builders' remorse?

I bought several info packets and a couple of sets of plans. I read
pilot reports, joined listserves, and visited builders of several
different designs. I "tried on" one prospective design and saw that to
get in and out I'd need to bend my knees in a way they really didn't
want to go.


FlyBabyBuilder
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Same here.

WHEN THE EARTH WAS VERY YOUNG,
there were several aircraft that I dreamed of owning
some day. One dream machine was a Mooney Mite.
I would have given a left nut for one....
Until I sat in one of those torture racks.

Poof... end of dream!
Ditto for a Smith Mini-Plane.
Ditto for the Midget Mustang.
OTOH, the Van's RV-3 fits me like a glove.

Try before you buy/build, fer sure.
It can $ave a lot of heartache.


-Barnyard BOb -
FlyBaby driver of the early 1960's

Real Good question and the advice/tips above are real good. I wrote an
article for my EAA Chapter on the plane I chose and how I got to that
decision:

http://www.eaa279.org/newsletter/mar06.pdf

Click on that link or paste it in your browser if it doesn't highlight
and scroll to the end of the newsletter. I chose to build a Bushcaddy
R-120 for the reasons outlined in my report and did a ton of research
beforehand including visiting the factory and flying one. I am one
year and 414 hours into it. I love building it and my wife and family
are very supportive. The tech support from Bushcaddy is fabulous and I
wouldn't change anything at this point. You have to commit yourself to
it and that means choosing the right time in your life to start
buuilding. It is important to be peristent, try to do something every
day, even if it's clean up the shop. Contact me if you have questions.
Don....

Larry
Read the original posters name at the bottom of their post! ;-)
John


John

Lynne and Barnaby and I know each other for many years at Oshkosh.

The Wainfans have worked very hard for many decades, writing books and
information articles in many magazines. They give some very excellent
EAA Forums at Oshkosh. When you view the people at their forums,
you will see many well known Airfoil and Aircraft Design Engineers in
attendance.

I always bug them, to have some one gather all their past articles and
put them in a book.

Just my thanks to the Wainfans for all the time they spend, sharing
their knowledge and
experience, with us.

So, send them the tips you have experienced over the many years on your
aircraft.

Larry Fitzgerald

www.fitzair.net

Barnyard BOb wrote:


I bought several info packets and a couple of sets of plans. I read
pilot reports, joined listserves, and visited builders of several
different designs. I "tried on" one prospective design and saw that to
get in and out I'd need to bend my knees in a way they really didn't
want to go.

FlyBabyBuilder

I have some remorse, and I'm not even done building my first one yet.

My problem is that the world refused to stand still and wait for me to
finish. I had criteria for plans built, cross-country speeds, 4
passengers, and a unique appearance. The Dyke Delta fit perfectly, and
I'm 80% done (with only 80% to go). But once I got enough of it
together to sit in it, I crave more room. Well, not true, actually. I
crave more room for my passengers. I just know the family trips (the
ultimate goal) will be limited due to the "crampness".

Now I'm being drawn to the Bearhawk. Gobs of room, front and back.
Plans built, or kit sections if there's some cash in the budget to
spare. Decent cross country speeds. Not very unique looking, but I'll
have a Delta for the fly-ins 8*)

I guess you could say that my remorse is not have one of everything 8*)