RV10 Build - Why I have Stopped Building - Video 47

[@edkranz]

Keep on it! You'll have lots of ups and downs throughout the process. Stick to the plans unless you're absolutely certain you want to do something special... because that stuff takes 3-5 times as long! And the best advice I can give you is just do SOMETHING every day that you possible can, and you'll maintain some sort of forward progress. Also, I'd delay on any avionics purchase until WAY later. I bought some avionics stuff early, but by the time I was ready to install, newer, better stuff had been released and I took a bath selling the old stuff. The technology changes fast. But the same doesn't apply to engines/props. Get those when you can, because they haven't changed in 50 years, and they only get more expensive every year! GOOD LUCK!

[@pilotrhino]

Thank you. I am not ordering any avionics, just starting to plan it out. Its really the engine at this point that is the big decision. I can keep moving without that decision, it just became overwhelming. I try to touch it everyday, and most days I am able to.

[@KeithKnoesel]

@@pilotrhino You're a complete loser.

[@auburnaviator6167]

The funk is real bro and so are everyday life commitments. I started my -10 build in early 2019 and am just now “finishing” my doors. I find myself between my work schedule and family commitments taking November-February off of building. Getting back in to the swing of things feels nearly impossible sometimes. This year has been especially hard and I’ve only been out to the shop maybe 4-5 times. Keep at it. We’ll all get there eventually!

[@pilotrhino]

We will, I am going to keep on keeping on.

[@BobbyPilot]

We're about ready for our first engine start. "Decision fatigue" is often just me not admitting analysis paralysis. ALL of the options are good ones. Pick one based on the community around you and their familiarity imo. Much easier to ask around for help if the guy down the row has the same setup. We landed on dual p-mag and arent sad about it. We could have gone SDS or lightspeed or whoever but we made that decision a long while back and dont have time to regret it. :) I dont think you will either. One other thing that Im sure you are already well aware of... the more you go off plans the more headaches you create for yourself. 100% stock is going to be an amazing airplane. Choose your customizations wisely and sparingly cause combined, they add up. Id guesstimate we have over 300-500hrs+ in just customizations. Half are questionable now and the other half have caused us more headaches down the road when we discover that we modified something that now is no longer in line with the later plans. :)

[@pilotrhino]

Congrats on the first start, I hope you share that with eveybody, I love seeing those. Yes, every single modification is 5x the work of just doing it per plans. Some I know are worth it, many I have just skipped. The keeping up with Jones is real, nobody wants to show to Oshkosh with the plane that doesn't have what everybody else's have. Suppressing that is the challange and really looking at how I think I will mostly use the airplane.

[@ryaninman6307]

Understand the fatigue. Hang in. Sunday be a no show for kids sports for me, need day of rest and its Gods day.

[@pilotrhino]

We have 2 early games this weekend on Saturday without a break between them so I should be home my noon and can get my finish kit inventoried (supposed to arrive today). Its the Sunday's that are a killer, if they win, they take a 2 hour break before the next game and just keep playing till they lose.

[@flyboy98]

I'm only on Section 26, but it seems to me you are way too early to be worrying about engine and avionics. Cabin top, systems installation, etc could keep you busy before you spend more BIG bucks.

[@pilotrhino]

I agree, just sharing what is going on in my head. I am a planner and sometimes planning too much can hold us back.

[@jerseypilot83]

It’s never to early to plan for engine and avionics!

[@bjwasson]

Don’t worry about the interior paint yet. You will want the cabin top on before you paint the cabin interior. On the EFII vs SDS make sure you consult your panel builder on what they will install or have a plan for doing that portion of the panel build yourself. All the decisions are overwhelming and there is no shortage on this build.

[@bbrens1]

Yep, its real. The fiberglass top/doors was the part of my project that gave me builders fatigue and it was easier just to put it off and focus on other life/house stuff, especially when you feel like you work an entire weekend with not much visual progress. I'm nearing the end of the heavy work on the doors and installed most of the instrument panel over the winter to take a fiberglass 'break', so I think I'm about to that point where I can move onto tasks that show more encouraging progress. The activities with my 2 young kids aren't slowing down either... My wife and I often talk how over-committed we are, and I always approached the build with the mindset that its the lower priority and I won't place it before other family obligations. However...... We also agreed the RV10 needs more focus to get it across the finish line, since the last 2 years has easily been the lowest progress I've made so far. I'm doing a similar psychological thing you are, by deciding by OSH this thing is going up on the landing gear and the engine is going to get hung. Trying to force myself to get to that milestone, because I know things really pick up after that.

[@pilotrhino]

Thanks for sharing. I have the same approach, my family comes first, but then spending the kind of money I am on a project not making progress is not exactly family comes first either. One bite at a time. I inventoried the Finish Kit yesterday, took me 6-7 hours. That got me excited, but it also got me nervous, looking at the doors that really seems like a project.

[@williambeckert9057]

I’ve been in a funk lately as well. But it’s ok. Im a bit ahead of you and working on my avionics and building my wiring harness. I come across the same decision tree dilemma. It’s a marathon not a sprint. I had a gut punch when I had just found out my finish kit was pushed out to this September instead of April. I had ordered it last February. Same with my lycoming. The end product will be amazing though.

[@pilotrhino]

Your exactly right and thats why I am just going to keep going.

[@N14VE]

Melissa and I are going through similar issues! Except our reason is 6 month old! But I feel like we go an entire month without touching our build.

[@pilotrhino]

Yep, a kid will do that to you. Just wait till she is playig select softball and you are traveling every weekend.

[@flightsimguides]

As a fellow business coach, I'm concerned about these same decisions coming up in my near future. I don't have kids so time isn't as much a factor, but I'm having these same types of thoughts at the BEGINNING of my journey, and not 4 years in.... so i can only imagine where this will end up in a while. If it were me, though, I would say to stick it out, save up the cash, secure the CASHFLOW in your business(es), take on a few more coaching clients, etc.... Also consider the Delta Hawk engine, it might be less expensive (might be, I don't know much about it, but know it has some significant perks and benefits). It's not inspiring to see people quit and sell (from my perspective) -- do what you have to do, man, I'll be rooting for you, want to see everyone succeed, even it takes a little more time to make it happen!

[@pilotrhino]

I always tell myself when I want something else that is expensive, just go get one or two more clients. That has served me well. However, I am transitioning my income model to more passive so I am really trying to build up my products and software side of revenue and not taking the "easy" way out with another client. I am currently coaching 20 clients a month, plus the software and products so really don't want to spend more hours on the phone with clients and I want to have a business that is saleable and scaleable in 5-10 years. The delta hawk is interesting for sure, been following closely, but it will NOT be cheaper. In fact it will be about 30k more.

[@flightsimguides]

@@pilotrhino passive is the way to go…. Fo show…. ;-)

[@randalljames1]

"Decision fatigue" pretty much sux... helps to find someone to kick you in the arse....

[@EJWash57]

"The ONLY constant in aviation is change." - Yours Truly Yup. I coined that phrase, and it's true. I came up with it watching my airline pilot peers cycle through the phases of anticipation, expectation, entitlement, and the ultimate disappointment that the company's plan didn't go their way. Early on in my career, I was fortunate to have experienced mentors that helped me not to be cynical, but realistic, and to always consider that a plan is just that - a plan. An ever-changing plan. Even though I'm in the early stages of the Empennage Kit (RV-14) I know that there will be changes to our end product from what we started out for it to be. From the jump, my mantra has been "keep it simple!" I know this may mean not being able to afford other than plain vanilla - no sprinkles, rather than piling on "stuff" until you have to look really hard to see the ice cream. There are homebuilts that have more "stuff" in them than the airliners that fly around the globe 10 to 16-hour non-stop legs at a time. Those aircraft see thousands of hours of service a year. Typical homebuilt? What, MAYBE 100-hours in a busy year? Someone mentioned Jason Ellis' RV-10 project. I don't think he could have tossed another ball into the air along with the ones he was already managing. Something had to give.

[@pilotrhino]

Totally agree with you and thanks for the comment. I am balancing trying to keep it simple, with also knowing that this may be the only plane I build and the last plane I own so I also want it to have my creature comforts. I am drawing the line in certain areas, but in others I am likely adding complexity. Is it needed, no but its fun and cool.

[@n260mg5]

Have you considered reaching out to Les, Randy V’s build assist partner? He’s super knowledgeable and a great guy to work with. It might help with the motivation and keeping things moving. Also, next time I’m down in your area let’s go flying in my -10!

[@pilotrhino]

Hey Buddy, I am good, spoken to Les a few times, now that I have joined the tail and its joined, there is no going back only forward, I am good, just got a bit overwhelmed and tired.

[@ryangeiser6914]

For the engine, do you not just order directly from the manufacture? You mentioned buying from an engine builder - are you have something custom made?

[@pilotrhino]

You could, but the stuff I want done to the engine, it’s better to start with a core and build to my specs.

[@smellyallen]

Oh no, is this Jason Ellis 2.0?

[@pilotrhino]

No No, watch to the end, there is a nice little hint of what comings next. Just in a funk, wanted to share my thoughts.

[@smellyallen]

@@pilotrhino Good to hear. I did see the end with the join. For what it's worth, gathering the money to finish the build was the hardest thing I dealt with as well but you will find a way. I'm still paying off the loans I took out against my retirement accounts but it was all worth it in the end. Not to mention the plane will be worth more than whatever you put into it ;)

[@flightsimguides]

the end of the Jason Builds saga was sad, lol... Plus I really wanted his hangar, he lived really close to where I used to have a house in Northern Georgia....