Raptorcat

It is. lots of hills, twisty roads, four seasons a year (instead of the two that I used to get in Florida - summer and rainy) and much friendlier people than I had been used to. More like where I grew up.

It is a pretty bird, that's for sure. Just have to get the materials together to build my own.

Migs would not go over very well on display here in the US, except at air museums or restored for use at air shows. There was one, a MiG 21 at Fort Lauderdale executive airport (FXE), in Florida, that was waiting on parts for a restoration, about 20 years ago. I think that the people that owned it moved it to an air museum somewhere.

More's the pity that there aren't many, if any at all, of a number of historic airplanes flying anymore. Funny how we can find engines for all sorts of pre-jet era engines, but never any post jet that were built for them in the day.

The first one looks a lot like an idea that I wanted to do with the A-plane design, except making it a tricycle gear. The second one I've seen before when I went to Duxford, back in the early 80's. That one wasn't flying, though.

I understand what you are saying, but I am really looking at a realistic average. I am pretty good with glass work and metal, but am really interested in seeing if it is worth the extra effort in both cost and weight to go with one over the other. After all, with a U/L, it really is all about the weight.

Yeah. One of my closest friends (in the background of my avatar pic) is the one who owns the Piet and the Stinson that he has let me have the stick to a few times. He says the same thing. He also reminded me of the one thing that his first instructor said to him after doing his check ride told him: "You are now a pilot. Congratulations, you're broke.". :) I am currently working on an ultralight to get practice in beyond the simulators, but that is not yet in the build stages. It would be that far, except for being out of work for a month with a double whammy of flu and pneumonia, but things are getting back on track, so....

hello, everyone. new to the site, but old to aviation. Been studying flight since I was six, when my dad took me up while he was taking his lessons. Unfortunately, he ran out of money just short of doing his cross country solo. But I had the bug and never gave up. Once I was old enough to start taking lessons, I always seemed to have one major conflict: either I had the time, or I had the money, but never both at the same time. Now things are starting to gel and I am more focused on making my lifelong dream come true.

Looking at the A-plane, but an thinking of setting it up with trike gear instead of the tail dragger and also with a 'V'-tail. Already have the plans and am modifying the design. going to test the configuration in a 3d design sim before I try to build it, though. Also looking at something lighter than sheet aluminum for the cockpit skins. anyone have weight /ft2 comparisons for doped and painted fabric v thin fiberglass v .o24 aluminum sheet?