Just here to learn

[FlyingNeedles]

Good afternoon All-

I'm a new US based sport pilot. I've got ~200 hours in LSAs of all sorts in about 2.5 to 3 years. Purely for fun, with the occasional excuse to fly out for a work reason or two.

I've always found the idea of building a kit plane to be something I want to do, but I know nothing of the craft. I've never really built much besides some bird houses and a few PC towers. You could say my hard are softer than jello left in the sun....So, I'll be lurking on these forums getting familiar with the process. I chose here over some others because the vibe here is nice. It doesn't hurt that I would sell unneeded body parts for the chance to build/own a bearhawk.

Any advice on a place to start? Practical experience building wise. I've already been watching and reading build logs.

Thanks for having me here and sorry if I ask a shockingly rookie question question for you all in random thread.

[jaredyates]

Welcome! I would absolutely recommend that you go to Airventure next month and attend the hands-on workshops for Oxy-Acetylene welding, aluminum construction, and fabric covering. Each will take about half a day, and while you won't walk away with "ready to build" skills, you'll walk away with the confidence that you can achieve them with more practice and study.

[U2fletch]

Where are you located? If you check out the builder map on the forum here you may find someone nearby who you could visit and check out their build. We are located in the Phoenix area and love visitors.

[FlyingNeedles]

Welcome! I would absolutely recommend that you go to Airventure next month and attend the hands-on workshops for Oxy-Acetylene welding, aluminum construction, and fabric covering. Each will take about half a day, and while you won't walk away with "ready to build" skills, you'll walk away with the confidence that you can achieve them with more practice and study.

I'd love to go, but not in the cards for this summer. Sun N Fun is much closer. Do they have anything like that there? I hope to fly up there and be part of the joyful chaos that is Fisk.

[FlyingNeedles]

Where are you located? If you check out the builder map on the forum here you may find someone nearby who you could visit and check out their build. We are located in the Phoenix area and love visitors.

I did not know about that feature. I'll poke around there and see what I find....I'm in rural southern louisiana. I can make it to NOLA and BR if I have a free day, but not off the cuff.

I debated joining EAA to "join" a build at Lakefront. Not ruled out yet, but debatable on how much bang for buck I'll get. Who knows if there is a build happening, or it's just some pilots who hang out in a hanger every now and then.

How has y'all's experience been with local EAA chapters.

[U2fletch]

I support several local EAA chapters doing Young Eagles flights, those are very rewarding. Our local chapter in Chandler is pretty active, a few guys doing builds. Highly recommend visiting any chapters in your area. You don’t need to join to drop in and visit. I am an FAA Safety Team Rep and we regularly host safety Wings meetings on current safety topics. Those meetings can be another good resource to meet local pilots with similar interests.

[jaredyates]

Sun-N-Fun does have workshops as well. Look for Brad Ripp in Pearl River, LA.

[Bcone1381]

I debated joining EAA to "join" a build at Lakefront. Not ruled out yet, but debatable on how much bang for buck I'll get. Who knows if there is a build happening, or it's just some pilots who hang out in a hanger every now and then.

How has y'all's experience been with local EAA chapters.

I built a kit alone at home. Along the way I made face to face acquaintances. I kept in touch with Everyone of them. They had ideas or skills that I needed and helped along the way that this forum cant replace. If that EAA chapter is just a hang out, then I still recommend you go. There might be some old fabricators there that will inspire ideas and flush out confidence. You also might inspire them and give them a reason to push on to complete their build.

[FlyingNeedles]

I support several local EAA chapters doing Young Eagles flights, those are very rewarding. Our local chapter in Chandler is pretty active, a few guys doing builds. Highly recommend visiting any chapters in your area. You don’t need to join to drop in and visit. I am an FAA Safety Team Rep and we regularly host safety Wings meetings on current safety topics. Those meetings can be another good resource to meet local pilots with similar interests.

Fair enough. I'll make it a priority of mine to reach out to the two or three EAA chapters in my area and see if they don't mind me popping in. Looks like the email is listed, so that's what I'll do. Thanks.

[FlyingNeedles]

Sun-N-Fun does have workshops as well. Look for Brad Ripp in Pearl River, LA.

Good to know about SnF. Give me another reason to try and go.

I'll look him up and reach out when the time is right. Thanks!

[FlyingNeedles]

I built a kit alone at home. Along the way I made face to face acquaintances. I kept in touch with Everyone of them. They had ideas or skills that I needed and helped along the way that this forum cant replace. If that EAA chapter is just a hang out, then I still recommend you go. There might be some old fabricators there that will inspire ideas and flush out confidence. You also might inspire them and give them a reason to push on to complete their build.

I figured it would be a good time either way even if it's just a hang out. I'm just focused on the practical skills at the moment. I'll reach out the local-ish chapters. Thanks.

Built at home is probably what I'll end up doing if kit build is what I do. Do you have a place to take off from, or did you trailer it to a strip when time was right?

[Bcone1381]

Arborite helped me secure a hangar at the local airport and we trailered the big parts to the airport for final assembly.

[Dpearson]

My local EAA chapter (338) has been a great resource for me. My BH4 is my first build, and the monthly chapter meetings with other builders to swap ideas and get advice have been invaluable. We also have a tool crib, so I was able to borrow a real Nicropress crimper when I needed it. I’ve been able to get experienced help for the steps that require multiple sets of hands, such as closing and hanging the wings.
I’m building at home in an urban area, so there will be a few truck trips to get fuselage and wings to a local airport for final assembly and flight testing. That will happen Tuesday. Some Tuesday. Probably not this year.

[gregc]

Since you said that you want practical experience my advice is to make some stuff. Reading/talking about it is great but no substitute for hands-on work. Limit your costs by starting with things that require minimal tools and materials. You will be surprised at how many things can be fashioned with hand tools you already have. The goal is try things, not to make usable parts. Here are some possibilities:

1) Build a couple of wood frames and cover them with aircraft fabric. There are hundreds of on-line tutorials on the covering process. Airtech Coating has a really good set of youtube videos. Nearly every system makes its documentation available on line. Most builders have left over pieces of fabric, adhesive, paint etc. they will give you to practice with.

2) Bearhawks and similar aircraft have tens if not hundreds of smallish steel parts. Scrounge up some sheet metal and cut, drill, de-burr, bend and shape a few brackets, mounts, etc.

3) Make something out of aluminum. Try a wing rib. It doesn't have to be real one just something of the right shape that requires you to make a forming block, hammer out the flanges, cutout lightening holes etc. If you don't mind spending some money, buy a rivet gun/bucking bar and some rivets and practice.

The idea is to find out what you like, what you are already pretty good at, what you need to learn but most importantly discover that you can do it!

[FlyingNeedles]

My local EAA chapter (338) has been a great resource for me. My BH4 is my first build, and the monthly chapter meetings with other builders to swap ideas and get advice have been invaluable. We also have a tool crib, so I was able to borrow a real Nicropress crimper when I needed it. I’ve been able to get experienced help for the steps that require multiple sets of hands, such as closing and hanging the wings.
I’m building at home in an urban area, so there will be a few truck trips to get fuselage and wings to a local airport for final assembly and flight testing. That will happen Tuesday. Some Tuesday. Probably not this year.

Good luck with the test!

The more I'm hearing, the more it sounds like EAA local chapter meetings will be in my near future.

[FlyingNeedles]

Since you said that you want practical experience my advice is to make some stuff. Reading/talking about it is great but no substitute for hands-on work. Limit your costs by starting with things that require minimal tools and materials. You will be surprised at how many things can be fashioned with hand tools you already have. The goal is try things, not to make usable parts. Here are some possibilities:

1) Build a couple of wood frames and cover them with aircraft fabric. There are hundreds of on-line tutorials on the covering process. Airtech Coating has a really good set of youtube videos. Nearly every system makes its documentation available on line. Most builders have left over pieces of fabric, adhesive, paint etc. they will give you to practice with.

2) Bearhawks and similar aircraft have tens if not hundreds of smallish steel parts. Scrounge up some sheet metal and cut, drill, de-burr, bend and shape a few brackets, mounts, etc.

3) Make something out of aluminum. Try a wing rib. It doesn't have to be real one just something of the right shape that requires you to make a forming block, hammer out the flanges, cutout lightening holes etc. If you don't mind spending some money, buy a rivet gun/bucking bar and some rivets and practice.

The idea is to find out what you like, what you are already pretty good at, what you need to learn but most importantly discover that you can do it!

Solid ideas. I've been trying with the idea of buying that light up box or tool.box that Vans aircraft has for sale. Not exactly cost effective, but it sounds like it's a good practice piece.

I do like the idea of practicing aircraft fabric wrapping.

My real fear is not knowing I'm messing something up or doing it poorly until it's too late. But that where experience and EAA can help.

Thanks.

[Bcone1381]

Your fear is a healthy fear. You will think about stuff carefully before pulling the trigger. It will slow you down but you will be fine. There are few things that you can do that cannot be un-done or re-done. I covered my fuselage twice, and my interior twice. It felt real good Both times I ripped off the first fabric attempts. I made my boot cowl twice. i only painted once, and I drilled out my wings spars the first time correctly too.