How bad of an idea would it be to slowly build an aircraft overtime?
Posted by Marc3EMusic@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 10 comments
Is it a bad idea to start out getting some of the lower priced kits and building those in a space at home, and then moving those to a larger build space for when the time comes to take care of the wings, fuselage, and finishing kit? I'm asking because I'm in my early 20s, am very mechanically inclined, and currently have the time (and believe it or not some money) to spare and start building an aircraft like an RV-10. I don't want to jump into it, and realize that the parts have been sitting for so long that they might not be usable. It may seem like a dumb question but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
noahhl@reddit
Lots of people take a long time to finish their kits, so it's not an unusual or particularly bad idea. The parts won't go bad if stored properly (at least for an aluminum plane like an RV). The -10 empennage is a quick-to-go-together kit, and does end up with some big pieces if space is a concern. The horizontal stab is 10' wide, and the tailcone ends up being about 8' of tailcone.
It seems like most people either finish in 2-5 years by working at it continuously, or 20+ years by working in starts and stops. There's a significant portion of the build that is just figuring out what to do next, and people who do one day a week (or worse, one day a month) spend a lot more time figuring that out vs people who do a little bit every day.
Another option is finding another builder or EAA chapter project that you can work on unitl you're able to fnd a bigger space.
LaserRanger_McStebb@reddit
This is solid advice regardless. I don't have the space to start my dream build (Rans S-21) yet but I still wanted to learn the craft, so I signed on to my local chapter.
It's a great way to build experience and connect with other builders who you might need to call upon for help in the future.
Mispelled-This@reddit
If you want to build a plane, do it.
If you want to fly a plane, don’t.
Santos_Dumont@reddit
If I could start my RV-14 build over again I wish I would have just bought all of the parts in the beginning. COVID significantly changed the supply chain and doubled the price and wait times of everything. It took me 2 year from ordering to receive my Lycoming engine and the price of everything pretty much doubled.
The least expensive way to build is to find someone no longer interested in their build and buy their parts and partially completed structures.
Exotic_Army7887@reddit
It would be an excellent idea ! 😀
try r/homebuilt
Building an aircraft slowly is the norm. You can expect minimum 4 years working most evenings for several hours. A mate took 10 years to build his Jodel while still having time to work, fly and have a family.
The kit sellers typically under quote the number of hours required.
Catch_0x16@reddit
As long as you keep the parts indoors and don't leave them out in the rain, they should be fine for years without corroding or becoming 'unusabke' as you say.
If you can, I'd say just go for it! I'm rebuilding an ultralight at the moment and it brings me real satisfaction. In some ways I'm worried I'll miss working on it, when the day to put it back in the air comes.
poisonandtheremedy@reddit
Most RV-10 builds are 4-10 years it seems. Go for it.
DarthStrakh@reddit
Just depends on if your willing to weight. I'm buying a used rv-6 and doing a few upgrades and learning first. I also need to get it on payments which is a harder task when wanting to build... I'm not getting a heloc, I need to leverage my house for a new one when rennos are done.
I figure by the time I have my family together I'll have enough down on my plane to leverage a loan for parts and build an rv-10 and sell the rv-6.
knightress_oxhide@reddit
If you have fun building it then what is the problem?
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Is it a bad idea to start out getting some of the lower priced kits and building those in a space at home, and then moving those to a larger build space for when the time comes to take care of the wings, fuselage, and finishing kit? I'm asking because I'm in my early 20s, am very mechanically inclined, and currently have the time (and believe it or not some money) to spare and start building an aircraft like an RV-10. I don't want to jump into it, and realize that the parts have been sitting for so long that they might not be usable. It may seem like a dumb question but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Please downvote this comment until it collapses.
Questions about this comment? Please see this wiki post before contacting the mods.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.