For me it came down to the Bower’s Fly Baby or the Pietenpol Air Camper. I spent years studying them both. For years I plotted and schemed ways to build and get something in the air but… it just never came together and maybe that’s a good thing? You need a shop - a big one. You need the tools. You need hangar space. In Alberta you need HEATED hangar space as wood and glue construction do not do well in our climate. There were too many barriers and you also need to acquire and master any number of skills. And the hell of all that is you can do all that and still get killed for your efforts!
Back in the day you could get an Aircamper in the air for $10~15k. $20k would give you a classic piece of aerial art depending on your shop skills. I’ve only seen one other ceder stripped Aircamper - the owner pulled out all the stops. He spent about $30k and crafted a plane with the best materials money could buy. He was a shop master and executed every part of the building with cosmetic flair and aplomb. He diverged from the plans at will - knowing exactly what he could and could not get away with. It was powered by a rebuilt and zero timed Subaru engine. This lady looks like she may well give him a run for his money. I wish her the very best but I have some reservations uncertainties about this build that may or may not be valid. I am certainly not an expert.
In other news - my RC Trash Plane was an unmitigated failure. It’ll be going into the trash and I will attempt another build later. I other projects beckon. I already have some preliminary notions percolating, and I cut and shaped the first wing tip on the Speedy Bee. The Reclusium will be a busy place this winter, and I am looking forward to it. None of my birds will be Aircampers… perhaps in the next life, maybe?
😊👍
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