I first learned about Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft shortly after joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1989. Over the years I read magazines and books about homebuilt airplanes, attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and spent countless hours dreaming about what it would be like to build and fly one myself.
In 2009, I visited the Experimental Aircraft Association museum in Oshkosh. Walking through the exhibits, I realized how small my own aviation experiences seemed compared to the innovation and accomplishment on display. Standing there, I made a decision: I was going to begin the journey to build my own airplane. I even bought a “Dream it, Build it, Fly it” T-shirt in the gift shop to commemorate the moment.
That decision began a project that would take 4,914 days (almost 13.5 years) and 5,286 hours of work in the shop from the first construction step to the first flight. Along the way I learned riveting, metal fabrication, fiberglass and carbon fiber work, electrical system design, and painting. Most importantly, I learned endurance. Like many builders, I faced setbacks and moments of frustration, but encouragement from friends and family kept the project moving forward.
Yesterday, I taxied my RV-8 onto the runway for its first flight. After pushing the throttle forward, the airplane leapt into the air and climbed away. I spent the first few minutes intensely focused on the flight path and engine parameters, fully aware that trouble might be lurking.
About fifteen minutes into the flight, at 4,500 feet and 170 knots, I finally allowed myself to relax a little. That was the moment I realized the airplane didn’t just fly—it flew beautifully. I looked down at the label we placed on the panel:
“Handcrafted by Rob and Amy”
That’s when I started smiling, and I haven’t really stopped since. I’ve heard this moment called the “RV Grin,” and now I understand exactly what they mean.
This airplane would never have been completed without the support of my wife Amy and the many friends who helped along the way. We made thousands of decisions together during the build, and their advice and encouragement carried the project through every stage.
The first flight was just the beginning. There are still many test hours ahead and a short squawk list already waiting in the hangar. But after more than thirteen years of building, I’m finally enjoying the “Fly” portion of Dream, Build, Fly.
In 2009, I visited the Experimental Aircraft Association museum in Oshkosh. Walking through the exhibits, I realized how small my own aviation experiences seemed compared to the innovation and accomplishment on display. Standing there, I made a decision: I was going to begin the journey to build my own airplane. I even bought a “Dream it, Build it, Fly it” T-shirt in the gift shop to commemorate the moment.
That decision began a project that would take 4,914 days (almost 13.5 years) and 5,286 hours of work in the shop from the first construction step to the first flight. Along the way I learned riveting, metal fabrication, fiberglass and carbon fiber work, electrical system design, and painting. Most importantly, I learned endurance. Like many builders, I faced setbacks and moments of frustration, but encouragement from friends and family kept the project moving forward.
Yesterday, I taxied my RV-8 onto the runway for its first flight. After pushing the throttle forward, the airplane leapt into the air and climbed away. I spent the first few minutes intensely focused on the flight path and engine parameters, fully aware that trouble might be lurking.
About fifteen minutes into the flight, at 4,500 feet and 170 knots, I finally allowed myself to relax a little. That was the moment I realized the airplane didn’t just fly—it flew beautifully. I looked down at the label we placed on the panel:
“Handcrafted by Rob and Amy”
That’s when I started smiling, and I haven’t really stopped since. I’ve heard this moment called the “RV Grin,” and now I understand exactly what they mean.
This airplane would never have been completed without the support of my wife Amy and the many friends who helped along the way. We made thousands of decisions together during the build, and their advice and encouragement carried the project through every stage.
The first flight was just the beginning. There are still many test hours ahead and a short squawk list already waiting in the hangar. But after more than thirteen years of building, I’m finally enjoying the “Fly” portion of Dream, Build, Fly.
