#1
Posted: 8/17/2009 16:33:03
What are you building, and in particular what are some of the hardships you've had to overcome in your build, and how did you overcome them? I am one of the those people who has NOT been blessed with mechanical aptitude, but I would really like to build and fly my own aircraft one day. In particular, I've narrowed my field of possibilities down to a Mini-Max, Pietenpol Aircamper, or possibly a Little Wing Autogyro. Two are largely wood and fabric construction, while the other is steel tube and fabric. I'd like to know what your project is, and some of the work you've accomplished on it.
Thanks!
Zack
EAA Timeless Voices Program Coordinator & Museum Collections Assistant
"Let No Story Go Untold!"
#2
Posted: 8/18/2009 07:52:35
I keep tellin' ya Zack, build a Pietenpol!!!!
Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate
#3
Posted: 8/18/2009 08:06:31
I know, I know! I just look at how many ribs I have to build for a Piet compared to a Mini-Max, and then how many I have to build for a Little Wing (a big fat zero!). Lowell Farrand has also imprinted a crazy idea in my head - a Mini-Max based tractor gyro. Hmm.....
EAA Timeless Voices Program Coordinator & Museum Collections Assistant
"Let No Story Go Untold!"
#4
Posted: 8/18/2009 09:30:26
Yabut! A Pietenpol has two seats. How you gonna give me a ride in any of that other stuff????
Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate
#5
Posted: 8/18/2009 10:49:16
Zack,
I'm toying with an adaptation of a classic bird, the Fly Baby. The Hevle Classic is a two seater version, that if built carefully, can be Light Sport qualified. I've got a bunch of plans around, just trying to figure out what I want for the near future vs. the long term plan.
Jim
Basic Flying
1: Try to stay in the middle of the air.
2: Do not go near the edges of it.
3: The edges of the air can be recognised by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there.
- anon
#6
Posted: 8/19/2009 20:51:17
I've got a line on a Falconar F12 project, and my first hurdle will be transporting it a few hundred miles home.
I'm also not blessed with great mechanical aptitude, but I still love the idea of crafting an airplane for myself (or most of one, anyway).
#7
Posted: 8/19/2009 21:52:21
Hey Zack, I'm building a Zenith CH-701 from mostly scratch. Don't be shy about building wooden wing ribs, once your set up to build one, it takes very little additional time to make more. Setting up the jig and laying out the first one is the hard part. The Peit is a pretty impressive little plane considering that it was designed so long ago. If you get a chance, check out the EAA video on building wooden aircraft. It shows you how to build a plane like the Peit. Heck, that might even be the plane they are building in the video (been a while since I watched my copy).
One thing is for sure, there is lots of help to be found in the EAA.
Doug MacDonald
NW Ontario, Canada
Doug M
CH-701 Scratch Builder
CH#1012, Fort Frances, ON
International Falls, MN
#8
Posted: 8/19/2009 22:20:14
I just decided to buy a partial built Bakeng Duce project. The Duce is steel tube, fabric and wood wings. "A bigger faster Pietenpol" if you will. I am not quite sure what I am getting myself into but I look forward to the new challenges. I do on the otherhand have my father-in-law who can give me some advice, he built a Pietepol and love his plane.
Brad
#9
Posted: 8/19/2009 22:20:27
EAA has a video on building wooden aircraft? Why didn't I know this???!!!
I am very slowly building a replica of a Sopwith Pup using the original plans from WW1.
#10
Posted: 8/20/2009 07:58:40
Adam,
I think video is the operative term, it is (was?) only on VHS. I'm hoping (hint hint video guys) that it gets converted and reissued on DVD, maybe in a combo with the wood book! I can always hope!
Jim
Thinking about getting dusty!
Basic Flying
1: Try to stay in the middle of the air.
2: Do not go near the edges of it.
3: The edges of the air can be recognised by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there.
- anon
#11
Posted: 8/21/2009 14:47:39
Hi Zack - I am building a Van's RV-7 currently but I am only on the tail kit (and the project is stalled). I am seriously thinking of switching to the Waiex. Reason being I have 3 kids 7 & under. I should be able to build and fly the Waiex for about the price of the engine & prop of the RV. Plus the pulled rivet construction and overall smaller size will make it (I hope) more likely to get the kids to pitch in and help at a young age.
The metal kits are nice beacause if you can build with an erector set or assemble some of the kid toys out there today you're qualified skills-wise to put one of these precut, prebent & prepunched kits together.
I hope to find the financial resources soon to get the Waiex kit and get started. I'll just keep the RV tail until I'm ready to build my 2nd plane!
:-)
Rob
#12
Posted: 8/21/2009 20:37:03
Nice choices, my project is a Double Eagle: steel tube and fabric. Learning to weld will be part of the project, though many others have managed, why not us?
Outside of normal financial hardship the workspace challenge is looming. A garage workshop is in order, but getting the space will require moving stuff into backyard sheds that both need repair. This summer airplane work is on hold in favor of shed restoration/rebuilding/rearranging.
#13
Posted: 8/21/2009 21:47:20
I am building an 82% scale F4U-1A replica, powered by a P&W R-985.
Check out my web page www.Corsair82.com
#14
Posted: 8/21/2009 22:31:05
Nothing yet! In my ideal world, I want a tandem 2 seat motorglider (like an SGC 2-33 with 50-60 HP), but have not found the right aircraft yet. Might settle for single place, or design my own, or modify some one elses design to do what I want. Piet and Mini-Max both sound like reasonable choices, as does the Hummel Ultra-Cruiser, double Eagle and the Revolution. How did some of you finally get rid of too many choices, and pick the project you are building?
#15
Posted: 8/22/2009 07:33:24
Reid -
You're looking at several of the planes I considered. My daughter felt side-by-side seating was a good feature, and the low cost and simplicity of a VW powerplant seemed to point in the direction of the Double Eagle.
Bounce your choices off friends, family, and local chapter members. Are there lots of metal, or all wood, or tube and rag projects in your local chapter? Two-stroke or VW experts? That might help you decide as well, since having nearby expertise is a good thing. Do you have any thoughts as to construction or engine for the tandem motorglider? That might be a future project, in which case one of your current choices could gain you some valuable experience.
In the end I simply took the plunge. Plans are not all that expensive: you can always change your mind if the design does not suit you. Plus, after cutting that first bit of wood or metal you officially have a project underway! It's satisfying to have an answer when asked, "what are you building?"
Hope that helps.
#16
Posted: 8/22/2009 09:29:40
Reid,
I was looking for kits initially, but when talking to others, they had me look at partially built projects (there are a lot of them out there). I also looked at what ultimately was going to be most practical for the flying I want to do and costs/time I am willing to accept. I pick my bakeng deuce project up next week.
Hope this helps.
Brad
#17
Posted: 8/23/2009 10:23:14
"Basic Flying 1: Try to stay in the middle of the air. 2: Do not go near the edges of it. 3: The edges of the air can be recognised by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there. - anon " .......I really like this thanks. PZ
Cheers, Pete
#18
Posted: 8/23/2009 10:29:15
HI Zack, I am building a Sonerai, John Monnett's earlier design, and I always go by his Sonex display at OSH. His planes are great designs, made to be simple and affordable, I bought my whole project for $4000. with zerotime engine from Barnstormers. My next project will definintely be from Sonex. Cheers, Pete
Cheers, Pete
#19
Posted: 8/23/2009 10:41:39
Ried Jacobsen wrote:
Nothing yet! In my ideal world, I want a tandem 2 seat motorglider (like an SGC 2-33 with 50-60 HP), but have not found the right aircraft yet. Might settle for single place, or design my own, or modify some one elses design to do what I want. Piet and Mini-Max both sound like reasonable choices, as does the Hummel Ultra-Cruiser, double Eagle and the Revolution. How did some of you finally get rid of too many choices, and pick the project you are building?
Hi Reid, have you looked at the Sonex motorglider, name XENOS? It has side by side seating, 80 hp and custom prop to maximize soaring. From the Sonex web site the sink rate is equal to or better than a SGS 2-33 and SGS 1-26. Fly all day on a gallon of gas is their motto. Cheers, Pete
Cheers, Pete
#20
Posted: 8/23/2009 21:43:32
Thanks, I do need to get involved with a Chapter with active projects. I have a couple sets of "plans" downloaded from the internet that give some ideas (even though I would not build from the plans without a lot of re-work on them). If time and funds allow, I would like a side by side seating for the second plane for easier socializing. I love a tandem seating for visibillity and slightly better performance. (Less drag, therefore higher speed and better economy of operation.)
Good advice.