Newbie reporting!
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 5:40 am
Hi Everybody,
My name is Randy. I'm currently an airline pilot and spent 25 years in the Navy. I was an enlisted submariner for 4 years then started flying and spent the majority of my career as a F-14 pilot. I live in Weston, Florida, right outside Fort Lauderdale.
I've spent the last several months learning about RVs and homebuilts (is that one word?) generally as I prepare to build my first airplane. I can't tell you how helpful this site and all your fantastic builder's sites have been during my research. I've decided to build a RV-7.
I took the 30K ride (seems to me more like 80K) at Sun-N-Fun this year in one of Van's RV-7s. I was probably 90% sold already but a ride in the airplane cemented my decision to go with Vans. I came home and ordered the Preview Plans and since then have spent untold hours reading through those, Wanttaja's book Kit Airplane Construction, and perusing builders sites. I'm planning on going to Oshkosh in July and signed up for the EAA SportAir RV Aircraft course in Waco in August.
I have some work to do converting my garage into a suitable airplane factory this fall before I order the kit. I'll probably do that late 2012 or early 2013. I'm still struggling with the decisions on canopy type, determining where to put the third wheel, engine, etc.
I'm truly looking forward to starting what I know will be a long, rewarding journey and hope to get to know some of you along the way. Any advice you might have on how best to prepare / educate / equip myself would be greatly appreciated.
Randy
My name is Randy. I'm currently an airline pilot and spent 25 years in the Navy. I was an enlisted submariner for 4 years then started flying and spent the majority of my career as a F-14 pilot. I live in Weston, Florida, right outside Fort Lauderdale.
I've spent the last several months learning about RVs and homebuilts (is that one word?) generally as I prepare to build my first airplane. I can't tell you how helpful this site and all your fantastic builder's sites have been during my research. I've decided to build a RV-7.
I took the 30K ride (seems to me more like 80K) at Sun-N-Fun this year in one of Van's RV-7s. I was probably 90% sold already but a ride in the airplane cemented my decision to go with Vans. I came home and ordered the Preview Plans and since then have spent untold hours reading through those, Wanttaja's book Kit Airplane Construction, and perusing builders sites. I'm planning on going to Oshkosh in July and signed up for the EAA SportAir RV Aircraft course in Waco in August.
I have some work to do converting my garage into a suitable airplane factory this fall before I order the kit. I'll probably do that late 2012 or early 2013. I'm still struggling with the decisions on canopy type, determining where to put the third wheel, engine, etc.
I'm truly looking forward to starting what I know will be a long, rewarding journey and hope to get to know some of you along the way. Any advice you might have on how best to prepare / educate / equip myself would be greatly appreciated.
Randy
CJ
