guidoism

guidoism

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There are a lot of things we all miss about our youth, but the lack of patience is definitely something I don't miss.

In the stretch of the build period between 2014 and 2019 I was aged 36-42. Kids may think that's old but I was still banging through as though I was a child. The thing that frustrated me, even then I knew it was something I disliked, was that any time I actually had time to work on the plane I wanted "to be doing something". I absolutely didn't want to re-read Section 5: General Information of the construction manual. Nor did I want to read the AC building techniques. Or spend time building tables, stands, jigs, etc, etc, etc that would make the experience nicer for me and reduce the possibility of an oops or scratch or whatever.

Now I'm 49. I absolutely know that that's not old, but I'm much more patient. I've definitely changed. I'm spending time reading the construction manual more carefully. I'm planning stuff out more before actually committing to something. Clearly in some people that could be analysis paralysis but that's not quite what I'm getting at. I remember when I was like ten years old building Revell plastic airplane models with my grandpa I was hyper aware of how he did everything with such deliberateness. If he needed to move to somewhere he would think about it, make sure he had everything he needed, position himself properly, look at the thing he was working on, then do it. I'm not quite at that stage where I can't move about very well like he was, but I'm definitely not jumping off of the walls any more. And that's a good thing. I'm actually finding the process much less rushed than earlier on in the build. I like it.

Anyways, just thought I'd share this thought of mine.
 
Mikeyb said:
Do you think more about building or flying?
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Honestly it's about equal. The ideal situation for me would be to own (or be a partner in) an RV (or any plane for that matter) that I could fly right now. And then work on my RV-8 without feeling like there's a tradeoff I'm making between flying and building. Once I finish this plane and it's been flying I have no doubt that I will be buying another kit and starting a new build because I enjoy the process so much. But, yes, I really wish I had a plane to fly. šŸ˜¢
 
That was my regret. I wish I had had the money to fly while building. However, I finished with zero debt and she flies amazing. I'm happy. Now that she's done, I have no interest in building another. I offer to help others when the bug hits. I want to fly. I'm looking for other projects that don't take so long. Underwater Basket Weaving?
 
wirejock said:
That was my regret. I wish I had had the money to fly while building. However, I finished with zero debt and she flies amazing. I'm happy. Now that she's done, I have no interest in building another. I offer to help others when the bug hits. I want to fly. I'm looking for other projects that don't take so long. Underwater Basket Weaving?
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Not sure if this on topic, but I just started construction on my fifth aircraft build, a Sonex Highwing.
The last plane I built was a RV10, that I completed about 10 years ago. I am now 74 and in good health and good shape, but I am surprised how the additional 10 years has affected my stamina required to put in the long, tedious work sessions required to build.
The eye strain was the first thing I noticed. Plenty of light and strong readers helps but the strain is tiring. The posture while seated at the work bench affects the neck and shoulder muscles, believe it or not. I constantly move around finding parts and tools and taking stretch breaks, but I'm tired after a few hours. 10 years ago I would put in 8 hours and not feel a thing.
As I progress into the build I will probably pick up some endurance. This is not a snivel and I am totally enjoying the return to building.
Just wanted to pass along my observations.
 
guidoism said:
There are a lot of things we all miss about our youth, but the lack of patience is definitely something I don't miss.

In the stretch of the build period between 2014 and 2019 I was aged 36-42. Kids may think that's old but I was still banging through as though I was a child. The thing that frustrated me, even then I knew it was something I disliked, was that any time I actually had time to work on the plane I wanted "to be doing something". I absolutely didn't want to re-read Section 5: General Information of the construction manual. Nor did I want to read the AC building techniques. Or spend time building tables, stands, jigs, etc, etc, etc that would make the experience nicer for me and reduce the possibility of an oops or scratch or whatever.

Now I'm 49. I absolutely know that that's not old, but I'm much more patient. I've definitely changed. I'm spending time reading the construction manual more carefully. I'm planning stuff out more before actually committing to something. Clearly in some people that could be analysis paralysis but that's not quite what I'm getting at. I remember when I was like ten years old building Revell plastic airplane models with my grandpa I was hyper aware of how he did everything with such deliberateness. If he needed to move to somewhere he would think about it, make sure he had everything he needed, position himself properly, look at the thing he was working on, then do it. I'm not quite at that stage where I can't move about very well like he was, but I'm definitely not jumping off of the walls any more. And that's a good thing. I'm actually finding the process much less rushed than earlier on in the build. I like it.

Anyways, just thought I'd share this thought of mine.
Click to expand...
Well said. At 67 and working through the RV15 build I have much more patience than in my younger years. I built my first plane back when I was in my mid 30's. This is my 5th build and have worked on many others for friends. A big part of it is there is no real time pressure now. Back then it was a balancing act between work, family, and my personality. I'm the kind that doesn't like to see projects linger so I'd work on it late at night or super early before work. I have also been fortunate I've always had something to fly while building. Just took a 1 week trip from MI to ID in the EX3 and didn't miss the RV15 build process for 1 minute. It's interesting how your perspective changes with age.
 
Mikeyb said:
There is probably an optimum age for airplane building. You have to be old enough to know better but young enough to do it again.
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Probably true. I started building my RV-6 at age 35, and flew it when I was 40. It was a slow build before pre-punched parts and I was single. My dad and I put 2000 hrs on it.

As I'm building 2nd RV, I started (at age 60) with a quick-build RV-8 and I'm 5 years into it and I'm still a year away but life has gotten more in the way in this stage of life (aging parents, a wife, a move across the country).

I don't seem to as fast at building as I was when I was younger, but I'm taking more care in what I'm doing instead of rushing to get it flying, so maybe that's maturity they say you develop when you get older. Then again I can't wait to get it flying either.

I think that there is an optimum age, but it really depends on where you are in your life and it'll be different for each individual.

L

L
 
When I retired earlier this year I told my wife I didn't want to be The Guy who gets a medical condition and has to sell his airplane without ever having flown it. We talked it out, I got a bunch of stuff done around the house last year (the garden looks great this year!), and now I'm at the airport every day, doing good, making mistakes, learning from them. Next week my mentor is coming out for a few days to help me through a rough part of the build, it's money very well spent, plus he's become a good friend.

I'm out here late tonight, had a great day building and now I'm got Miss Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings blasting, planning tomorrow's work.

It's what retirement should be.
 
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guidoism said:
There are a lot of things we all miss about our youth, but the lack of patience is definitely something I don't miss.
<snip>
Anyways, just thought I'd share this thought of mine.
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Interesting thoughts. I returned to flying a few years back after a 15 year hiatus. I had always planned on building. But life happened.

However, there are two things I have realized as Iā€™ve aged. First is that I now have a V E R Y low tolerance for BS. Meaning - unclear instructions. Poor construction drawings. Manufacturing errors. Things that just donā€™t fit - despite insistence that tab A should just slip into slot B - all just really tick me off. And this from someone whoā€™s always been very good with their hands and has a solid background in mechanics, construction and reading plans. But I donā€™t know. Is this ā€œimpatienceā€?

The second realization, is that I needed to fly - NOW. I wasnā€™t willing to take on a 3 to 5 year project just to get flying. Even though a ā€œhave it your wayā€ Vanā€™s RV was always the dream. Life is short, and as I feel every physical and mental impact from my decades in the fire service, I needed to just get up there. So from that standpoint, I was definitely too ā€œimpatientā€ to build my way into the sky.

So, I purchased a flying -9A. Iā€™ve been doing little projects that have definitely tested my patience. But itā€™s been OK. Maybe itā€™s the joy of flying that makes it tolerable. Iā€™m not sure. I do keep peeking at the RV-15 threads. Maybe since I have the 9 to scratch the flying itch, it might be doable. For now Iā€™m sitting on the sidelines until the kit is truly finalized, KAI are sorted, and most of the kinks are figured out. Then Iā€™ll reassess my ā€œpatienceā€ levels!
 
Phyrcooler said:
However, there are two things I have realized as Iā€™ve aged. First is that I now have a V E R Y low tolerance for BS. Meaning - unclear instructions. Poor construction drawings. Manufacturing errors. Things that just donā€™t fit - despite insistence that tab A should just slip into slot B - all just really tick me off. And this from someone whoā€™s always been very good with their hands and has a solid background in mechanics, construction and reading plans. But I donā€™t know. Is this ā€œimpatienceā€?
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Have a look at the RV-4 and RV-6 kits and plans. After looking at those, and talking to early builders, the RV-8 kit was a dream. The newer kits are even better. My tolerance for mistakes in the plans or the kits is very high. Outside a few critical steps, any mistakes are pretty easily rectified. For the critical steps, just take care, read, measure, read, measure.... and then cut or drill. I'd say age has greatly increased my tolerance for mistakes - we're all human, humans make mistakes, even people who design aircraft, and draw aircraft plans.
 
If anything, I am less patient. I'm 69 going on 70 in September. Less time left for flying and the delays by Vans and Lycoming frustrate me. I know a lot more about building and I have more time now, so that helps...
 
Patience is a bell shaped curve. In youth, things canā€™t come fast enough and as we grow old, we become less tolerant and precocious time left is not what we want to waste.
 
As builders and pilots we all have to decide the balance of time, desire, and dollars. Like many, Ive been in aviation since I was 12, solo'd at 16, but perused aviation maintenance as a career and had my A&P at 19. I've never made a big salary, but its been a great career and I'm still at it. I built my -4 over a 16 year span while moving 4 times, designing and building a house and raising 2 boys. I started the -4 in my early 30's and obtained a 46' T craft in a 3 way partnership for 3K, so I was able to fly while building. I built on a thin budget, no fancy anything, built my engine myself, did my paint, all steam gauges and stuck to the KISS plans. It turned out just as planned, and I wont sell it ever.. Affordability for me is just not there to do another one. I built the -4 for 25K all in., kit price was 10K for all new kits from Vans..those days are over. I'm now 66, still have the passion but leaning towards buying back from the sole current owner, my old 46 T Craft that has been sitting unflown for 15 years now and restoring it. I admire the guys that have built multiples, and continue to grow their personal fleet, but I'm just a simple (now older) guy that got into EXP for the desire to build and maintain an affordable airplane...and that I did.
 
I have learned to enjoy the process more and feel less stressed about meeting a time line. I canā€™t believe I had more time to build when I had a family, kids, and a job than I do now retired, but it seems to be so.
 
Closing in on 80, I'm slower and less flexible that I was when I started. A friend reports that his manual dexterity is less dexterous, too. And there are some days when, even with a very doable task waiting in the shop, I don't bother going out to do it.

Dave
 
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