Things to do:
1. Join EAA and the local chapter
2. Read a bunch of back issues of Sport Aviation and Kitplanes
3. Look at handling characteristics, not accident statistics
4. The old saying is, if you want to build, build. If you want to fly, buy.
5. Realize that selecting a plane to build is very often a wildly
dysfunctional process. Do some mission profiles and sanity checks along the
way.

enjoy!

Ed Wischmeyer