Van's Air Force
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- Thread starter Dwillows
- Start date
Nice looking airplane! If you like to fly,, fly
at this point in your life , unless building is your passion and you would be perfectly happy having the big one while pulling a cleco, i would enjoy what you have. i am 75 and this was my choice and i am good with it. i was also an rn in an icu for 20 yrs so my opinion is based on a modicum of experience.
just the way i am playing it.
just the way i am playing it.
Dwillows
Member
It’s all good…. I love flying AND building and if I could afford it, would keep the plane AND build another. But I notice a creeping preference for building as stresses of flying become more noticeable (and make me a less skillful pilot) but they affect building less. So that’s my conundrum.
FInd a young person in your area who wants to build and needs a mentor. You get to build (with someone else’s money), you get to pass on what you know to another generation, and you get to keep flying the airplane that you have and enjoy. That’s a lot of wins….
Dwillows
Member
I like that idea a lot….. how do you go about finding a young person with that kind of money to spend? Seriously. Are there such young people looking for mentoring? Tell me more.
Check with your local EAA chapter? Yes…I agree, it is a tough combination to find - but they have to be out there, or our litle corner of aviation faces a bleak future.
I'm very impressed with your desire to build again at age 85! More power to ya!
Attend your local EAA Chapter meeting. Walk around the airport.
Post here on VAF.
I find interested builders seem to find a Mentor when they need one. I have no idea how it happens. My Mentor, Dave, found me when I was pounding dents in test parts with my gun set at 90psi. Thank goodness. Saved me a lot of money and mistakes. I have passed my knowledge on to three others plus two grand kids. I'm always happy to help. I think I enjoy helping as much as building and flying. I still love flying.
I'm a one of those young guys (only 74 years old) and would love have an old guy's help. Too bad your not in Spanish Fork (SPK).
Seriously I have the same desire to fly and build and help pass on any skills that I may have acquired. (and learn new ones).
I have joined the local EAA chapter and attend the meetings and I stalk around the airport peeking in open hangars, and striking up conversations with any victims inside. I have already met some builders there and I have met a "youngster" who is building an RV 10 tail kit. He helped me take inventory of my Sonex Highwing tail kit for my new build and I promised to reciprocate by helping him with his RV 10. My last build was a RV 10, so it was an easy deal to make.
Seriously I have the same desire to fly and build and help pass on any skills that I may have acquired. (and learn new ones).
I have joined the local EAA chapter and attend the meetings and I stalk around the airport peeking in open hangars, and striking up conversations with any victims inside. I have already met some builders there and I have met a "youngster" who is building an RV 10 tail kit. He helped me take inventory of my Sonex Highwing tail kit for my new build and I promised to reciprocate by helping him with his RV 10. My last build was a RV 10, so it was an easy deal to make.
Like Larry said, fish in a small pond: ask chapter members to send any STEM/Youth Build candidates your way.
Pls post your results: I intend to be a United Flying Octogenarian as well.
Dwillows
Member
It took me 3 years to build BUT, it would have been less than 2 years without delays caused by the bankruptcy, the laser cut parts issues, and other factors beyond my control. I’ve also learned several things to do differently/better that would reduce the build-time down to about 1 year….<1000 hours.
