What is your day job

[captain_john]

EP-3 Aeries?

Jim Robinette drives one of those. He lurks here and chimes in from time to time!

He is a -7A builder in VA. Right now, I think he is travelling in Russia.

CJ

[Leighton]

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer... Engines, Airframes, and Structures.

Mostly a helicopter background, Bell mediums and just about every light single on the market today, but i've also played with some heavier stuff, C-130's, 727's etc, as well as F111's for a short while.

Just about finished my Aeroplane PPL, and plan on building (starting at least) a little something-something in the next couple of years hopefully.

Personnaly, I blame Capt John for my interest in RV's.

[captain_john]

Thank you, Leighton!

I think alot of people are similarily affected.

...not that it is hard to do!

CJ

[painless]

I'll chime in.

I'm a tooth fairy (General Dentist), and a father of 4, my other job....more like a labor of love.

[svanarts]

I saw this thread pop up again so I'll update my own info again. I still work at the same place (The Modesto Bee http://www.modbee.com)but now I'm an IT manager. I still do all the old system admin work I used to do, but now I manage the department too. What a deal.

[Brantel]

Im an Electrical/Automation Engineer by training, experience and in heart but somehow I have ended up working for a company designing boilers, deaerators, and support equipment for the like.

[BrickPilot]

Senior engineer for a major CAD software company.

[aerial]

Trained and licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. Currently self-employed as a Carpenter/General Building Contractor.

[Brantel]

Trained and licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. Currently self-employed as a Carpenter/General Building Contractor.

Must be because as a CPA, you saw how much money those General Contractors were making

[cjensen]

Senior engineer for a major CAD software company.

to Rivetbangers Jeff!! Cool avatar!!

I see you are in the "prebuild" stage for a 7A...got the preview plans or a training kit yet???

[dons]

I've been working at a small ISP for almost 12 years, now I mostly just watch the unix servers do their thing and find new ways to fight spam. Before that I was into embedded micro computers, satcom, custom integerated circuits and programmable logic. I was just as happy writing software as designing some electronic hardware, but now find this RV building better than both .

[rv8or]

Very interesting backgrounds guys...really impressive.

I'm ex-Air Force, on furlough from American Airlines, and currently flying the Lear 40/45XR.

I was a System Engineer for a network perfomance/monitoring company during the first 2 years of my furlough...until that job was outsourced!

Soon to be back at American (guessing July), and most likely will be moving North; either towards Chad or CJ!

Thomas, I wish I had a job in the medical field

Joe

[BrickPilot]

Senior engineer for a major CAD software company.

to Rivetbangers Jeff!! Cool avatar!!

I see you are in the "prebuild" stage for a 7A...got the preview plans or a training kit yet???

Thanks! I've got the preview plans for my 7A, the "history of RV", and a subscription to the RVator. I also picked up a 60 gal compressor, 3 die grinders, full size stand up drill press, 2 bench grinders, chop saw w/cutoff blade, bench belt/disk sander ... but am stuck with deciding between the Isham, Avery, or Cleveland RV tool kits. Leaning towards Isham right now due to the word-of-mouth on having a DRDT-2 along with a pneumatic squeezer.

The next big hurdle for me is the shop. The city has the plans for my shop... um, excuse me... make that "aircraft construction facility". Approval for that must happen before the foundation gets poured. 6 weeks later she'll be done and I will order [at least] the empenage kit. While waiting for that to arrive, my plan is to plumb the shop pressure system, build work tables, install my bench equipment, and take a class up in SLC as to "how to build an RV." Standard build is my plan... both for financial reasons and to prolong the therapy of building.

I've been talking/dreaming about this for years, doing the research, reading the forums, etc. I am so psyched to do this! I just wish I could get started sooner. I even have a shop cam all setup.
http://rv.goofball.cc

Thanks again.

[dons]

That's great Jeff! Sounds like you did a lot of research and are very well prepared indeed. I have heard good things about all three of the tool supplies you mention, personally I have bought most of mine from Avery with most of the rest coming from Cleavland. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three. I also have the DRDT-2 (as do many other rivetbangers) and it is worth it.

[cjensen]

Very interesting backgrounds guys...really impressive.

I'm ex-Air Force, on furlough from American Airlines, and currently flying the Lear 40/45XR.

I was a System Engineer for a network perfomance/monitoring company during the first 2 years of my furlough...until that job was outsourced!

Soon to be back at American (guessing July), and most likely will be moving North; either towards Chad or CJ!

Thomas, I wish I had a job in the medical field

Joe

Cool Joe! Who do you fly the 40/45 for?

Now that you've flown in the two main civilian fields, which do you like better? Seeing as though you're going back to American, I'd guess the airlines have it?

[rv8or]

Hey Chad--

I fly the Lear for FlexJet. BTW, I OFFICIALLY got the call for my return to American this afternoon...July 3rd start date!

I would say, by far, the flying is a lot more fun in the Lear. Really nice airplane, small airfields as well as big monsters, pretty freindly owners/pax...FBO popcorn machines.

However, and it's a big however, the work rules (read: lifestyle) and pay both REALLY suck in comparison. SO, for me, at this stage of my career, going back to AA is a no brainer.

Joe

[cnpeters]

Family Practice doc in Bloomington (live near Chad). There are many interesting parallels in the changes that have befallen medicine and the culture of airline jobs, a topic I've followed for years (being an airline driver was a close second desire as a kid, but too much volatility). Too much to muse on here, but have had some interesting conversations with big tin drivers over the years. Joe - do you drive the ubiquitous MD-80 for AA? Also, what about your AF days (I have 6 years active duty as a doc, got to play on the C-5, KC-10, and C-9)? C-17 as per your avatar (good C-17 friend at McChord, also have a C-17 systems CD-ROM that I've perused)? Great news on going back to AA - though my wife and I were quite unhappy with the recent management payout slap in the face recently delivered. I hope morale isn't tanked when you start back up - best wishes!

[rv8or]

Hey Carl--

Yes, wish somebody would have explained the volatility aspects to me when I was a college student...oh well. And, of course, the bonus thing got under my skin as well.

I was furloughed off of the MD-80, and had been on the F-100 and 727 Panel before that. I expect to go back to the -80, but won't find out for sure (or where) until my return date.

AF went: T-37 FAIP, T-41/T-3A at USAFA (where I caught the "homebuilt" bug), C-141, C-17. I was at Travis and Mchord...the latter as a Reservist. How about you? Looks like a Travis or Scott resume to me!

Joe

[cnpeters]

Exactly both - Travis for 3 years ('93-'96), and Scott '96-'99. Got my private at the Travis Aeroclub in T-41's - 2000 ft. by 37' runway (declared 40' to be within min regs), tight pattern on one end with 50' obstacle (row of eucalyptus trees). Land there, and you can land anywhere. They didn't like us playing on the 12,000 footers with the C-5's and KC-10's (C-141's occasionally). Many flights over San Francisco and bay, Muir Woods, Napa valley. Loved it, great years. Hope to meet you sometime to swap stories.

[johnk]

I work for a large defense contractor.

My academic background and original technical work (15-20 yrs) was in aeronautical engineering focused on guided missile design. Now I am mostly involved in air defense concept studies and sensor networking.

John