Bios <back>
Many times when viewing other building sites I often wonder what does the builder do? What experiences does he bring to the project and what made them want to build. At what point in there lives did they decide they want to fly? So to answer a few of your questions I hope the next few bios help answer those questions and perhaps more.
My background is electronics, consumer/commercial. I’ve had 20 years experience running my own business, but with the economic turn in consumer electronics, I decided about 6 years ago to venture in the corporate world as a IS administrator. Now I’ve changed career once again to industrial electronics. In my younger years I worked as a mechanic in my dad’s garage business. So I have very wide range of experiences and talents.
One of my hobbies or fun things to do is building web sites and this is one. Follow the links in the main window to see the others. Other hobbies are building computer systems, servers and rack systems. I still do a great deal of networking and consulting. So if you have questions please feel free to ask.
What made me chose a RV? Why this one and not another? There was another, the Pietenpol. I fell in love with this aircraft when I saw one fly. Its of another time period and I loved it. It was a fabric covered wooden frame aircraft. I bought the plans and started the parts list. As time went by I started getting concerned about my size. I am a tall guy at 6.1.5 and 220lbs so I found out after getting started I would be a tight fit. The main problem was my wife, there is no way I’d get her in the front seat. To get in he front seat you had to crawl under the wing and slither in the front seat. I figured I’d get her to fly a few times but it’d be me for the most part. I really didn’t want to leave her out and about that time a Dragonfly (cut your sound down) dropped in my hands and we’d both fit, fine, but at the limit. About this time, my friends Rick and Pete had bought their RV-6a kit and were getting started. But as time moved, plans I had, didn’t work, I’ve taken on as the LEAN lead at work and my shop being full with the dragonfly just started good. I had no room, so I decided to sell it and lean my place. My buddy, Rick, by then had his bird in the air and allowed me to fly it and it was the best flying plane I ever flew. So talking with him, he convinced me the RV-7 was the plane for me. I talked it over with my wife, and she blew with a wave of relief. She said she’d love to fly with me in a RV but was very hesitant about flying in the Dragonfly. I was taught many years ago, when two or more family or friends agree, its usually a good thing and I have to agree. So a long story, shortened, I am now starting a new adventure in the RV world. I have Pete and Rick to thank for their logic and helping my wife understand. Another buddy of mine at work, Greg has started his own RV-7 as well. So with all these builders as a group, I think the RV is the best choice by far.
So you may be asking what flying experience I have. I have about 25 hours, non-solo, in a 152, 172, 182, RV6a so I have some experience, but got a long way to go, so wish me luck!