Re: [bolger] boats 'n' planes
Since everyone is confessing their sentiment for homebuilt airplanes, I've
had it too, but my enthusiasm was damped two ways: I don't have the
patience for the fine workmanship involved, and I was an airline employee so
I really couldn't justify owning a plane for any travel purpose. A few of
my colleagues didn't let this stop them, and they owned everything from
Ercoupes to Long E-Z's. I'm very satisfied with my "boat habit", and I get
in enough flying as a passenger to see the top of enough clouds...
Don Hodges, still sanding a little, but this election is taking a lot of
quality time right now
had it too, but my enthusiasm was damped two ways: I don't have the
patience for the fine workmanship involved, and I was an airline employee so
I really couldn't justify owning a plane for any travel purpose. A few of
my colleagues didn't let this stop them, and they owned everything from
Ercoupes to Long E-Z's. I'm very satisfied with my "boat habit", and I get
in enough flying as a passenger to see the top of enough clouds...
Don Hodges, still sanding a little, but this election is taking a lot of
quality time right now
I came to boatbuilding after many years of reading and dreaming about
building my own plane. The problem now is that the time and money that
I would have to put in to building even a simple homebuilt aircraft
would result in something that I couldn't share with my family in the
same way that I can with a boat. I still keep one eye on the sky, and
haunt small airfields wherever I go. Someday....
Here are a few links to site that may pique your interest, my
nominations for the Instant Boats of the homebuilt world. Be warned,
this hobby may be even more addictive than boatbuilding (if you can
believe it.) I own plans sets of all of these aircraft (see what I
mean).
http://users.aol.com/bpanews/www.html
Pietenpol Air Camper, the grandfather of American homebuilt aircraft,
still going strong after over 70 years!
http://www.halcyon.com/wanttaja/flybaby.html
Bowers Fly Baby, a '60s design with '30s flair.
http://www.evansair.com/
Evans Volksplane, the VW Bug of homebuilts
http://www.flyingflea.org/
Mignet Pou-du-Ciel--a true aviation pioneer who invented a completely
new configuration still going strong after almost 70 years. See the
wonderful book HENRI MIGNET & HIS FLYING FLEAS by Ellis & Jones.
These are all wood and fabric designs to be built from scratch from
plans--say 500-1000 hours, $5,000-15,000. There are also some nice
wooden ultralight-type kits as well, such as Roger Mann's Ragwing
designs, the various Fisher designs, and the ubiquitous TEAM Mini-Max.
Enjoy!
Matthew
--
Matthew Long, Agnès Peillet & Fletcher Shane Peillet-Long
Saint-Priest, France
Boats, planes, baby and more! Des bateaux, des avions, le bébé, et
encore plus!
http://www.geocities.com/owlnmole
building my own plane. The problem now is that the time and money that
I would have to put in to building even a simple homebuilt aircraft
would result in something that I couldn't share with my family in the
same way that I can with a boat. I still keep one eye on the sky, and
haunt small airfields wherever I go. Someday....
Here are a few links to site that may pique your interest, my
nominations for the Instant Boats of the homebuilt world. Be warned,
this hobby may be even more addictive than boatbuilding (if you can
believe it.) I own plans sets of all of these aircraft (see what I
mean).
http://users.aol.com/bpanews/www.html
Pietenpol Air Camper, the grandfather of American homebuilt aircraft,
still going strong after over 70 years!
http://www.halcyon.com/wanttaja/flybaby.html
Bowers Fly Baby, a '60s design with '30s flair.
http://www.evansair.com/
Evans Volksplane, the VW Bug of homebuilts
http://www.flyingflea.org/
Mignet Pou-du-Ciel--a true aviation pioneer who invented a completely
new configuration still going strong after almost 70 years. See the
wonderful book HENRI MIGNET & HIS FLYING FLEAS by Ellis & Jones.
These are all wood and fabric designs to be built from scratch from
plans--say 500-1000 hours, $5,000-15,000. There are also some nice
wooden ultralight-type kits as well, such as Roger Mann's Ragwing
designs, the various Fisher designs, and the ubiquitous TEAM Mini-Max.
Enjoy!
Matthew
--
Matthew Long, Agnès Peillet & Fletcher Shane Peillet-Long
Saint-Priest, France
Boats, planes, baby and more! Des bateaux, des avions, le bébé, et
encore plus!
http://www.geocities.com/owlnmole