Keeping the Mental in Experimental Aircraft - Must Watch BEFORE Buying a Kit or Flying Aircraft 

This really should be a “must watch” episode for anyone wanting to build. I watched it while working on my build in the garage and couldn’t agree more on the topics brought up here.

A friend purchased a “almost complete” experimental while attending school to become an aircraft mechanic. He eventually realized that the aircraft was not only poorly built, it was scrap.

A serious consideration that was not mentioned is the registration and airworthiness certificate with a completed kit. If the seller can not provide them, there is an excellent chance that it will never be legal.

Excellent stuff bro

Uhh, I went to Oshkosh in 1980 and the grand champion was a scratch built Mustang ll! I. Think it was Larry Kinder! It still flying and beautiful. My dream plane! Design in the early sixties and out runs any RV!

Very good info!! My fav analogy is a car.. You can't pull your airplane off to the side of the road and fix something! It needs to be perfect the first, and every time you fly it! You can/and will 'bet your life' on that!! 8) Fly safe, peace... --gary

Great video! You are far too kind. Most of my 38-39yrs of aviation has been as a renter. I recently sold my certified aircraft and entered the world of EA (RV-10 slow building). It's been my experience that the aviation community is a snapshot of society. Whatever type of scum is in society will be in aviation. Buyer beware on buying a kit from someone. I'm so anal about my build that each rivet almost gets a name...lol... Like you said me and my family will be in it when completed. I personally would never buy a worked on unfinished kit. A built is also iffy. Of course this is just my opinion. Lots of people have had no issues with the purchases.

Well said! So much great information for safety in our community.

Excellent video! Thanks so much. I am saving money to build my own plane. Thanks again!

super insightful - many many thanks - a must watch !

Excellent episode, great info! Thanks!

Love your show!!!

Great advice!

Gret advise and information. Thanks for this one

Thank you so much for the insight as to what I need to do as a first time flyer. I have found the type as well as the upgrades I'm looking for in an Hilo that will suit my needs. But yet to purchase one face to face. The info you have shared will go a long way when I take the plunge. Great channel. Do keep it up. Troy

This was excellent thank you for sharing this.

Love your videos. Thank you for all the great information and coverage. Keep up the good work.

This is why a build center would be so helpful. Great video and advice.

You smelling the tires… That was a good one. I like what you emphasize in this video, I am experiencing some interesting things taking up a sonex build part way thru, but we are getting there!

Thank you for making content like this I am currently looking to buy an experimental Airplane kit information like this is priceless

Yes, it helped, Thx for sharing !

Thank you for making this VERY important video. Much appreciated.

Great video, Bryan! Thanks for the effort and the thought that went into making this and sharing with us all!

Bryan - great content between your RU-vid channel and your podcasts. Informative and good to hear some different perspectives. Keep up the great work!

Excellent info vid Sir...I'm a retired A&P and really appreciate you helping folks out. Flying has always been a "first time up thrill" to me, and I hope more people will safely experience that.......thanks a million.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments. Excellent video.

Another excellent video. Thanks for putting this together!!

Very useful advice, thank you!

Excellent advice , thanks👍

Great video and informative. I'm wanting to change gears from tournament bass fishing to flying. Lol just a bucket list many of us have.

Very helpful, thanks!

One of your best videos, thank you for caring enough to help those new to this exceptional pass-time 🙂

Excellent , honest advise. Do keep up the good work👍

Great advice

Great advice, thanks! The kits that I really like are Velocity, BD-4C, RV-10 and plans build Cozy Mk IV, but Velocity and RV-10 are probably going to be too much. So I'm torn between the plans-build Cozy, which is very sexy, but might be difficult for entry and exit; and the BD-4, because I like high-wings. The BD-4 would end up being about $25k more than a Cozy, but much shorter build time. If it's raining when I'm getting in or out of a Cozy, then I'm getting wet and rain will come inside as soon as I raise the canopy, but with a BD-4 I'd be under the wing and have time to put up and umbrella without rain getting inside the plane.

Great video, very informative.👍👍

I want to get one, and I really appreciate this advice 👍

Wow great video very informative 👍👍👍

Great video with excellent points. My dad and I bought a used kit and are in the covering stage, so a lot of what you mentioned we're experiencing right now. I would say that a used kit doesn't necessarily depreciate these days (depending on demand for that brand/model). With two year wait lists at most factories and prices on aircraft going through the roof, in many ways it's a seller's market.

Thoughtful Conscientious Accurate information that goes a long way in determining what’s right for you as a perspective buyer/ builder. Well Done Sir.

I just came up with some ideas while watching this . Imagine someone has an idea on something new and your business is making that idea possible. Bringing it to life safely and efficiently. Thanks man.

Cooling yes yes yes, including how that particualr aircraft will be flown. At what altitudes? and what inviroments?

Being around Aviation Since only 1970, I've met many diffrent People and many of these Aviation Enthusiast Really lack many of the SKILLS needed to AVIATE Much less BUILD Anything but still attempt it. Then again there are Those much more Qualified too. Those I don't Worry abouut.

Good one BrYan!

🔥❤️😎EXCELLENT video. My wife even was pausing the vid to discuss various points. Thank you. ❤️👍😎

If you plan to kit build or scratch build, I think it would be wise to join the EAA or a local group of aircraft builders. It isn't something that you can do it without some kind of help. If you are an A&P, you might be able to build it without extra help, but even then you might want to talk to someone who has experience with that particular airplane.

Very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing. I was very interested in an experimental and had researched multiple kits. Unfortunately part of that research involved insurance and that took the wind out of my sails! Building hours in a certified aircraft now and haven't given up the dream so I appreciate the information you put together.

There were many handy comments in your video. I have a question if I may ask, as an industrial designer, I automatically think about over-desogn issues. Building the airplane of my own? I will definitely go for using 5mm rivets instead of recommended 4mm rivets or say the 6mm nut and bolt instead of the 5mm nut and bolts mentioned on the assembly plans. Well in trade of loosing several loading pounds. Will this be a problem, generally?

Built up spars by seller be portant. Watch out if the plans have different models it can mix you up. You want good dimensional prints. Compare Legle Eagle an RagWing to Simplex aircraft prints , huge difference like day an night.

Another great video. I live at FL10 in N Florida and many builder neighbors. One is a retired Air Force aircraft mechanic who recently scratch built his bear hawk. We would love to show you around.

Hello Bryan! A well done and informative video! I'd like to add just a couple of items that maybe could also be covered in a separate video. As you know, I fly and do annual Condition Inspections on experimental aircraft as well as Annual Inspections, etc & fly certified aircraft. I, by no means intend to scare anyone off from buying an experimental aircraft. But you must be aware of this. Folks, for most of you that do not have experience in production aircraft, there are things that you need to know (versus experimental aircraft). Production built aircraft must follow a series of processes that are planned, written and then approved by the FAA before they receive a Production Certificate issued by the FAA. Under this umbrella, they must have the proper tooling & tools to build; they must have a supply process in place to ensure that the parts being received and used in production are inspected to ensure that they meet engineering and FAA standards. The build process is constantly monitored by a QC (quality control) department that is linked to the FAA Small Aircraft Directorate Office. When an assembler is terminating wiring for example, an FAA approved inspector must come in behind that assembler and "buy" each terminal crimp. And the list of safeguards goes on & on... This is in-part, why production aircraft is so darned expensive!!! The "Quality Control" of an experimental aircraft, is the builder - period. Yes, the FAA must sign it off before flight but it is up the builder to ensure that the terminals are correctly crimped, that the bolts & screws - although they look tight - are correctly torqued by the builder, that the materials being used are of sufficient strength in shear or tension. That FAA inspector or DAR won't (& can't) go that deep. I was flying a friend's IFR capable RV-6A who's father had built. He was a meticulous man who "did everything right", perfectly driven rivets, etc. During a VFR flight (luckily), I lost the panel, radios, etc. After some extensive troubleshooting I found a ring terminal in the electrical power circuit was incorrectly crimped. Although the wire end was inside the sleeve of the ring connector (not visible), it was not making sufficient contact. This stuff will bite you! I write this so that you don't get bitten or worse. I love flying that RV-6A but folks, I ALWAYS keep in mind that it is an EXPERIMENTAL aircraft and operate it as such.

Hi, Bryan. We definitely like this material, since we are still waiting to learn where we're moving to which impacts our purchase decision. We're also appreciative that you posted this on RU-vid, since the Facebook links keep forcing us to sign in again to RU-vid which also makes us have to remember our password. Remembering passwords is not easy for us. Still, we love your programs!

Your advice on "How many are flying in the field" is spot on. My friend Doc could and did fly everything. He decided to by Haul #1, that had never been flown, from a gyrocopter manufacture. On his second touch and go the craft broke apart.

Thx for your channel its awesome and loads of info sorry I didn’t give you kudos for your super videos! With so much info 🙏 thanks with out people like you we would be finding out the hard way. !!!👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️

Brian ... I do really love what you do ... can I suggest a segment (1) what it takes as a commitment to build (2) what you will have to learn to build your own plane {beyond the skills of changing your oil on your car} (3) where you can learn what you need to know ... I'm building a bearhawk ... wouldn't change it for the world (4) but there are many things I've had to learn after my "youthful exuberance" had warn off ... and I had to get "real" and (5) what kind of support may be available and where to look ... ... I think your in-put would be valuable to many ... thanks

Brian, where do I begin....I've followed you long enough to see this video as something of a culmination of your years of being more than a casual experimental aviation enthusiast observer and reporter. Your thoughts, concerns and the issues you raise are beyond pertinent, important and certainly merit the serious consideration of a prospective experimental builder....a worthy deep dive, if you will. Your presentation was great. Well conceived, thought out and verbally spot on. No small achievement. Hey Brian, out of the park homerun! Well done.

Thank you for good advice 😂

Great video. The experimental used market is the Wild Wild West. I have looked at many airplanes being sold as kits that the builder turned into scrap metal because of lack of workmanship. On the same note I have seen many flying experimental’s that are death traps. Experimental gives you freedom to do things as you see fit. (Good or bad) Trust but verify is the name of the game.

I think many of us go to the Forums to ask questions for opinions on how to do something different. Many of these questions the Kit manufacturer won't answer do to liability issues. Great example is removing the Slats on a STOL, Zenith's response is "don't do it as that is how Chris Heintz designed the aircraft" but we all know many have and with success...

VERY good advice @7:38 . I made the mistake of ordering a kit from a well known company which has been established for many years and at the time felt comfortable with paying all up front. 1.5 years later, I have around 50% of the kit.

Excellent point regarding the build instructions! This becomes a maintenance manual of sorts during the life of the aircraft. The drawings become a repair guide (be sure to check that every page is there). Manufactures of kits are not interested in replacing your lost paper work, nor should they be.

You may want to look at the manufacturer site to see if there is any upgrade or advisories of change apart

Hey Bryan,I liked that look Roger gave you there lol. Great video bud.

Scratch built model B BearHawk wings. Including fuel tanks/ controls / flaps & ailerons = 2100hrs

4:00-5:30 -- THANK YOU Bryan!!!

Came up with a combination of wing design that is stol and fast cruise. Works in model.

Interesting you were talking about plans. I stumbled on a website that was selling the plans for a Quickie Q2 for $99. We all know the original Quickie company has been closed for decades so how do I judge the plans +templates? Can I buy foam somewhere? Epoxy systems have improved since the 1980’s . Where does one find these products?Hardware obviously would need to be made.

Is there some sort of “ blue book” value for experimental type aircraft that accounts for age, times etc?

U don’t really prefer the kit fox? Or do you?:-) as buildable kits ??

I would like to know what kits of metal constructed kits only need to be riveted and bolted together. Drilling, deburring, bending, and then riveting takes longer. To me a kit means go right to Riveting.

Question - I've heard there might be a problem buying a "used" experimental aircraft, outside of not being the builder of that aircraft. What is the FAA's take on this?

Thank you Bryan for all the information. I'm 62 and just took a discovery flight on a Cessna 172. Looking for most economical but most important, safe route to learning how to fly, but not sure if I should get a Sport Pilot License or the standard PPL? I can't find any SPL training facilities in South Florida, but there are plenty for the PPL. I'm not interested in building it myself because I don't have the knowledge or time to do so, but trying to get real dollar estimates to compare between purchasing a Cessna 150 or an experimental aircraft for training to get the SPL or PPL. Your suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Getting ready to put down for a kit. Leaving out the avionics and will be putting in later. Will need more than basic avionics (Mosquito XE w/ ads-b out ; Alt encoding Transponder and radio minimum), so how do I pair the avionics I'm going to get with the equipment that the kit comes with so my panel isn't cluttered? If you got any insight.

Who is the manufacturer of that wheel assembly with the gold hub sitting next to you and what is the size of that tire? Thanks.

I’m thinking of buying a Rans S12 from the second owner. I asked him if he had the maintenance logs for this plane. he does not have the logs from the previous owner. Nor does he have a copy of the airworthiness certificate. I’m thinking that this is a major issue and should walk away. What would you do?

Where would I have to go to find light sport trainning ??

I want to build a power lift aircraft... But I want to modify a velocity to create it.. Any advice?

Help me decide between SSXL, RS21 and Companion for bushflying

I'd never buy a kit without first visiting the kit companies' factory. With a larger sized company like Van's, there's no real reason to have to visit it to get confidence in the company. But for the smaller companies, I'd want to know how much of the kit they had ready to ship, and the only way to know that is with a visit. If they want the full purchase price and don't have the parts in stock, be leery of that.

Im building 3 Smyth Sidewinders..

Anyone built a Zenith in the Indiana area?

What does AWS certification of applicable welding processes actually mean? It's been recognized for over 100 years that you can't judge the integrity of a weld by looking at the surface. AWS certification means the welder is subjected to a periodic practical standards test where their test piece is subjected to DESTRUCTIVE testing among others. people fuss over every rivet, but for some strange reason they don't think welding matters

The word experimental scares some people and makes them reluctant to put their butt in one for a flight. There are well proven aircraft such as the Vans, Glasairs, Glastars, Lancairs, Kitfox, Rans etc that are well past the experimental stage and the word recreational would be more appropriate for such aircraft.

I hope that the middle plane shown starting at the 13:34 mark made it okay. Sure seemed pretty low...

Can you please talk about why I see so many airplane kit builders quitting and selling their partially built, non-flying kit airplanes. I wonder why all these builders are bailing.

There may be out there that are so naive that they need the protection you describe but it sounds like big brother and you ad the builder are just a check book and labor. I think those people are hard to find. I think 9 out out of 10 times the buyer has been schooled by flying groups, internet groups, going to shows like Oshkosh, etc. the 1 in the 9 out of 10 is impulsive and the kit never gets built. The guy that isn’t covered is the retired aeronautical engineer who retires and promised his grandson he would teach him about airplanes the way he wished he would have learned. He knows stress and strain, he knows weights and balances, he knows materials. He wants to design, develop, verify and fly the air plane of his dreams. For the 100 or so, light kits are on the market there are probably 500 failures. Where do the fresh ideas come from? I’m not one of those. I rode motorcycles and boats of my design. I am an engineer. Adding the 3rd of freedom takes the desire away. I won’t fly a plane I design.

Some really good advice. Go looking for trouble and you are less likely to buy a pig in a poke.

Beware of kit mfg withholding drawings and plans for parts of the aircraft. It's an experimental aircraft, the WHOLE thing is supposed to be "within the scope of the home builder" There is no reason for them to withhold any drawings or plans for any part of the aircraft, watch out for it.

What about of your own

The entire video can be summed up with one statement; let the buyer beware.

#1 Don't, it's a time and money pit. End of list. I bought 3 airplanes and never got a single one of them flying. It will do more damage than just costing you an ocean of time and money and giving you noting in return; it will leave you resentful and bitter...

Only. One. Complaint. Why annoy viewer/listener with Intrusive, Repetitive, Repetitive, Frenetic, Repetitively Repetitive Pseudo-Music? This technique appears to be an obsession of/with Presenters on You Tube. JMJ ! [He said, Exasperated!]

Why are you so pissed off looking.