Just rambling here...pay me no mind.

I sure ya'll remember the saga of me trying to buy a Bearhawk last year and how it didn't work out. So far this year I've been doing a little sulking over selling my Luscombe, very little flying and lots of thinking about what to about a plane. I almost decided to buy a maule, then a 172, then a Luscombe, then a Mooney, then a starduster, then a husky project...then I said screw it and bought a river jet boat project I've come full circle, several times actually, and decided to find a unfinished bearhawk to buy and complete the way I want. I've stayed in touch with my friend who's BH I wanted to buy last year but he decided to keep it in hopes that the FAA will do away with the 3rd class medical. I sent him a bunch of pics to get his opinion on a project I planned to make a deal on and go pickup next week. He gave me a call and said it looks good and is probly worth the money. But then he proceeds to tell me to come get his plane and fly it till he either decides to sell it to me or that he is going to keep it because the feds make it so he won't need a medical to fly it. Now I fear I'm going to start around the circle again. Do i hold out hope that I will eventually buy his plane or do I just buy the project an move on.

To complicate it even more I will be partners with my dad and he figures he has 6 years left to fly. Last thing I want to have happen is to spend all that time building and have him never be able to fly it.

I'm sulking again...I'm going to go stick my head under the dash of the boat to get my mind off this whole airplane business...

Ummm let's see.....you have an opportunity to fly the plane you have always wanted for expenses only..?!!
Fly that sucker 'tail he makes a decision and by then you will know what you want.
AND you can put more money into the jet boat! Win win win!

Sierra Victor wrote:Ummm let's see.....you have an opportunity to fly the plane you have always wanted for expenses only..?!!
Fly that sucker 'tail he makes a decision and by then you will know what you want.
AND you can put more money into the jet boat! Win win win!

X2! Get your ass back in the air and spend that time with your dad while he can still fly! You're young, You'll have the rest of your life to do your dream airplane project. Plus, a jet boat project and an airplane project equals a cluttered garage, empty wallet, and nothing to fly or drive on the river

Fly the BH, enjoy the ride, especially w your dad. Don't count on FAA making a decision anytime soon. Your friend will get further away from his plane and before long he will ask you to purchase his plane. At that point you might even have different options.

Fly now.

Sierra Victor wrote:Ummm let's see.....you have an opportunity to fly the plane you have always wanted for expenses only..?!!
Fly that sucker 'tail he makes a decision and by then you will know what you want.
AND you can put more money into the jet boat! Win win win!

And it sounds to me like your friend is lamenting his airplane isn't flying much, if at all, so he'll be happy too.

Fly the hell out of it, and give the owner rides whenever he wants. That's what I'm doing with two different planes right now, and it's a dream come true. Win-win for everyone involved, especially your dad. Plenty of time to do your own project later, if you don't end up with this one.

I don't understand building an airplane unless it is the second one...and the first one is flying.

And there is always a better cooler airplane that can be made. Someone else can make it while I'm flying my Tri-Pacer. But what do I know.

FLY IT!!!

ummmm....

Let me give you another boat to fix up

I agree, fly the plane...You're friend is coming to grips with giving it up.

Going by the other posts i think I'm jot the only one who fails to see the question! Go fly that bugger!

I'll go against the grain and say that I saw that BH in person; it was just ok. There's a lot to be said for finishing your own exactly how you want it, and you have the skills. Do you have the time?

Do both. Buy the bearhawk and fly the old man's until you finish your own. Is this the plane I sent you the PM about?

Jeredp wrote: spend that time with your dad while he can still fly! You're young, You'll have the rest of your life to do your dream airplane project. Plus, a jet boat project and an airplane project equals a cluttered garage, empty wallet, and nothing to fly or drive on the river

Boat is out of the garage for now but there is a lot of work to do. Been just enjoying it for the summer then planned on pulling it back into the garage for a bunch of winter work. I really want to build a plane and would be fine not flying much for the next several years but I don't want my pops to miss out on what could be the last several years he has to fly.

GroundLooper wrote:And it sounds to me like your friend is lamenting his airplane isn't flying much, if at all, so he'll be happy too.

He is and he would be.

Troy Hamon wrote:I don't understand building an airplane unless it is the second one...and the first one is flying.

Lots of people feel this way. I really enjoyed the Luscombe project and then enjoyed flying it for almost 10 years. I'm ready for another project.

Denali wrote:ummmm....

Let me give you another boat to fix up

No thanks

Zzz wrote:I'll go against the grain and say that I saw that BH in person; it was just ok. There's a lot to be said for finishing your own exactly how you want it, and you have the skills. Do you have the time?

Dammit Z! I knew you were going to say something like that and I think deep down I agree but there is the dad factor pushing me to fly now and build later. There is also the price that I would be paying for the flying BH and even though it has some fit and finish issues I think it is a decent airframe and a great deal. Time is also an issue. If it is in my garage I could probly dedicate 2hrs a day to it except for weekends. If it at my dads house it will probably only be a few 2 hours sessions each week.

Bender wrote:Do both. Buy the bearhawk and fly the old man's until you finish your own. Is this the plane I sent you the PM about?

That's what my dad wants to do but then we wouldn't have the money in hand when the guy is ready to sell the flying plane. It has to be one or the other IMO.

It isn't the one you PMd me about. I did want to buy that one but it sold the day I was loading the truck to go look at it. It was a special one, M4 fuselage from the door posts back. I thought it looked cool and the guy said it fit the jig perfectly...of course he made the jig himself according to the BH drawings. I couldn't make a deal over the phone because a bunch of measurements needed to be taken to make sure it was build straight.

what make of boat? I'm partners with my dad in a 20' NW jet. Seems like every hobby I have consists of various ways to burn gasoline.

When I was in college I decided the only hobby I would allow myself to have that required burning gasoline would be flying. Now I have snowmobiles, a diesel pickup to pull them and jet boat. Sure miss those simple days of college; driving a cheap Subaru wagon and spending my free time either flying or kayaking.

The boat is an old Almar the needed/s a lot of love. It has been fun to work on and my wife and kids love it.

X4, Fly now. I'm looking at a two year hole in my logbooks, wondering how I ever got myself into another huge project, and wishing I hadn't.

The comment about not building an airplane unless you're already flying another one... read that guy's post two or three times again

Cool project. Those old Almars are tough boats.

Caveat: I have never built an airplane.

Question: Realistically, is two hours a day, five days a week working on a homebuilt going to result in a fly able airplane in this decade?

Friends who have successfully built airplanes have spent a LOT of time at it.

Me, I'd take that much time just reading the instructions.

Second question: With spousal unit and chillens, is this a good time in your life to tackle such a demanding project?

MTV