anyone built kit planes?

[seakev]

My cousin in Twisp built one and flies it regularly.  Vans RV-7

This is my planned pre-retirement build.

[KFhunter]

I was thinking RV 10 for a retirement build, want to take the grand kiddies up too 

The new mako looks good too
http://lancair.com/mako/

[jaymark6655]

Awesome thread!!!
I have wanted to build an RV-10 forever, about to sell my motorcycle to try and fund the first kit.
Recently I have also considered a Sling 4 and when I first discovered kit planes I liked the Zenith aircraft.  Both Sling and Zenith use pull rivets, they are different than the ones at the local store so don't use those.

For the OP, I would go for a discover flight or something in any aircraft like a Cessna172 or similar to see if you like it.  Flying in a small plane has all sorts of different that I can't really explain, but you will understand as soon as you start down the runway. For me the thoughts on my first take off roll ranged from "is this thing going to fly, the math and physics says it will, but I am not sure, maybe we should stop now" to "holy crap this is terrifying" and then "I am glad I kept my mouth shut, this is awesome".

Also try to find a EAA fly in (there is one in Arlington) or local chapter and try to find people building or have built aircraft.  Try to fly in the ones your interested in and make sure they fit your "mission".  Volunteer to help with the builds you find, I found out I suck at composite and I hate working with it. Driving rivets is easy, just time consuming with all the drilling, fitting and deburring.  For some reason I have trouble with getting rivets to sit against parts right, but usually they are really easy.

Check out Jason Ellis youtube channel.  He has some videos about him learning to fly and maybe the largest collection of posted videos covering his build of an RV-10.

[KFhunter]

The only thing I really haven't done is take a flight in a bush plane which hopefully will be remedied soon, I got some guys wanting to play on the river by my house now that it's super low and land in my hayfield now that hay season is done. 

One has a Husky, not sure the other guys.  Maybe I'll entice them with a big stack of BBQ ribs 


I've been in multiple Cessna's and twin engine planes, I've been shotgun in a twin engine Cessna crab walking in with strong cross winds in Denali AK 

[dmv9]

You might want to first get your license figured out. The sports license only allows daytime flying and 1 passenger.
Learn to fly before you build

[KFhunter]

why?

If I build first I don't have to rent a plane, and my son will be a cfi

[bearpaw]

sounds like loads of fun 

[Romulus1297]

Remember John Denver?

[jaymark6655]

Remember John Denver?

Tragic accident, but he was flying a plane were the builder had made a dangerous deviation from the original design, he knew about the trouble he would have with switching fuel tanks and that his tanks weren't full and he chose not to refuel, and he barely had any transition training so really he was unfamiliar with the aircraft.  Part of being a pilot is identifying risk, assessing them, avoidance or mitigation or acceptance based on the risk and his choices seem to be the opposite of that.

[Zardoz]

   Totally pilot error.

[Badhabit]

KFHunter,

Maybe not the plane you were looking for but a project plane for sure.

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/all,wa/auction/view?auc=1994702

[KFhunter]

If only I were certified A&P mechanic I'd be all over that

[jaymark6655]

Haven't built my own, but have help some others.  Been to Oshkosh yet?

[Calvin Rayborn]

Nope - Always thought them Weedhoppers looked pretty cool!

[Calvin Rayborn]

Oh yeah!  Saw one on craigslist a while back for under 3 grand.