G'day

[Beeteeen]

I'm new... actually I'm on the ripe side of 60yo now but I'm new to this forum. I caught the flying bug as a kid and managed a few years of gliding about 35 years ago until money and time ran out (job, house, wife, kids.. the whole catastrophe). Now the job and kids have gone (still got the wife) I think I have money and time again. So I got a RA-Aus certificate about 5 years ago and a GA PPL about 2 years ago. Now I'm starting to think about getting an aircraft, probably an LSA of some sort so when CASA gets too punchy about a medical (me - 2, CASA - nil so far) I can fly RA-Aus. Still lots to think about, but, as a starting point, I do like the look of a Morgan Sierra kit (Aussie made and supported, fast, low wing - I do like to see what I'm turning into, and pretty). I also need to convince myself I can build one.

 

Early days yet but I'm sure this community has wisdom and experience that can help me think this through.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Welcome. I probably have the skills to build, but prefer to apply them to restoring cars and bikes. I would rather just fly and have owned a new LSA and an old GA plane. Both were good experiences. The wisdom on this forum and elsewhere seems to be that a good used plane, GA or RA, is better value than building your own. So only build if you really want to be a builder and will enjoy the experience for itself. I am of a similar age to you and am on annual medical reviews so there is an element of uncertainty about flying in ten years or so, which is how long it often takes to build. Good luck either way!

 

 

[Robbo]

Welcome

 

 

[Beeteeen]

Thanks pmccarthy. You are right, can't be wasting good years and I would rather be flying ASAP too. There are some used LSAs on the market now (around $80-95K with reasonable hours) that I would be happy to own: two Texans (like yours maybe?) and a Tecnam P2002 that appeal. My thoughts about building mainly relate to initial and ongoing cost - a kit and new motor might be $30K cheaper than a good used plane and, as I understand it, I can do the maintenance and annuals on an Experimental category plane (19 rego or VH Experimental) if I build most of it myself. Also I like the idea of intimately knowing every rivet, rod and pulley under the skin, not to mention the satisfaction of the first flight. The Morgan website claims a 400 hour build time for a Sierra 100 which sounds achievable now that I'm not working, however my instinct tells me to double that knowing how pedantic and deliberate (slow) I am at these things. Still much to think about but I appreciate your perspective. Cheers. B.