rockwoodrv9a
Pre-Flight
That looks like a really nice plane.I’d stretch the budget and buy this ….
2013 VANS RV-10
https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?s-type=aircraft&listing_id=2426224
That looks like a really nice plane.I’d stretch the budget and buy this ….
2013 VANS RV-10
https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?s-type=aircraft&listing_id=2426224
I kinda think you should only build if you want to build. For the experience of the process. If your only reason to build is to fly. I recommend buying one that someone else built.Thanks for the reply, I do agree that the low cost of ownership could be a myth.
However, I do live in the San Francisco Bay area and low cost of ownership might be relative just because of how expensive it is to rent anything other than a trainer plane. And every time we want to do a trip, the trainer planes are a hassle to book. Hence the decision to build my own plane.
That being said, if you have any other insights that I might not have looked into, please share as it would be much appreciated.
I consider myself a builder as much as anyone who’s built a 2-place kit. The RV-10 is very popular and the Slings are growing steam. Add in Velocity, Lancair, and Murphy to name a few and 4-place E-ABs are well solid market segment now. Just because they are more expensive kit to build doesn’t make the purchaser any less of a kit builder.If your budget is $250k then you area buyer not a builder. 4place e/ab is not that common most popular planes are 2person.
velocity lancair et al are a tiny segment. I remember when the Lancair first flew. They used to run an ad on the back cover of kitplanes with a red lancair for years.I consider myself a builder as much as anyone who’s built a 2-place kit. The RV-10 is very popular and the Slings are growing steam. Add in Velocity, Lancair, and Murphy to name a few and 4-place E-ABs are well solid market segment now. Just because they are more expensive kit to build doesn’t make the purchaser any less of a kit builder.
What do you consider success? Lancair, Velocity, Bearhawk, and lots of others are still in business after decades and their aircraft are getting built today. In my book that's success. If you are going to restrict the definition to market share or number of completions, then that's your choice but I'm not taking that myopic of a view of the industry.velocity lancair et al are a tiny segment. I remember when the Lancair first flew. They used to run an ad on the back cover of kitplanes with a red lancair for years.
the eab workd is full of unique solutions to the same problem. but other than the RV series i cant see how any other line can be considered a sucess. since 1984-ish there are how many lancairs inthe sky?
As the builder/owner of two experimental, I’ll tell you that maintenance expenses should not be a deciding factor. You’re talking about a relatively small number, and one that can be mitigated by owner assistance.I could probably afford to acquire a Cherokee 6 or a Beech Sierra but paying an A&P to do every jot and tiddle would put me in the poor house or looney bin.
There are other factors for me. Not a lot of certified planes that will get 4 people in and out of my 600 (800 with some dozer work) foot backyard strip.….