We are getting lots of new members here and I was just wondering (being nosey) what you people are all about.
Me, I am from Southern New England, Plymouth, Massachusetts to be precise. I teach Electrical at the local trade school. I have had an electrician's license for almost 20 years but this teaching bit is new to me. I used to sell technology. Electronic article surveillance equipment and software to the schools and municipalities in New England. A good gig, but sales is a thankless job!
I started flying about 8 years ago because it seemed interesting and was a challenge. I was right!
I have about 350 hours in my logbook and usually fly a Citabria or Cherokee 6 with 300 hoss.
What's your story?
CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!
I'm Scott, I live in Modesto, CA. I am a systems administrator for our local newspaper The Modesto Bee www.modbee.com I manage all our Windows servers, routers, and stand in for the unix admin when he's nowhere to be found.
I started flying about 13 years ago because someone who was going to give me a ride in a plane never showed up. I took a ride with a local CFI and I was hooked! My first plane was an Aeronca Champ and it was the plane that really taught me about flying. I racked up about 800 hours in the Champ. I decided I wanted something faster and really liked the looks of the RV-4. It took me 5 years to finish my RV-4 and I've been flying it for two years now.
I'll jump in. I work for an engineering consulting firm in the Sacramento area and live in Folsom, CA. I am an electrical engineer but seldom actually use any of the education. I found it best to just baffle with BS!
First plane was a Cessna 140. Had about a hundred hours renting prior to her, then completed my 6 with about 350 hours on the C140. The C140 was a great little plane and really tought me how to fly, and land. I'm just a few hours over 500 now and have been flying the 6 for a little over 2 years. Got my ticket, night VFR, in '91.
Well, Im from Baltimore and work down near DC for a company called Integral Systems. I write/maintain telemetry and control software used to monitor and fly satellites. Other than that my two main hobbies are airplanes and motorcycles.
Ive been flying for about 5 years now and am part owner in a pretty nifty 172. Currently Im building a 9A for the fun of it.
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
Confession day!! Is this part of a 12 step program dealing with an addiction to airplanes?
I'm Larry, and I retired after 27 years as a cop in California mostly in investigations, and moved to Alaska with my wife Debbie. I've been flying for over 20 years and accumulated about 3500 hours. I used flying and teaching (CFI) as a diversion from work. My aviation background also includes a stint as an Air Force aviation weather specialist, and an Army helicopter mechanic (currently a UH-60L crewchief with the Alaska Guard). My investigation and aviation background lead to my current occupation as an NTSB aviation accident field investigator, with the Alaska Region. There I've said it!! I'm a FED! Please don't BAN me!! Actuall I just love anything that flys, and have a great time with the people who fly them. I'm about to order the empennage for an 8A...........Larry
Incidentally because of you "sappy" people I reserved a tail number with our anniversary date in it Dec 8, N128LD, I tried to get Deb top billing but that tail number belongs to a 747.
Larry & Debbie Lewis
RV8A - Empennage Complete
Wings Here, Hangar finished
N128LD - Reserved
I'm an emergency physician and live on the northeast side of Indianapolis. I have always dreamed about building an airplane and figured while I'm young, single, and without kids would be a great time do build my first one !
I got my PPL about 10 years ago while in college then took 7-8 years off from flying during med school and residency. I bought a used 172 last fall ('03) and have flown it over 100hrs since then. It lives at Indy metro airport (KUMP). I have a 1 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback who loves going to the airport to run around and loves flying in the 172 - hopefully he'll be able to ride in the -8/8A when it's finished...
I live in connecticut and I am a concrete contractor. My wife Diane and I have been married 12 years yesterday. We currently are flying our 152 out of oxc. I have been interested in airplanes since I was a kid, starting with control line through r/c. This will be the second plane I have built, the first being an amphib challenger II. I got my private in 1990 and have since added the seaplane rating, still working on the instrument. If anyone is flying thru connecticut........ Give us a BUZZ!!
Okay, here goes!! I am a semi- retired electrician / computer tech. How the combination? I started out as a Navy trained electrician then worked for several years in Hydro powerplants with the Feds. Then due to an intrest in electronics and obtaning my FCC license and amatuer radio lic. I took a job at Grand Coulee Dam in North Central Washington interfacing the generators to software driven computer control. I retired from that in 1997 and went back to school and earned my A&P. I am now back working as an electrician for Eastern Washington Univ. to pay for my habit! (RV-8 N742DA)
I got the bug as a lad when my Dad had a J-3 and later a BC 12-D Taylorcraft. I obtained my private ticket in 1976 and in 1978 & 79, rebuilt a '46 BC12D. In 1995, due to the A75 stoping in mid air for the second time, I replaced it with Cont O200A and installed an electrical system with nav lites, strobes, transponder and radio, and fley it until the spring of 2003 when I sold it. I also managed the Grand Coulee Dam airport for about 11 years. (Some people will do almost anything to be around airplanes!) I plan to have my "8" flying some time around the first part of May this year.
Keep pounding those rivits. There is light at the end of the tunnel
Hello my name is Peter Fruehling and I’m an aviholic…
I’m 35 and live in the arctic wasteland of St. Paul, MN. (…it’s all about oil temp. up here!) I work for Jostens Corporation as the National Accounts Manager and have sales reps I work with from coast to coast. This leaves me flying for work nearly every week. (…funny how I’m in San Diego this week and it’s single digits back in St. Paul!) My wife and I fly an Arrow II so unfortunately most of my work flights are on good ol’ NWA. However, Chicago, St. Louis, Lincoln and that area are very reachable in our bus!
Beth and I both have skills from previous lives with building, restoring and light metalworking but have never built anything that could fly!!! When we looked at the reasonable cost, the enjoyment of a “coed build” and the capabilities of the finished product we just had to investigate further.
We’re now wrestling with the idea of a hotrod –7 for the two of us or replacing the Arrow with an RV-10. We hope to decide during our visit to Vans this April!
- Peter
PS - Great idea for the thread CJ!!!
NEXT ->
Peter Fruehling
RV-7 Wings -> QB Fuse in the shop!
North Oaks, MN -> Home Base (KMIC)
Okay, I'll go next. I live outside Savannah, GA where I work as a Liaison Engineer for Gulfstream Aerospace. For those who've never heard of "Liaison Engineering" it's the place where design meets production; I basically fix what goes wrong. I see everything from misdrilled holes to (ugh) bird strikes. Gulfstream is where I met my wife, who was once upon a time a first-rate assembly mechanic; great to have an experienced riveter around!
I have a checkered past which includes too many years as a blue collar slave in the "forest products" industry, a little time as an EMT, and a couple other occupations. I was one of those kids who used to ride a bicycle to the local airport and watch the comings and goings. I can remember hearing the engines of the Air National Guard C-124s from my house two miles away. Wish I'd been smart enough to get a line boy job!
Great to be part of the RV community... now if I could just put more time in on old number 90217!
I'm "Cyphergirl" ... Spike's wife, I'll be 29 in a couple of days.
I help him out here and there ... I'm good at riveting and de-burring. We live in Baltimore and fly out of Frederick, MD. By day I'm a computer security engineer. By night and weekend, I own my own photography business.
Captain_John wrote:We are getting lots of new members here and I was just wondering (being nosey) what you people are all about.
Me, I am from Southern New England, Plymouth, Massachusetts to be precise. I teach Electrical at the local trade school. I have had an electrician's license for almost 20 years but this teaching bit is new to me. I used to sell technology. Electronic article surveillance equipment and software to the schools and municipalities in New England. A good gig, but sales is a thankless job!
I started flying about 8 years ago because it seemed interesting and was a challenge. I was right!
I have about 350 hours in my logbook and usually fly a Citabria or Cherokee 6 with 300 hoss.
What's your story?
CJ
Hi, the Oldgeezer is here. I live in SE Indiana, just west of Cincinnati, on a farm with my own runway. I've been flying 38 years now. I am a retired Marine with 16 years as a military pilot and currently 18 years with an overnite frieght company as an A300 captain. Soon my commercial flying career will be coming to an end because of the FAA age 60 discrimination rule. I built an Varieze back in the 70's and just sold my Maule because I wanted performance with more speed and enjoy building things. The 9A fits my requirements. I'm just finishing the tail and getting lots of good info off these web sites. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM FELLOW AVIATORS.
Ron
Hi all, I am a pulmonologist/critical care MD from Indy. Have a 172 hangared @ KUMP. Have ordered the tail kit for an RV10 and am eagerly waiting. Meanwhile am building my cache of tools, fixin the garage to an airplane factory, building a work table..... all the good stuff.
Am a Maj in US Army Medical Corps, just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Glad to be back in one piece.
Mani
I am Bob and live in Sartell MN. I am building an RV-6A Quickbuild that is turning out to be a slow build. I have been retired 5 years on 2/8/05 from about 40 years as a social worker in ND and MN. I am working on my canopy now. I hope to wrap that up in the next couple of weeks. Then I will do the the brakes and and gas lines and move to hanging the engine.
I rent C-172's at Clear Lake MN (8Y6) for $50 an hour wet. I have been flying since 1992 and have about 400 hours in the log book.
Well, Here it goes. I'm 34, live in Brisbane, Australia. I have been around aviation all my life. My father just retired from the Army, having been Director of Army Aviation and bringing the new Tiger 'Armed Recon Heli' into service. I started my flying career in the Army (strange that huh?) as a Loadmaster on Blackhawk helicopters. Got out after 8 years then joined CHC helicopters (largest Heli company in the world) and flew SAR for 6 years all over Australia. ( spent 3 day during Sydney to Hobart pulling 22 people out of the water with other folk)
During all this, I completed my Commercial Helicopter Licence. Left CHC to go flying up north of Australia for about 2 years. I'm now just about to start my Instructors Rating and will be here for awhile.
Can't wait to start building my RV (don't know which yet). I love talking to you folks as you have so much info and help is always close at hand.
You know, when I look at this, I really have done alot in my short career. What a great life. Can't wait to see what is next.
Thanks evryone for being you.
RV-7A Emp
I would rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.
Hi all, my name is Bill Murrish and I am a RVaholic. I am a 38 year old engineer and I live in Colorado Springs, CO. I recently retired from the Air Force and I am really enjoying civilian life. I am Commercial/ASEL/ASES/AMEL/CFI/CFII rated and would love to give RV transition training one of these years. I am building a RV-8 (just starting) and plan to use this site for all the advice I can get.
Hey all,
Im Leighton, 21, Aircraft Technician in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Currently work on a UH-1 squadron.
Havent got a pilots licence as yet, concentrating on my maintenance licences first, but i do enjoy taking a plane up with an instructor once every now and again. Also have a handfull of hours flying Helicopters.
At this point it looks like Captain John has convinced me to build an RV-8, but im still waiting on all me' info to turn up from Vans before commiting any cash.
Leighton.
p.s. we use ZK-XXX as our rego's in NZ, and we can get away with just painting the XXX, i rekon SIN would be pretty badass, MAD is already taken (Pitts Special).
I (and everyone else here) will be pleased to answer any questions you may have!
CJ
Leighton wrote:Hey all,
Im Leighton, 21, Aircraft Technician in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Currently work on a UH-1 squadron.
Havent got a pilots licence as yet, concentrating on my maintenance licences first, but i do enjoy taking a plane up with an instructor once every now and again. Also have a handfull of hours flying Helicopters.
At this point it looks like Captain John has convinced me to build an RV-8, but im still waiting on all me' info to turn up from Vans before commiting any cash.
Leighton.
p.s. we use ZK-XXX as our rego's in NZ, and we can get away with just painting the XXX, i rekon SIN would be pretty badass, MAD is already taken (Pitts Special).
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!
Hello all, I am Elliott in Lexington SC. I work for the local electric utility as an Instrument Tech, have a mini excavator and dump truck for side work and my wife and I operate a searchlight advertising company using WWII carbon-arc searchlights. We plan to build a -9A have the preview plans and are collecting tools. I have a private pilot single engine land with a little over 100 hrs. but haven't flown for several years. planing on retiring from utility work in less than four years and will have the -9A ready by then!
CJ
We live in Baltimore and fly out of Frederick, MD. By day I'm a computer security engineer. By night and weekend, I own my own photography business. 
Stick around and have some fun with us.