The time has come to start building again, and this time, it's a plans built airplane. Unlike last time with the RV-7 that came in a kit with 99% of the parts pre-formed, pre-punched, and match drilled, this airplane will be built with raw stock materials. So why am I doing this? Well after finishing the RV-7 and flying it for a year, I found that I have this empty spot in my world that used to be taken up by countless hours of thinking and planning out what to do next on "the project". Since the project is now a full fledged airplane, I am really missing that project in the garage/hangar. I bought plans for a Hummel Bird, then ended up with a Thatcher CX-4 project to finish. I had always liked the Tailwind, but never gave it any thought beyond that because I was afraid of welding. What do those last two sentences leave me with today? Well the Hummel Bird plans were traded for a set of W-10 Tailwind plans, and the Thatcher project was sold. I learned to weld, and it turns out, it's NOT HARD to learn and do well!! My mission profile has always been a fast, fun, capable airplane that my wife and I could do some traveling in. The RV-7 fit that profile perfectly, expect for one major factor: Cost. The RV is one of the most capable airplanes out there. It's just expensive. I had myself convinced that we could swing it, and to tell you the truth, we can. But it does mean sacrificing in other areas. That was fine for a while, but Brittne and I had a good long talk this summer...yep, most of the summer...and when it comes down to it, we don't want to sacrifice some of the things we have been, and it made sense to sell the RV-7. That's a hard pill to swallow after spending five years building something to flight status. BUT, as I said earlier, I LOVE building and having a project, and the Tailwind will do all the RV does (except aerobatics, which I don't care much about) on about 1/4-1/3 the budget. I like that.

So with the RV out, what do I fly in the meantime? Turns out that my new employer (EAA) has plans for an employee flying club, and included in the offering of airplanes...is an RV! One of the RV-6A's that flew so many Young Eagles is going to be available for rent to employees. There will also be a Cuby (Experimental J-3) that I can, and will, use to stay tailwheel current, and fly to the local strips, and possibly a Sky Catcher. This will work out quite nicely in the meantime!