And That's Why I'm Calling it Lunatic

SpeedPagan

SpeedPagan

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So next weekend, I will be in Chesapeake VA. Why you ask? To take part in Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) SportAir Workshop. Link. I will be taking a sheet metal basic class.

So why am I doing this? Because I actually plan to build my own aircraft one day (hopefully very soon). Why am I going to build my own aircraft? Because I don't want to buy a beaten up used aircraft, but I also don't want to have to sell my soul and the soul of my 1st born for a brand new one too. With a kit aircraft, I can build a brand new aircraft and I can customize it the way I want to.

After careful research, I decided that the aircraft I'm going to build will be the Vans RV-12. Why the RV-12? Because the people I talk to says that it's very easy to build for a first time builder, Vans has a great reputation when it comes to kit aircraft and I am a fan of the Rotax engine. Hey, if the Rotax engine is good enough for our military, it's good enough for me.

As for the title of this thread, my aircraft will have the nickname Lunatic, because I'm sure everyone I talked to about this already thinks I'm crazy for wanting to do it. :XXROFL:
 
Just make sure you don't take any advice on the subject that may have come from John Denver. He died in his. Musical genius? Yes. Master builder? Not so much.
 
Benevolent One said:
Just make sure you don't take any advice on the subject that may have come from John Denver. He died in his. Musical genius? Yes. Master builder? Not so much.
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Benevolent One said:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-denver-dies-in-an-ultra-light-aircraft-accident
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1) John Denver flew a Long-EZ, which isn't an ultralight. It's a standard light aircraft. Link

2) The accident was ruled as pilot error by the NTSB.

Washington, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board has determined today that popular entertainer John Denver fatally crashed his experimental aircraft into Monterey Bay because his attention during flight was diverted in an attempt to switch fuel tanks. The fuel selector valve on the amateur-built Adrian Davis Long-EZ airplane Denver was flying was behind the pilot's left shoulder, forcing him to turn in his seat to locate the handle. This action, the Board concluded, likely caused him to inadvertently apply the right rudder, resulting in loss of aircraft control.
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Contributing to the crash was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, specifically his failure to refuel the plane. The Board further determined that the builder's decision to locate the unmarked fuel selector handle in a difficult to access location, combined with unmarked fuel gauges was a causal factor in the accident. Additionally, the Board found that the pilot failed to train himself adequately for the transition to this type of aircraft and was inexperienced flying the Long-EZ.
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Link.

There was nothing structurally wrong with the aircraft itself.
 
BobbyFord said:
There was after gravity got a hold of it...
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Well that's true. Heh. But nah I'll have EAA and my dad (who built a Factory Five Cobra) helping me every step of the way, so I'm not too worried.
 
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