help: kits choice suggestions

I expect to get my PPL soon and serioulsy consider to build an
airplane simply because it's cheaper.

If you are considering just the cost of the plane it might be cheaper. But if
you factor in all of the tools and heated/airconditioned shop needed to build a
plane the cost rises quickely.

I am in
20s and I read the average age of kit plane builders is over 50--this
scares me.)

Earning the money for, and acquiring the above mentioned tools takes time for
most of us. And if you decide to have a family along the way life kind of has a
way of taking your time...........

I like to build things and would have bought the tools and shop anyway. But if
you want to fly, buy. I could have bought several nice planes for what I have
invested in my hobby.

Ok, mine in a plans built rather than a kitplane.
But they are sorta similar.

When I started this project I was living in an apartment.
Upstairs.

The fuselage went together at the airport, then, on the
gear, it went up on a 12' flatbed trailer.
Actually had it in the parking lot of my apartment complex
for over a year. I got a bit done on it there.
The turtleback formers and stringers, firewall, and panel were
all built on the trailer. Rudder pedals, tailwheel, etc too.

Mostly drilling and bolting then, so the inverter in my old
pickup powered the drill, or saber saw. Sorta side stepped that
whole extension cord problem...

It drew a lot of interest from the neighborhood.

Being an Air Force community, most recognized it as a potential
aeroplane, but one guy thought it was a pretty clever moble
deer stand. Go figger.

And nobody ever bothered anything.


But you can't really build a complete airplane that way.

Oh maybe SOME poor body might, but it's not practical.



My new parasol is going to break $5000.
The cover job (all Stits) and big engine pushed it over.

It took an extra year and another $12,000 to build the shop.
And another year to pay for it.

Draw any conclusion you wish, but it takes money.
Even to build a cheap airplane...


Richard
http://home.flash.net/~lamb01/