Okay. So, all projects have to have a first step…beyond the decision to start the project! Ours started on the Vans Aircraft website, poring over the different plans and options, looking at the requirements and FAQs. Where to start??
As it turns out, Vans does a really good job at supporting builders. To start with, they offer a plans preview option where, for $55, they will send you the complete plans overview in a nicely-bound 11×17″ format. Well heck…that sounds like a great place to start!
I ordered the plans and received them about a week later:
As you can see…pretty scary looking! I tried not to be intimidated by some of the illustrations. The best way to acconplish a large, complex project is to break it down into small pieces. Vans does a great job of this (the above image is just an overview, not a single “step” in the process).
One of the most useful sections in the plans is the Required Tools list. Vans says on it’s website that most builders can expect to pay $1,500 or more for tools. That seemed reasonable. However, there are other ways to come across required tools! I know a number of pilots who are builders. Also, I joined EAA, or the Experimenta Aircraft Association, which is the go-to club for builders. The Livermore chapter has 4 members who have built or are building RV-7s.
So, I started looking through the tool list and started searching around for a good supplier…or 2 or 3. I found both aircraft-tool.com (ATS) and aircraftspruce.com. Even if I bought every tool I needed from the outset, I still have zero experience with building a plane, or even metalworking. There are mentions of weekend workshops which introduce one to the skills required, but with COVID-19, those are scarce to not available.
I found a great alternative, though. Vans has everal “learning projects” that you can buy and build! What a novel idea! They have a flap section (very airplane-y), a metal toolbox and a metal illuminated sign. Great! Next purchase: the flap section kit!
