I have been around airplanes my whole life. My Granddad, three uncles on my mom’s side of the family and my dad all have their pilot’s license. I have loved airplanes for as long as I can remember. I began flying on my own when I was 16-years old. Because of a lack of time and money, it took me eight years to finish my training and earn my own pilot’s license, but I did so on March 13, 2011. I’ve flown as much as I have been able to since that day and loved every second of it.
I have rented airplanes since I began my own flying adventures, but have consistently kept my eyes open for an opportunity to own my own airplane. Obviously owning an airplane is a serious matter - mainly financially. The other option I have considered is building my own airplane - a serious matter as well, but also very intriguing and exciting.
Growing up, my dad often talked of purchasing or building an airplane. He talked of how much he would love to build the Van’s Aircraft RV-7 homebuilt airplane, but life never seemed to provide the opportunity. When I was old enough to do my own research, I looked into the RV-7 and I was hooked. After I went off to college, I kept thinking of how awesome it would be to build and own an RV-7, but, being so young and in college, it wasn’t a feasible option. Just to satisfy a bit of my appetite for the time being, I purchased the preview plans set from Van’s and have briefly looked through the plans over the past few years. Each time I look at the plans set or browse through another builder’s website, I fall just a little bit more for the aircraft. My feeling that almost nothing in life would make me as happy as building and owning my own airplane is solidified each time I look at those preview plans.
In the last couple months, I’ve found myself thinking more and more about the RV-7. As I think back on my dad’s wishes to build the airplane and think of how often I hear other grown men say, “I wish I would have [fill in the blank],” I find myself wanting nothing more than to be unable to say those words when I’m 40-, 50-, 60-years old. Many builders often say the hardest part about building an airplane is getting started. So after putting some thought into it, looking into the prices of the kits, looking at my own finances and my best estimate of how the next few years of my life will go, I’ve decided to take the leap. On March 29, 2013, I sent my order form to Van’s Aircraft, placing my order for the empennage (tail) and wing subkits!
I currently don’t have the money it would take to purchase a used aircraft outright. I don’t want to take any loans to buy a used aircraft either. So my thought is that I will be able to purchase and build the subkits for my RV-7 as my finances and time allow. If I can just get started, I will have the hardest part out of the way and be able to work through the rest as my time and finances allow.
Pressing the send button on the email to Van’s was nerve-wracking (and expensive... ha!)... but also very exciting. I may be young, there may be smarter ways I could use my money, but I know this project, which will likely take at least the next four to five years to complete, and the resulting airplane will make me happier than almost anything could... and that alone is worth it. I can’t wait to return from my deployment to get started!
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| The plethora of parts and pieces I will receive... and the final product in the background |
