Buying/selling homebuilts

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:

The problem with buying a classic (as I understand it) is that I won't
be able to do the repair and maintenance on it. I've seen a bunch of
old ratty Cessna 150s sitting around the air parks that look like they
need a lot of TLC to get flying. If I bought one of those, I'd have
to pay an A&P a fortune to get it in the air.


Another reason to buy a used homebuilt...

I'm still thinking it would be better to scratch build myself. I'm very
picky about how things go together and I doubt someone else as picky as
me wouldn't sell a plane they've built.

If it weren't for the certification rules, I'd buy an old classic and
restore it myself. I think that would be as satisfying as building
something from scratch.

Tony

In article tLLsj.231$sh.31@trnddc07, Anthony W
wrote:

"Scott" wrote
And I won't debate that My take was the poster was implying that
he thought it was cheaper to build rather than buy and on that
assumption, I suggested he check out some older "classics" if cost was
the only criterion

What classics can be worked on by a non A&P owner and could be licensed
under the LSA rules?

As far as *operated* under LSA rules, here's one list:

http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/lsa/..._aircraft.html

"Anthony W" wrote in message news:JOLsj.232$sh.18@trnddc07...
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:

The problem with buying a classic (as I understand it) is that I won't
be able to do the repair and maintenance on it. I've seen a bunch of
old ratty Cessna 150s sitting around the air parks that look like they
need a lot of TLC to get flying. If I bought one of those, I'd have
to pay an A&P a fortune to get it in the air.


Another reason to buy a used homebuilt...

I'm still thinking it would be better to scratch build myself. I'm very
picky about how things go together and I doubt someone else as picky as
me wouldn't sell a plane they've built.

If it weren't for the certification rules, I'd buy an old classic and
restore it myself. I think that would be as satisfying as building
something from scratch.

Tony


You can do that. You need a certified person to do the signoffs, but you can do all the work...

Steve Hix wrote:

As far as *operated* under LSA rules, here's one list:

http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/lsa/..._aircraft.html

I want to be able to work on my plane not just fly it under the FAA
rules, this excludes all former certificated aircraft.

Tony

Blueskies wrote:

I'm still thinking it would be better to scratch build myself. I'm
very picky about how things go together and I doubt someone else as
picky as me wouldn't sell a plane they've built.

If it weren't for the certification rules, I'd buy an old classic and
restore it myself. I think that would be as satisfying as building
something from scratch.

Tony


You can do that. You need a certified person to do the signoffs, but you
can do all the work...

Finding someone that would sign off on the work is highly unlikely since
I would also expect to rebuild the engine myself too.

Tony

In article aqNsj.2297$eU3.78@trndny04,
Anthony W wrote:

Steve Hix wrote:

As far as *operated* under LSA rules, here's one list:

http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/lsa/..._aircraft.html

I want to be able to work on my plane not just fly it under the FAA
rules, this excludes all former certificated aircraft.

Interesting.

You'd better tell all those who have restored old aircaft back to flying
condition, what with replacing fabric, interiors, instruments, engines,
....

Somebody had to sign off the work, granted, but it's possible to do much
of the work yourself. Also legal.

"Anthony W" wrote in message
news:zvNsj.2612$YL3.1639@trndny05...
Blueskies wrote:

I'm still thinking it would be better to scratch build myself. I'm very
picky about how things go together and I doubt someone else as picky as
me wouldn't sell a plane they've built.

If it weren't for the certification rules, I'd buy an old classic and
restore it myself. I think that would be as satisfying as building
something from scratch.

Tony


You can do that. You need a certified person to do the signoffs, but you
can do all the work...

Finding someone that would sign off on the work is highly unlikely since I
would also expect to rebuild the engine myself too.

Tony

I have no personal experience with this, but have heard that it is normally
done by working under the supervision of the certified mechanic. In effect,
you would be paying to be an apprentice--but you would be paying less than
to have the mechanic do all of the work and you would be gaining the
education and skills. As best I understand the procedure, the certified
mechanic would perform the critical tasks, or at least supervise those tasks
*very* closely, and much of work that you would do could also be used as
experience toward certification as a mechanic. (Remember that much of the
work to be done can be performed by a helper.)

Further comment is invited--I am interested in possibly using the same
technique in the future.

Peter

"Anthony W" wrote in message
news:aqNsj.2297$eU3.78@trndny04...
Steve Hix wrote:

As far as *operated* under LSA rules, here's one list:

http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/lsa/..._aircraft.html

I want to be able to work on my plane not just fly it under the FAA rules,
this excludes all former certificated aircraft.

Tony

It may not be quite that cut and dried; and I have attempted to start a
further discussion elsewhere in the same thread.

Peter

On Feb 13, 6:19*pm, Anthony W wrote:
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
The problem with buying a classic (as I understand it) is that I won't
be able to do the repair and maintenance on it. *I've seen a bunch of
old ratty Cessna 150s sitting around the air parks that look like they
need a lot of TLC to get flying. *If I bought one of those, I'd have
to pay an A&P a fortune to get it in the air.

Another reason to buy a used homebuilt...

I'm still thinking it would be better to scratch build myself. *I'm very
picky about how things go together and I doubt someone else as picky as
me wouldn't sell a plane they've built.


I think you might be very surprised on the above point. There are
many builders out there who are absolute perfectionists that are more
into building than flying after they build. I have known a couple who
simply move from one project to the next using their last project to
finance the next one. Their real joy is the pride and joy they take
in their workmanship.


If it weren't for the certification rules, I'd buy an old classic and
restore it myself. *I think that would be as satisfying as building
something from scratch.

Tony

From what I have seen of some of the old classic planes at Oshkosh
over the years, I would have to agree with you 100%. Not much could
be more satisfying than finding an old decaying classic in a barn or
hangar and bringing it back to life.

On Feb 13, 8:15*pm, Anthony W wrote:
Blueskies wrote:
I'm still thinking it would be better to scratch build myself. *I'm
very picky about how things go together and I doubt someone else as
picky as me wouldn't sell a plane they've built.

If it weren't for the certification rules, I'd buy an old classic and
restore it myself. *I think that would be as satisfying as building
something from scratch.

Tony

You can do that. You need a certified person to do the signoffs, but you
can do all the work...

Finding someone that would sign off on the work is highly unlikely since
I would also expect to rebuild the engine myself too.

Tony

While I have never attempted this myself, I would bet you a dollar to
a dime that if you joined your local EAA Classics chapter you would be
able to find someone there. My local EAA chapter has several old
pilot members who are into the classics and would be willing to help
someone like you. You might also visit the local airport and just
talk with some of the AP's and see what you could work out.

Where there is a will....there is a way.