Author Topic: Homebuilts draw me again  (Read 1106 times)

Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #30 on: November 28, 2005, 07:08:41 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by NUTTZ
Chairboy, Arrow from AH here has one of these planes.

He flew it into the reading airshow 2 years back. He does the Osh relay or something of that sort. I was supposed to get a ride in it. The payload is under 400lbs. so i had to lose some weight to be a passenger. I did get down to 195. From seeing this plane i hear they are awsome. If you need more information i can pass your e-mail address to Arrow. I think they have a webpage on the canards, last i heard they were doing some formation flying and started a group.

NUTTZ
Hi Nuttz!  You sure it wasn't a LongEZ?  The Cozy design I'm looking at has a usable load of around 1,000lbs.

On a related note, you can find VFR LongEZs for sale for cheap.  I saw one for $16,000 and another for $25,000.  If someone had the skills to perform a good inspection, might be a good deal for a fast, cheap plane.
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Offline Maverick

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« Reply #31 on: November 28, 2005, 11:05:49 PM »
Kinda makes you wonder why someone would sell an aircraft like that for less than the cost of the materials including engine.

Chairboy I've known some homebuilders. Some were absolute perfectionists whose only failing is that they are never finished building the plane even after it's painted and certified OK to fly by the FAA. They are always wanting to improve instead of just flying the truly outstanding machine.

I've also met some who I wouldn't ride in the car they drove. One bought an engine and brought it by to have us look at it. He was very happy he got it at auction for only $6,000.00. He was going to strap it on a plane and fly it after doing nothing more than changing plugs and adding oil. It just had to be good as it was all nice clean and freshly painted just like the factory lycomings. I asked him to check the engine out first. He declined and I then asked him if he minded if I got an insurance policy on him first with me as the benificiary. At that point he said ok lets look at it. We found the pan had a double handfull of sand in it, 3 cylinders had sand in them on top of the piston over a half inch thick. The 4th cylinder had 2 broken rings.

He also had a nice looking prop for the engine. I convinced him to take it to the local prop shop. One blade was bent over a half inch out of track. It had been in a blade strike. But it was really nice and pretty with the blades filed and freshly painted, albeit a bit short.

I think "glass planes" are ok bnut I would not buy anything that I can't fully inspect. There are just too many things that can go wrong with the construction of a composite that you won't be able to see without xraying the entire bird. A well constructed one would be a joy to have and fly.

As to durability and exposure. I flew in Southern AZ. I also looked over the line in places I fley into. In AZ. I never saw a composit bird stored outside on the ramp at TUS, Marana NW and even La Cholla, a private flying community.

Like "rag wings" I think compposits need to be kept in hangars for storage.
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Offline LePaul

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« Reply #32 on: November 29, 2005, 12:37:53 AM »
Ive been impressed with the slick lines of the Cozy.  But unless its a Beech Starship, I wouldnt buy one.  (And almost all of those have all been bought up by Raytheon, slated to be shredded and burned)

Local guy had a Varieze that seemed to continually have nose wheel problems.  He also ran into a lot of walls with insurance.  I was a big admirer of the Berkut, a retract variant of the Varieze.  Apparently someone was killed in one and effectively shut down the operation (I could be wrong...but that's the info as it was passed along to me)

The RVs have a solid rep.  If you opt to build one, there's a lot of support there.

Sadly, the General Aviation offerings are pretty stale looking.  The Experimentals have all the excitement....if you have the ability to build em yourself

Offline Holden McGroin

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« Reply #33 on: November 29, 2005, 12:46:00 AM »
Chairboy, just drive on over to Redmond and drool.
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Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #34 on: November 29, 2005, 04:24:47 PM »
Well, this has been put firmly on the back burner.  I was just laid off from my job of almost 10 years this morning, so my flying budget, not to mention my 'build or buy a plane' budget has just been axed.

Sadness.
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

Offline LePaul

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« Reply #35 on: November 29, 2005, 04:59:09 PM »
Oh man, sorry to hear that...no advance warning or anything?  Severance?  What a rotten time of year to get the axe  :confused:

Offline Seagoon

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« Reply #36 on: November 29, 2005, 05:01:09 PM »
Hi Furball,

Quote
Originally posted by Furball
http://www.pacificaerosport.com/twister.htm !


O come on, you're going to trust a lightweight Spitfire replica built by a GERMAN company?

Nope, you'd be better off investing the $470,000 and buying one of Flugwerk's full-scale 190A8 knockoffs. I have it on good authority that the Germans knew how to build them.

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Offline Wolf14

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« Reply #37 on: November 29, 2005, 05:02:04 PM »
Damn, sorry to hear the bad news Chairboy.

Why are the starships being rebought and scrapped?

Offline LePaul

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« Reply #38 on: November 29, 2005, 05:11:42 PM »
There was a thin on the history channel about it...the only thing I could find right away off Google was this  article.

Offline Seagoon

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« Reply #39 on: November 29, 2005, 05:20:24 PM »
Hi Chair,

Quote
Originally posted by Chairboy
Well, this has been put firmly on the back burner.  I was just laid off from my job of almost 10 years this morning, so my flying budget, not to mention my 'build or buy a plane' budget has just been axed.

Sadness.


Sorry, I posted my most recent missive without reading to the end of the thread and almost deleted it entirely as a result. I'm truly saddened to hear your news.

Ah well Chair, sometimes it helps to be reminded that all of our jobs, promotions, and wealth, are in the end so much dust and try as we might, they inevitably all slip through our fingers:

"When the race is ended, and the play is either won or lost, and ye are in the utmost circle and border of time, and shall put your foot within the march of eternity, all the good things of your short nightdream shall seem to you like ashes of a blaze of thorns or straw." - SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

If I can be of assistance to you, both now and in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me.

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Offline Golfer

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« Reply #40 on: November 29, 2005, 07:15:46 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Debonair
If you reply on NTSB reports, the leading cause of trouble is flying in VMC without a flight plan


Those are my favorite ones.  Just like shooting the approach without a clearance was the obvious cause of the accident.  If he had a clearance...all would have been well and good.

The FAA is cinching up loose ends...watch out!!!!  :noid

Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #41 on: November 29, 2005, 07:17:40 PM »
Thanks guys.  Yeah, got a severance, and I hope to find something soon.  Appreciate the kind words.
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

Offline Golfer

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« Reply #42 on: November 29, 2005, 07:18:08 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Chairboy
Well, this has been put firmly on the back burner.  I was just laid off from my job of almost 10 years this morning, so my flying budget, not to mention my 'build or buy a plane' budget has just been axed.

Sadness.


Just got to the end of the thread...sorry Chairboy.  I guess you didn't own a pizza shop like I thought...ass-u-me

Good luck.

Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #43 on: November 29, 2005, 07:24:24 PM »
No, we still own two pizza stores, it's just that one of them makes a modest profit that the other one (that we're trying to turn around) is in the red for that amount and more, so in the end, right now it's actually a cost center.  With my salary, I've been able to float it along until we get things fixed the rest of the way, but that will be tricky now.

To make a small fortune in the pizza business, start with a large one!

We'll figure something out, I'm confident.
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

Offline Golfer

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« Reply #44 on: November 29, 2005, 07:29:18 PM »
I wish I could help.  If I knew a darn thing or would've spent more than a week in Oregon I'd offer.

Mind if ask what type of field or job you were in?  Skilled labor?  IT?  Management?  I heard from the blonde (girl from Hobby airport in Creswell) she's in Eugene now and involved with the Church and about a million other groups...if I can help I'd like to.

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