the 3rd RV they did) and they were great. But a ferry flight to Hibbing would be out of the question.
Fortunately, Wipaire's paint shop is about 20 feet from my hangar and while they're expensive and sometimes have provided unsatisfactory results to at least one of my RV-10 pals, that seems like a reasonable alternative.
The problem? Flight testing.
The LSA requires five hours and at my home field - KSGS - you're not allowed to return until after testing (too many of the RVers on the field ignore the rule and are ready to claim they had high oil temps. I don't do business that way).
So that would require hiring someone to do that first flight and testing -- and demo flights to prospective buyers.
So I'm interested in hearing from other people who've done this . What unforeseen challenges await. What would be a fair price for a test pilot to spend a day testing an RV-12iS? etc.
Last edited: