Hey all, new Californian here!

aeigenman · Post by **aeigenman** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:03 pm

Hey everyone, wanted to introduce myself, and it seems like this is the place to do it! I'm 30 years old, and about to start my journey into the unkown of a RV-7. (October 2007) This has only been made possible because I just bought my first house, in Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento! I told the wife, she can pick any house she wanted, as long as it has a 3-car garage! (need space for the other toy, of coarse!) I spent 7 years in the Air Force as a Guidance and Control Technician, and have been dreaming about building my own plane since about the year 2000. I can't wait to get this thing started, and estimate I should be able to dump about 30 hours a week into it, without much sacrafice of family. I am a Registered Nurse, and only work 3, 12 hour days a week, so plan on being in the garage my off days, while everyone in the house is at school or work!

I want to thank those of whom I've made aquantance with through other sources, Scott Vanartsdalen and Kevin Hester. I actually currently live down the street from Hester's home airfield!!

And yes, I AM one of the ones that is waiting for my approval letter for my FAA N-number! Hopefully soon to be N167AE, I've payed my dues, now just waiting on confirmation. The way I see it, it will give me motivation to keep things moving! AE for for Aaron Eigenman, and Alpha Echo rolls off the tounge nicely! the 67 is for my first car, a 1967 Mustang, my baby... I have since adopted 67 as my set-all, use-all number (if any of you guys remember pager language, and everyone had a code, it was mine even WAY back then), but sorry y'all, not my bank pin number, sorry to disappoint!! and the 1, just fit, and rolls as well! one-six-seven-alpha-echo definately has a nice ring to it!

Well, sorry if I've rambled on, but just wanted to give some info to you all! I look forward to keeping up on the posts! and getting to know you all! I filled out my national EAA membership info at the Western fly-in in Marysville last month, and once I get that back, I will be joining chapter 52 out of sacramento, if that means anything to anyone! I'll probably be joining out here in the bay area as well, as this has always been home for me, and plenty of family still here!

I can't "keep on pounding rivets" yet, so i'll settle for a "keep on reviewing those preview plans" instead. Although they DO look slightly intimodating!

Out of breath~~~

Aaron Eigenman

P.S. - Damn.. no spell check, well, i'm a bad speller, so you'll all have to forgive me!

Post by **Spike** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:29 pm

Welcome

Have fun, bring friends, learn as much as you can, and ask lots of questions.

John

aeigenman · Post by **aeigenman** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:34 pm

Roger-wilco-

Thanks..actually, one of my co-workers has offered to come over on his days of and pound some rivets with me, as long as I can teach him how! little does he know what he just got himself into.. and he's a tall, scrawny thing too, so those long, skinny arms will come in QUITE handy! but I honestly can't wait to get started.. I would order my emp now, and tinker on it, but we're trying to pack up the house we're moving out of, and the wifey wouldn't like it much, if I were in the garage playing when there's work to be done inside. so, I have to mind my p's and q's. After all, if there is no WAF (Wife Approval Factor), there is no project! it's the "power of the box", and the checkbook, the way I see it!

67AE

dons · Post by **dons** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:38 pm

to RivetBangers Aaron, it is a very friendly and helpful place. A three car garage, I'm envious, I have a single car garage, you'll have lots of room. Don't worry about the plans looking like a bit much to start with, when you concentrate on one task at a time it really isn't that bad. There are a couple of really good web sites done by members here that can really help you get an idea of what the plans are talking about, thanks to Chad and Brad. There are lots of others out there as well, and make good reading to see how others have done things. Good luck, sounds like you have a good plan for space and time already.

aeigenman · Post by **aeigenman** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:43 pm

Thanks Don! I'm actually putting a wall up, to separate the off the 3rd car spot. the garage already has 2 doors, a 2-car door, and a single car door. The single spot will be a protected area for my car, to keep the shavings and junk away from it! also, I'd had to swing something around or have an air hose scratch my baby! but it will end up being a 2-car space, dedicated SOLEY to airplane. storage goes "elsewhere"..

So thanks for the warm welcome! I have checked out some "popular" builder sites! any chance you can PM me or post these others you've mentioned?!

Aaron

dons · Post by **dons** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:13 pm

There are really a lot of good builder sites out there, it comes down to which ones you take the time to follow and read through. A couple of very active members here have great sites, but there are so many good ones I wouldn't want to try post a "list" because I would leave out too many good ones, but here are a few to get you started. Check the signatures on posts, most people that havea web site provide a link.

Brad (rv7factory) http://www.rv7factory.com/
Chad (cjensen) http://www.chadandbrittne.com/RV-7.htm
Dan Checkoway http://www.rvproject.com/
Rudi (greylingr) http://flyboy.freepgs.com/rv_index.html videos!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:20 pm

Welcome aboard Aaron! Glad to have ya here! Ask all the questions you can possibly think of, and post pictures!

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:24 pm

Aaron, from one Kal-e-fornian to another... Welcome and Congrats!!!

Don, thanks for putting me with such good company... I'm honored.

dons · Post by **dons** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:48 pm

RV7Factory wrote:Don, thanks for putting me with such good company... I'm honored.

No problem, I know how much work it is to build something like the web site you have, I've been trying to document what I have been doing, and it is SO much work, especially when I can't do it on a regular basis, I think that must be the key.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:21 pm

Don, it is a lot of work, but I've been threatened, by builders who shall remain nameless, with physical harm if I stop posting pictures -- so I do it for self-preservation.

dons · Post by **dons** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:39 pm

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:28 pm

Aaron, welcome to RB! You'll find it is a friendly bunch around here. If you have questions feel free to ask, someone here will probably have the answer and if not will know someone who does.

Again, welcome and enjoy the ride!

1:1_Scale · Post by **1:1_Scale** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:25 pm

Welcome Aaron!

I'm pretty much in the same boat you're in- recently moved (business, too!) and am in the process of setting up my shop and thoroughly planning all the parts I want for my -7 (which will most likely change as the project progresses

). Maybe I'll get the tail kit this fall, but right now I'lm slinging drywall mud on the 12' ceiling and catching the leftovers in my ear

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:37 am

Hey there Aaron. Glad you made it. I told you it was a friendly place didn't I?

Now we're getting a little balance against all those east coasters.

We have to get you up for an inspiration ride.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:18 am

Welcome, Aaron!

I like your writing style and web personality!

I think you will like it here. We have some other medics here on the board, so you are not alone!

Are you going to OSH?

CJ

aeigenman · Post by **aeigenman** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:59 am

right on all.. look at that, i go to work for the night, and my thread has been bombarded in my absense... LOVE IT!

thanks don for the list... i have spent a ton of time on RVproject.com, and will have to check out some of these others! especially RV7Factory, from right next door in livermore.

heh.. and we'll DEFINATELY have to get one of those.. how is it.. "35,000 incentive ride"?!?!

Glad to hear us west coasters are catching up to the east.. but think of it this way, even though we have more people per square mile than they do, and theoretically should have more builders.. our numbers are also our downfall.. i for one, would LOVE to have my own private grass strip on my property! but my soon to be 8,000 sq foot lot, might be cutting it a bit small.. even for a STOL RV with 200HP..

the neighbors might get mad at those long landings and go arounds also.. heh.

guess us 'best-side' (west-side) will have to settle for concrete airfields. had breakfast with my soon-to-be building slave-labor, oh.. i mean buddy, and he's all excited about doing this. he got a little nervous when i handed him the drawing #3, HS, and started to read the instructions, "now cleco HS-714pp to HS-710bb, but assure clearance for HS-405, and don't forget to assure PERFECT alignment, and shop heads..." he was like.. uh.. you sure we can do this????

I can't wait.. and unlike 1:1 over there.. looks like we might be close in starting times, and can use that as motivation to keep each other going.. so hurry up on that earwax mud will you.. so we can get to ordering!

Aaron
67AE

aeigenman · Post by **aeigenman** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:03 am

heh.. some corrections:

"$35,000 ride"

and not UNLIKE 1:1.. but rather like 1:1

damn i hate fast typing and not proof reading.. i can't help it, when i think about this stuff.. i get all excited, and think faster than i can type!