For my next plane - Refurb a Certificated or go Exp?

I think you should build because you want to build, not because you want a spanky airplane. Lots of these kits never get finished, possibly because the builders wanted a spanky airplane and didn't really want to build. An RV10 is quite a bit of building. Figure it out. If you want to build, build. If you want a spanky experimental, go buy one. Odds are you won't pay any more into the experimental than the builder did.
 
MBDiagMan said:
Makes sense, but why would that matter to the OP? He said it would be the last plane of his life. He won’t be selling it in this life time.
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He never said he was going to have both feet in the grave when the aircraft got sold. Last airplane he ever buys is fine, but eventually we all have to hang it up and whether that's in 5 years or 20 years makes little difference. The value will likely be higher for something like the RV-10 over a completely restored PA-28. Same applies (as I mentioned earlier) to if he cares to maximize the amount his heirs would receive if he kept it until his demise.
 
steingar said:
I think you should build because you want to build, not because you want a spanky airplane. Lots of these kits never get finished, possibly because the builders wanted a spanky airplane and didn't really want to build. An RV10 is quite a bit of building. Figure it out. If you want to build, build. If you want a spanky experimental, go buy one. Odds are you won't pay any more into the experimental than the builder did.
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It's so rare, I have to reply. I totally agree.
 
Zeldman said:
My thoughts. Not trying to convince anyone of anything. But since I was asked....

Experimental is a fancy word folks like to use in place of amateur.
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I know some home builts are built by some pretty dependable folks, but it's not worth my life.
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The E/AB planes which sell for a premium appear to be those with either Factory builder assist (2 weeks to taxi, etc.), A&P constructed, or OSH best builder award.

My former hangar neighbor is an engineer here in the Valley and won an Osh Best Builders award. His RV-7 looks like a jewel or museum grade construction. Absolutely flawless riveting. One of the few amateur built’s I’d fly in. It looks a whole level above the factory demonstrator in build quality.
 
The 10 nicest/best airplanes I know are experimental Cub variants. I have 6 friends building experimentals right now and they’ll all be good airplanes.
 
NordicDave said:
The E/AB planes which sell for a premium appear to be those with either Factory builder assist (2 weeks to taxi, etc.), A&P constructed, or OSH best builder award.
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IMO that's more true for models with a relatively large fleet size, like the RV-7. Models like the RV-10 and RV-14 with small fleet sizes, and therefore a proportionally smaller number for sale at any given time, command price premiums more related to basic supply and demand than finish quality. Anecdotally, even mediocre RV-10s can easily go for $200K and seldom stay for sale for more than a few days once advertised (some don't even make it that far once word is out the owner is selling). The nice thing about RV's, with their tried and true riveted aluminum construction, is it doesn't take a specialist to determine the quality of the build. Of course as with anything, someone knowledgeable on the model is preferred but it's not a necessity.
 
Zeldman said:
I can't imagine getting into something built by who knows and then get in the air with it. My personal choice (now that I am older and supposedly wiser) is to stay out of anything amateur built.
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You're going to find substandard built and substandard maintained airplanes all over the place. No matter what you get you have to put some trusted eyes on the machine before putting your life on the line. I've been in some 40 year old professionally built and maintained Cessna's that I thought were a bit substandard.
 
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