SonexBuilders.net

Evening,
This is my first post, I have tried to search for answers on this but the words are too common and I haven't seen anything like what I am asking.

I live 30-45 minutes from the nearest airport. Once I have to move from the garage to the hangar I expect my build progress will slow dramatically. When do you really NEED to be on the airport during construction? Assume for the sake of my neighbors that I won't be doing engine run-ups in the neighborhood.

Craig

I can speak with some experience here. I built my Pietenpol in my home workshop. It was very convenient to be able to spend an hour or so on it every day after or before work.
After moving to the airport it wasn't nearly as convenient, as besides the commute time you need to build a duplicate set of tools for your hangar. I'm currently building another plans-built airplane in my hangar, and even with the experience I've gained over the years construction is very slow. You will probably find that an open hangar door with a new experimental will attract onlookers, which is nice because that's how you become a member of your new airport community. The down-side is your actual work time is less.

I brought the Pietenpol to the airport when it was ready for final assembly and flight. I lived in a rural area at the time so short engine run-ups weren't a problem, but I've done run-ups in my current neighborhood with no complaints. Invite your neighbors over to watch!

Ben Charvet
Pietenpol N866BC
Sonex N809SX
Titusville, Fl

I did my initial couple of run-ups at home, in the driveway. I waited until the last minute to go to the airport.

The start of my move:
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l ... 68&row=188

If you page forward from there, you can see what things I did at the airport. I was in the hangar for about a month before I made my first flight. Do everything you possibly can at home!

You'll also see I waited until the day before my inspection before I riveted the forward bottom skin. There is SO much to do in the cockpit area, and it is SO much easier to do from underneath with that skin off! Do yourself a favor and WAIT until the last moment to rivet that on. Clecos are perfectly capable of keeping everything in alignment until then.