My how time flies!

[Dave Taylor]

I started my RV-7 in January 2005. My daughter Tabetha has been a huge part of the build. I received the tail kit when she was 2 weeks old. I have a 16 year old and a 14 year old and my 4 year old has helped me more than my 2 oldest two fold. Sometimes things take a bit longer than it would if she weren't there but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Here are some pics to show the magnitude of how fast they grow. If your children will let you, keep them involved. Tabetha loves to put "ribbons" in the holes.

When I received the tail kit (unopened at this point).



Tail section complete (minus fiberglass)


Working on the wing.


Current status

 

[DakotaHawk]

Righteous!!!

Those are great pictures, and here's wishing for many more years of Father/Child pics just like those.

My son was twelve when I started my RV-7. He's sixteen now, and asking me every day "How long until you get your forty hours flown off?"

twelve years old

thirteen years old

thirteen years old

fourteen years old

fifteen years old

sixteen years old

 

[pierre smith]

This is why.....

....you absolutely have to have pictures of your build. Years down the road, you'll look back lovingly at those high quality bonding moments.

After we sold 'Sojourner' to a kind, new owner, the photos of the snowy trip from Brownwood, Texas, on Valentine's weekend, in the U-haul, in 2004, brought back many happy memories.

Best,

 

[bsacks05]

Dave,

Now you know who gets first ride with Daddy! Great pictures.

 

[Geico266]

You have some great helpers there!

 

[videobobk]

Dave,

I have heard that flying is all about attitude. You have a good one! Keep pounding those ribbons!

Bob Kelly

 

[Alex44]

Great pics! Thanks for posting them guys!

 

[robertahegy]

These are Great!!! What a thrill for a child growing up and helping with the plane and the ANTICIPATION for them as it gets near flight ready. Priceless!!!

Roberta

 

[JakeLewis22]

Not so little people too

About 6 months into the project, my 23 year old son and I had plans to go out to dinner together one night. When he arrived I was match drilling the top skin on one of the wings just to pass the time. He said he wasn't hungry yet and offered to help. I set him up with a second drill and we knocked it out both wings in no time at all, he's been coming over and helping ever since.

I can't imagine building this airplane without him now. He has definitely "earned" the first ride in the airplane.

 

[BReiter]

The 7 Year Plan

My riveting helper (top photo) and cleco holder (bottom photo) in 2002

Working on Fuse somewhere along the way

Moving Day (riveting helper has grown up)

First Flight Day 6/3/2008. My little blonde Cleco holder has grown up.

This is the day she came out of the paint shop in Summer 2009 (first public photo share)

 

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Then (2001):

Now (err, 2009):

At the rate I'm going, both the kids will look like the old guy in the back by the time I get this thing flying.

 

[BSwayze]

I'm right at the 3-year anniversary of when I started on my RV-7A. I've been very fortunate to have the involvement of my dad, my kids and my little granddaughter, among others. Here's one years' progress in pictures, with my sweet little shop buddy, Maya.

Last January, 2009, she was the first to sit in what would become my cabin. She was 3 at the time, and decided immediately that she loves "Grampie's airplane".

Here she is roughly a year later. She was able to sit in it for real this time with her uncle Daniel. My son Daniel helped me rivet much of this together: