What Our Members Are Building & Restoring

Let's not forget that EAA's EXPERIMENTER eNewsletter features projects, not just done aircraft!!!

http://www.eaa.org/experimenter/articles/  (Look for "What our members are building")

We don't have a word count limit and can publish any number of photos.

So PLEASE consider sending us your story.

The way I look at it... when you go to a new airport and see open hangars, what draws you to stop in an open hangar and visit; a project under way or a completed plane? Most of us nuts & bolts types like to see things as they are going together. We ALL love flying planes, no doubt, but in EXPERIMENTER, I want to showcase the project as well.

Thanks!

Pat Panzera, EXPERIMENTER editor.

we need to access homebuilder s Hints videos from this site.  Also request all hints sessions to give sources for materials or tools used.  Right now I need help trouble shooting my instrument installation.  Non-working OT and CHT. Grounding ?

here are some pics of my project. Getting ready to taxi test and first flight. Legal eagle ultralight

My project is a Wittman Tailwind W-10

I'm currently in primary flight training, I thought a Tailwind would be an excellent airplane to extend my skills from the venerable C172.

Just getting rolling, right wing and fuselage are framed, lots of work to go.  ;^)

Gerry van Dyk

Edmonton, Alberta

I am building a Vans RV-6A. Been sloooooooow building for 16 years. I am at the 99.9% mark with 1% left. Installing the controls now. Plan is for this spring to be in the air. You can see information at www.dmack.net

16 years......... The only thing I've worked on that long was my dauhter..... We both moved away and I sold the house.

  Congratulations on building your RV-6A Don.  It seems you are very close to enjoying the rare satisfaction of having completed an airplane project. While 16 years may be a comparatively long build time, the fact is and for a variety of reasons many airplane projects are never finished by the original builder. By beating the odds you will soon discover that the RV-6A is a truly fine performer. My 160 HP example often meets or exceeds Van's own famously conservative performance numbers. Give me a modest tailwind component and 200 MPH (GPS GS) in cruise flight is easily achieved. The linked YouTube video suggests what my RV-6A TOL performance commonly is. Using an inexpensive "Flip" HD camcorder no bigger than a pack of cigarettes, we documented several TOL's  on a fine September day last year. Like my experience demonstrates, very soon you too can expect similar results:

Best,

Rick Galati

I was an EAA member in the early 90s. due to liffe changes, i had to back off ariplanes for awhile. But the passion never left. New project, just getting started. My brother and I are build two 5/8 scale P-38s. should be a lot of fun. Once there are pieces and parts to show, i will definately post them. Still have some more design work to do before I start pounding out sheetmetal

Thanks for the encouraging words. Your plane looks great! Polished aluminum was my second choice.

Don

My Project is a Vans RV-9a.

Just finished the right wing last Friday (Feb 19, 2010).

Hope to the have the left wing complete in a couple of months.

I'm building the plane with my Father, who was a helicopter engineer for many decades.

Bruce D. McKinnon

Computer Geek and Amateur Plane Builder.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I am Restoring a Stit's S6-B Flut-R-Bug that recieved it air worthiness cert. in Feb of 1964 When I was a month old. I hope to have it flying before Uncle Sam sends me on vacation to Iraq. I you have one of these unique planes or know someone that has one I would like to here about it or see pictures. It is a tandum two seater and has an A-75 power plant. It had both wings damadged when the previous owner, who used his pasture for a landing strip, tried to park it in a stock trailer without taking the wings off first.

Awesome Carl!!!! I'm building a Stits Playboy, the Stits designs are awesome!!! Look forward to watching the progress.

MJ

I'm recovering my 1964 Cherokee II Sailplane.  Designed by Stan Hall.  Been keeping a sort of log of my work at http://cherokeesailplanes.blogspot.com

I am restoring the prototype/demonstrator of the Prowler Aviation Jaguar, a kitplane from the 80's.  It was landed off-field with the wheels up after an engine failure.  It sat in a barn (literally) for almost 15 years.  Lot's of work left to do but it will fly again!

 I have a web page at:

http://www.prowlerjaguar.com 

This is 1/6th the outcome from a group build six of our EAA members pulled off. This is my Pietenpol Aircamper or as we call it a Big Piet. We started the project  Jan 2002 and four were completed Sept 2009.  The two others will complete soon.  All Piets have Corvair power. The project was fun with a lot of good fellowship and motivation from all builders.  I have about 10 hours on it due to cold and bad weather in Georgia but look for us at AirVenture  this year.

Don,

I was wondering how you stayed motivated for so long. I am currently a college student, engaged, trying to get some flying in and building an RV-7a. My fiancee, father, and I plan on taking about 10 to 15 years to build. As of late, I have not been able to build due to the  large amount of school work. I try to get on EAA's website, go to local chapter 509 meetings and  talk to people whenever possible to keep the motivation as high as possible. I was wondering if you had any other advice. I should also note that the project is located 30 miles from where I currently live, and getting over there frequently can be difficult at best.

Michael Zenner

It is MY suggestion that you decide say a week in advance or so (and this will depend on your workload) to go to where the project is and spend the WHOLE day doing SOMETHING to move it along.  Do this at least once a month and when you have a school break, spend at least TWO full days of that break on the project.  Make an outing of it. Be advised that you may need to be highly organized to make sure that you don't get there and then finding that the trip was wasted because you are missing the rivet gun....or the drill don't work. 

Michael,

It has had its moments. Two kids were born, house move, etc.

Part of the reason for taking so long is that I was building with my father and brother. My father was one of the main reasons to build. Building got him out of the house to supervise and stop from killing my mother
. He passed away 5 years ago and I slowed down a lot.

I also had an Ercoupe for 5 years so building time slowed down while I was having a blast with that. I also fly models in the summer and that takes time.

So its all about the priorities. And  life happens.

You will get there.

Don

Scratch built PA-18 Super Cub. Took 5 years.  180hp and some bush mods.  The entire project documented on www.supercubproject.com