Any homebuilt or experimental builders out there?

[GrumpE]

So, our new home will be done this fall and I just happen to have a large corner of the walk out basement being set up as a workshop. I have been building and flying RC models for years and that "was" the reason for the workshop.

Having been inspired by Mudge's posts as well as others stories of learning to fly I think I will finally go for this dream next spring.

Now. Just to really go off the deep end I am totally head over heals for the Vans RV8 and am seriously considering trying a build project. Quite a jump from even my 1/3 scale RC pitts! I am sure I can handle the building as I am pretty handy with tools and my dad is a licensed A&P so he can bail me out if needed.

So, anyone know of good forums like Wix but based on building planes?

I have found a few:

Of course the EAA
http://www.vansairforce.net/ Awesome
http://www.rvproject.com/ Really cool
http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/ A little light on traffic

Any links you may know of would be appreciated.

Thanks folks!

Eric

[BLR]

Matt Dralle has a RV (plus many other aircraft) forum and email list you can sign up for. Lots of builders, info and help there.

http://forums.matronics.com/viewforum.php?f=4
http://www.matronics.com/rv-list/index.htm

HTH

Brian...

[Kyleb]

Matronics' RV-listis outstanding and has searchable archives that go back a decade or more. If you can sort the wheat from the chaff, there is a wealth of information in the archives. The RV-list itself is an e-mail list, and is well maintained to prevent it from causing spam problems. I've participated over there for at least 10 years.

Another excellent forum is:

www.vansairforce.net

Vansairforce is very similar to the WIX forum, rather than an e-mail list like Matronics.

Look around in your local area for other RV builders. If you're anywhere near a metropolitan area, there is probably an RV under construction within a couple of miles of you.

[Broken-Wrench]

http://www.rivetbangers.com/BuilderResources.shtml

[Cvairwerks]

GrumpE: Take the time and join your local EAA chapter and there will be a wealth of information and guidence available to you. Also, take one or two of the weekend workshops that cover the type of fabrication that you want to do....ie sheet metal vs. wood vs. fabric. All three have some common skills, but all have their own pecular ones too. By taking a couple of the workshops, you can get a decent feel for what it will take to build the aircraft you decide on prior to buying a kit or plans and materials. It's better to be out the 2-300$ for the workshop and find out that you don't like banging rivets and already have an RV kit bought and in route.

I have an aquaintence that fell in love with a composite design and found out after purchasing the plans and thousands of dollars of materials that he was severely allergic to the chemicals used in fabricating the composite parts.

Once you settle on a fabrication method, you then need to decide if you want a kit or to scratch fabricate, and that will help narrow your choices.

[GrumpE]

Great links guys. Thanks!

The EAA is high on my list of priorities for all the mentioned reasons. Just have to get this house done and our current one sold first.

Eric