10 TIPS You Need to Know BEFORE You BUILD a Kitplane!
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- Опубликовано: 26 июн 2024
- I have 10 tips for the person who is thinking about buying a kit airplane. Even if you recently bought a kit, you may learn a thing or two from this video.
I hope you find it useful! What tips do you have? Leave them in the comment section below!
As always, please SUBSCRIBE and give the video a thumbs up!
#kitplanes #experimentalaircraft #airplane #aviation Авто/Мото
In 1974 I was successful enough that I made a list of the top ten things I wanted to do. I shared that list with my wife and we talked about it. Number one on the list was to get my pilots license and number two was to get a much nicer boat. I became a student pilot and loved it. As time went on in my training my wife told me that she was really scarred of flying and told me nicely she wouldn't fly with me in a private plane. I thought hard and long about it and decided to move on to my second choice. She is gone now after 52 years of marriage. Although it was the right decision then, there is still that longing within me to fly. There is also the far greater feeling that I wish she were here with me now. So...in the end the choice is yours.
I met mine late in life. She's scared too but I'm never going to allow fear to control any aspect of my life ever again. It won't be long and one of us is gonna kick the bucket and I will have zero regrets. May she RIP
Never let a bitch influence your decisions. Now you're going to die wishing you got to fulfill that one dream that you chose not to because some hag!
How old are you, sir?
Your bonus tip been silently haunting me the last year, and I finally did it. Just got started. Well, working on the shop, and ordered my first kit from Vans.... Thanks for taking up space in my head, this better work out! ;-)
Correct on all Tips. 🤠
Staying single biggest bonus tip . 😄🤣
Yep !....Smart man.... lol
Yes, yes I am. I always wanted to fly and love building and repairing things. But to be honest, it will never happen. Life through in many blocked runways. Love your videos but they are very hard to watch without a great feeling of loss and regrets. Please don't take that the wrong way. Keep living the dream. I heard you say in one video that it was a great day to fly in Michigan, I also live in Michigan and as a child, we were on Isle Royle when one kid had an appendicitis attack and had to be flown out. It was so cool watching that plane land on one of the interior lakes, in the morning and then take off. I often wondered what that view looked like from the plane. Yes, he was ok, thanks to everyone involved especially the pilot!
Life’s too short to not do what you dream to do
Actually, you can land a Glasair on a sandbar. You just won't be able to fly it off again.
Tip number ten... you are a f****** genius !!
Tip 10.5, if you are married, _lie_ to your spouse about the costs. That new "water heater" needed for the house could really be a propeller.
Good video!
Great video Mark!! I think I have this conversation 10 times per week and I could not fault a single thing you said.
I am actually surprised how little new learning there was on a Zenith. By the time you finish the rudder you're about 90% of the way to being an expert!
Thanks mate.
Another great video mark. Thanks for sharing. I hope to get started on a kit when my boys are a little older, some time when they can really start to help.
One of the best tips/advise I've ever heard of about my dream, especially tip num 6 and the bonus one,
Thanks alot mahn keep it up keep em coming.
Another great video! Something every first-time builder should see! In conjunction with Tip #11, an easy way to get started is to do a small project such as a rudder kit like Zenith offers. By the time you finish that smaller component, you'll know if kit-building is right for you or not!
Thank you for taking the time and creating this video.
I agree with most of your tips, but not the bonus one. My wife is helping me build our RANS S-21 and having an extra set of hands is very helpful. It really sped up the inventory process. I also agree on the factory tour. I visited Van’s and Glasair back in the mid 90s, but with family and career could not build a plane then. Both of those companies treated us well and Van’s even gave my wife an RV-6 demo ride in addition to me.
Two years ago, shortly after I retired, my wife and I attended a Vans builder SportAir workshop. Even though I am a high-wing man at heart, I just did not like the looks of most all-aluminum high-wing models available. Nothing against Zenith, as I hear great things about them, but I just find their airplanes ugly. I mentioned to the workshop instructor during a break that I was planning to build a Van’s RV-14, but really wished that Van had produced a high-wing design. The instructor asked me if I had looked at the RANS S-21. Somehow I had missed that model introduction. I took a look and was sold. I had a trip to Alaska by motorcycle planned for 2019 so on the way back we detoured a little to pass through Kansas and visit RANS. I was quite impressed that Randy and Shelly personally gave us a tour and answered my questions. Even as small as Van’s was back in 1996, I never saw Van during my factory visit and the same at Glasair. So, shortly after returning home, I placed my order for an S-21 and almost exactly a year later I picked up my kit in July. I am getting off to a slow start as I also had a severe leg break (both bones) in May and that prevented me from getting my workshop ready so I am now building workshop furniture and storage in parallel with the airplane. And I can still only do a couple of hours on my feet at a time which is a nuisance. Also, buying tools is taking longer than normal due to the covid overreaction by our government. Things I used to get in two days from Amazon, now take 7-10 days and I have twice lost that much time waiting for a tool I needed. However, winter should be a great time in the workshop as the tool supply should be nearly complete (trying to read ahead now to anticipate) and the workshop work should be complete so that all focus can be on the airplane.
Awesome.
Thanks for the very helpful information and ideas.
I'm a bicycle mechanic that's interested in aviation.
10:22 I'm pleased to see the aviation industry hasn't stopped printing 'Parts Bibles'.
The cycling industry used to have printed parts books until they started to be phased out in the early aughts.
Maybe I'm just old, but unnavigable links on webpages and similar parts being multiple clicks away as opposed to a simple turn of the page creates difficulty in parts comparisons.
I know the the theory is to have a continuously updated catalog with current inventory and pricing. It doesn't work though.
I apologize for my rant.
I'm glad that some aviation parts-catalogs are still printed and easy to cross-reference.
Great advice.
Very informative! Great video!
I'll never build one - nor every learn to fly this late in my stage of life. But enjoy watching your videos. Take care - be safe and have a great day.
"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams." -- John Barrymore
Unless you're a WW2 vet who is having trouble walking, you're not too old to do anything.
I know people who have changed careers in their 50's and made aviation their money maker.
Hell, I'm 51, an over-the-road truck driver and I'm not only getting ready to build my first airplane but I'm also in flight school again after taking a 25-year break from flying.
@@CheckSixAviation I might try to find a 'ride' sometime again. Been years since in a plane. Wish you luck and thank you for being a over the road trucker. I'm a old retired firefighter.
@@tompinnef6331 Thank you, also, for what you did in your career.
I was an EMT for a while in the Chicago area. I rode with CFD on a few calls. Good times and great firehouse food.
Please don't say that...even of you don't get your PPL...at least get a cheap home flight simulator and fly one of the many inexpensive airplane programs...you could do it for less than four hundred dollars...( a cheap laptop..simple programs like flight simulator X...X plane..cheap joysticks..)...you can look up all sorts of information on the internet...Jonfly is a good place to start learning how to start!!!! Please just try...you wont regret it!!!🐦🐦🐦..
Excellent video Mark. I would love to do this but it is a bit more restrictive and expensive in the UK. For the time being I am happy to vicariously build through your good self!
Love the intro to tip #10 😂 👍
Good idea to make a video on this subject!!!
I pick up my CH 750 SD at the factory homecoming on Friday. Couldn't be my excited. Your videos have been both inspiring and helpful. This will be my first build so I need all the help I can get.
That's great. I'll probably see you there. It's always exciting picking up a kit!
Great info Ty. hello from Australia
Absolutely phenomenal!!.
Thanks-hope the tips helped!
Clear, succinct and very valuable tips, thanks for putting this together!!! This year is the year I’m going to finally order my kit!
Awesome! What airplane are you thinking of building?
I like tip #10 Mark!😁
Excellent video
Doing the final assembly (checking my Dynon / UL power wiring now) on my CH750 STOL and then off to paint. I have had a hoot. I will miss building. Great factory support.
Besides visiting the factory and talking to fellow builders another good marker is the number of Kits bought versus completed. You forgot to mention the amphibious boat plane builders. They are a different breed. :-)
Very interesting, thanks! I know that I'll never have a kitplane but somehow I like the way you explained me why! I wish you good luck with that 'swoosh-thing'... :-) greetings from EDDE (GER)
Tip number 10 😂😂 too funny
I like your approach of just do it, like my motto. Stop talking and do it. I was going to build a aircraft so that my son could get his hours. I was also building a yacht. So I stopped the aircraft and built the 43'yacht, it took 12 years I now have crossed the Atlantic east to west and west to east and my son is a captain flying a B777 with thousands of flying hrs. I have seen many of your videos and have enjoyed watching. Happy flying.
This was an EXCELLENT video kind Sir. Excellent tips, fantastic presentation, and chock full of truth regarding Aviation and its costs. Hope to build the ch750 STOL in the near future. Mission: 800 ft RW.
great video
Great tips, Mark. I wouldn't know what would be an easier material to work with between the types of construction methods you mentioned. However, I started with the number of people in my family (4) and used that as a starting point for my mission and envisioned me flying us around the country (possibly the world) in an RV-10.
I'm going for my PPL right now after taking an aviation break for the past 25 years. After all, I'm going to need that card with the Wright Bros. on it in order to fly my creation. Oh, and I'm doing all this while cris-crossing the country in a semi, keeping the shelves of America stocked.
Best of luck brother. Let know how far you’ve come if you could.
@@matthewwhite8195
Thanks! That’s a simple enough request to fulfill. I’m documenting my progress on my own channel.
I am interested in building a plane is my dream but in my country (Greece) it is expensive and difficult because the state itself does not help you. It is also taxed annually. Lot of money. But I like how you explain and how precise you are in the construction details. I follow you with joy. I'm sorry if you don't understand me well I don't speak English well.
Great advice! I had been pondering about ordering a kit for about 3 years. Finally, I decided to “just do it”. 😉 I was really apprehensive like your “extra tip” explained. During those years, I have met many people on forums, at OshKosh, local fly-ins, and EAA chapter members. So after a many month wait, my kit should be arriving in about 4-5 more weeks. Then let the fun (or frustration) begin! I’m excited to see what I will accomplish.
Awesome congrats! Which airplane did you choose??
I ended up going with a Kitfox. I was excited when you picked up yours. (A bit bummed when you decided against it.) Your build videos are so thorough, I knew you could teach me something. Looking forward to your new build. Hope to met you perhaps next year at OshKosh.
Superb
YES
Great info for new comers, remind them if they want to get their feet wet they can start with just a rudder Kit not much invested to see what it is like.
Having owned an airplane before my inspiration is to build my own aircraft and be able to work on it free from the A&P constraints.
Build and rent until completion is the plan.
Trip to the zenith factory coming up in 3 weeks. 😎
Mark... I've been following you since you started the Cruiser ( she is beautiful ! ) . I've been preparing my garage and should be ordering my kit by the end of September. After going through the process you mentioned, I've decided on the 750 STOL. Health issues force me to fly SLA . I live on 50 acres so plans are in the works for about 1800 ft. grass strip. You and others on you tube have inspired me, Thanks! Blue Skies!
Awesome-congrats on the new kit! You picked a good one too!
You've been watching Think Media, haven't you? :D If not, you're following a lot of tips they've been pushing for creators.
Also, like the videos you've done. Please keep 'em coming!
That is a very handsome aircraft you were showing in the video. Was that a full built unit or built as a spec unit?
Btw has Nikk's plane been built yet? He seems to have vanished from u tube. I seen a video where your shop was building the wings and thought maybe KitFox going to do it all. Well thank you for showing the beautiful plane. Best of luck to all.
Best tip was the last one
Tip #12: Dont be afraid to make mistakes. You will no matter how careful you are. Get over it and keep going.
Just do it, that is all!
I love your "Blue Angels" aircraft and your thorough explations in your new build. Keep it going. Jorge Wright from Argentina.
"Just Du It! " will do it!!
Think about a aluminum push pull design
Getting the family involved is huge. I wouldn't have dreamed of tackling our monster of a kit if my wife and extended family wasn't on board to help make it happen. An airplane is a family investment whether the spouse wants it to be or not. Might as well get all hands on deck and make the project go that much faster!
What are you building Trevor?
@@KitplaneEnthusiast A Murphy Moose, picked up a used (barely started) kit last week and am currently organizing my garage and building shelves to store everything.
Pick the kit visit the factory, organize your shop, pegboards help, get the kit do an inventory as you unpack, organize parts in order of assembly, work 2 hous a day longer on weekends. Last 10% takes 90% of time.
jeez, wish I'd heard the "don't get married and keep your toys" earlier, lol
Maybe this should have been the first video I published??
@@KitplaneEnthusiast Amen, lol. I'm looking at that garage hangar of yours with severe toy envy! I'd so much rather have that tool cabinet than a mirrored vanity from god knows where, lol
I've been so torn between the 750 Cruiser and the RV-9 for over a year now! My mission is flying on weekends for fun, and the occasional (once a year?) cross country with my wife. So difficult to decide! Please tell me what went wrong at Vans, I think it'll help me finally make my decision. Great content as always, Thanks!
I was thinking about a RV-9, too. What was the Van’s reference to? Are they having trouble.
@@damianketcham The Vans reference I mentioned was only because Mark she he'd been treated badly by the biggest kit planes manufacture, which is Vans.
Thank you
Who was the company that didn’t treat ya well on the visit? Was it vans since they are the biggest (i think)?
Where can you buy them
Help! I just love the RV12, Rans S19 and Sling 2 airplanes, but I love the visibility in the cruzer. Which plane that you have built would you say is your favorite and why? I think Zenith planes are ugly and for roughly the same investment I could build a RV12 or S19. Thanks for your videos and advice, instruction. I find it highly valuable in the kitplane community
My favorite airplane that I've ever owned is the Cruzer. The visibility is excellent and it's just a smooth airplane. There's tons of room in the cabin even for large guys. The factory support is excellent and the Zenith community is a good friendly group. Well, the Vans and Rans groups are great people too! I like the S-19 too, but Rans seems to have abandoned all of their airplanes except the S-21. I don't even think they had an S-19 at Oshkosh in 2019. it all comes down to what you want to do with it. The RV-12 and S-19 are probably slightly faster than the Cruzer, but you have so many more options with the Cruzer. You can put bid tires on it and land anywhere if you want to do that type of flying. Or you can put the small wheels and wheelpants on it and enjoy slightly faster cruise speeds. If your primary mission is local sight-seeing flights, then nothing beats the visibility of the high-wing Zeniths.
@@KitplaneEnthusiast Thank you very much. I guess with a good paint job the Cruzer isn't so ugly. Yours is a great example. Sightseeing is definitely my mission so you might have just sold me on the Zenith! Thanks again.
ok ok ok Yes I have been sanding fiberglass for years
Cozy IV?
is there any left on your plane to sand? lol
Fabric vs Metal?
What is the airplane at 4:37
11:43 mark hit home, getting married in a few months.... thanks. -_-
A wise man once told me....."Builders build and flyers fly. If you want to fly now, go find the best example, already built, and write the check."
500 🤘
Working number come
Hahaha just do it
So Van's didn't treat you well, huh?
Hey, you jump from 6 to 8 and 8 to 10. Where is Tip Nº 7 and 9??. Anyway, very useful tips, thank you!
I think you should watch the video again and recount! Lol
@@KitplaneEnthusiast Now is fine. Sorry I'm an obsessive perfectionist and your tips are great!
@@michaelscally9278 I didn’t change anything! I’m not sure how you missed it the first time. Glad the tips help!
The problem with me is; no one makes the plane I want.
I am going to have to design my dream plane from the ground up...
I actually really dislike a lot of the kitplanes available.
It's quite an undertaking, but other people have designed and built their own airplanes too!
Where do I find a half built kit
Try places like Barnstormers.com or trade-a-plane. You can also ask around on the Zenith Facebook pages too.
Is that a Cougar on the shelf behind you?
Yes it is.
@@KitplaneEnthusiast Sweet! I'm building a LongEZ and have a '68 Cougar restomod in the garage. Not something you see very often so it caught my eye.
Why is the Mooney tore apart? Annual time?
Yes. I'm finally installing the new interior and then it's time for the annual. Will be selling it right after annual.
Kitplane Enthusiast ah. Cool! Super Duty money?
@@samueltreffinger2292 Yes, plus I don't have the room for three airplanes.
Kitplane Enthusiast that makes sense. I’m sure it will be sad to see the Mooney go. But I get the feeling you enjoy building as much if not more than flying.
My little girl is turning 2... im about 2 years behind on my project.... hmmmm
Best tip Ever!!!
Don't get married and have children
Dude, where were you 25 years ago when I needed that advice!!
Now, Pfff.... I don't even want to talk about it, lol
I'm going Flying, to rise above it all 👍 and to the wife and kids....🖕
Awesome video, as always. I do hate you a tiny little bit (#10) after watching it, but I'd already hit the like button before getting there, so... meh.
oh cool if i stick around out of the 29,000 people that watched this i get a bonus tip, just for me 🥳🤭
Ma col decimo... Va in mona! 🤣 Ma ti pare che devi essere tu a dirmelo? Per favore 😊
he forgot the most important thing to consider......shipping and material costs have gone through the roof, you'll go broke ordering odds and ends from spruce.....beware
Damn it I got married a year ago. Think it's too late to get it annulled?
Naa...never too late! Think of all the airplanes you could buy!!
watch out for kitplane mfgs who aren't giving you a full set of drawings with the plans. Some of them pull shady tricks and leave out large sections of the aircraft to try and force you to buy their overpriced assemblies. reputable operations like vans give you a full set of plans you can build from scratch or repair with. it's an experimental kit plane....you should have all the drawings
Hahahaha I think you dont like fiber glass 😂 (sorry about my english 😅)
I do like making small fiberglass parts, but a whole airplane? That's too much work!
Good on you for having the where with all to not get married, have kids, and be saddled with a lifetime of misery, poverty, and basic disappointment...The wife will get fat, divorce you, and let the gov't help her rob you...All the while not even using a weapon or wearing a mask...The kids will develop a deep hate, resentment and most likely contribute nothing to your mental health...And, that's if they move out of your house...
Many people including myself didn't take your advice, path, or use simple logic, arithmetic and foresight...Years later, the damage is done and in some cases as some of my associates, insurmountable....Essentially, kidnapped and held for a lifetime of ransom demands and payments...Cheers 🍻!!!!...
Namaste call come
Oh, also... you are supposed to get a video out about picking paint schemes for 750 series Zeniths. Apparently your either way to busy or just plane lazy!
I know I know. I've actually started that video and hopefully I can get it finished soon!
Congrats on no kids! You are a hero!