WIX Archives
Re: How do you do it????
Posted by Rob Mears on Sun Feb 01, 2004 11:31:09 AM
In reply top How do you do it???? posted by Tulio on Fri Jan 30, 2004 09:14:35 PM
A friend of ours at the local airport has constructed six Van's RV kitplanes in the last four years. We were discussing the resale value of the RV-8 and came to the conclusion that if all a person did was build one RV-8 a year and sell it, they could clear about $30K in profit annually just working for themselves and tinkering with planes. This is a kit plane so there is a learning curve in completing the first one, but after that you'd already be set up with your tools, jigs, etc. If you have hangar (or garage) space available and plenty of free time, this might be right up your alley. The trick would be coming up with the capital to finance the first complete kit. Depending on the standard of living you choose for yourself and the quality of craftsmanship you demend from yourself, you could probably put back enough in a few years time to swap up to something like a T-6. You could also rack up a fair amount of taildragger time in the process by flying the RV's ;) Then there's the experience you'll rack up with metal working, electrics, hydraulics, paint, etc. If you preferred to restore warbirds rather than build little sportplanes, this experience would no doubt be beneficial towards that end as well.
I'm working on constructing an RV-4 right now. In the end if the building process has been as fun as it's been so far we might sell this one, use the profit to build another one and put the difference in the bank. After the second plane we will may well be in AT-6 territory as far as the "airplane account" is concerned. I'll be happy enough just getting the RV in the air at this point so I can get have my wings back for a little while.