5 years in, and still going strong...

I started my Sportsman project at Christmas 2016... Xmas 2021 is 5 years.  I was hoping to be done in 5 years, but obviously not.

Here is the short version of what has been accomplished in 5 years:

• Horizontal Stabilizer, Elevator and Rudder complete (including inspection) from standard kit.
• Wings, flaps, and ailerons complete (including inspection) from standard kit.
• Fuselage - quick build, purchased partially complete in 2019:
• on its gear
• tail dragger conversion
• Service Bulletins
• interior paint
• firewall template, plus all firewall components fitted (fuel filters, batteries, cabin heat, relays, ground blocks, etc)
• header tank
• wing struts cut
• instrument panel 'virtual' layout, components ordered
• overhead console 90% complete
• park brake
• overhead cable cover cut and fit
• rear seats 80% complete
• baggage floor purchased, need to fit
• battery box

Its a pretty long list.... the wings alone took me just over 2 years to complete.

'Life' did get in the way a bit.  

• Built complete bedroom set for my eldest daughter (between finishing tail and starting wings)
• Built breakfast nook for eldest son.
• My youngest son started racing quarter midgets, which took up over half the weekends for a year and a half.  2018/2019
• Building my son a new racecar, along with my father-in-law and son.  That has been ongoing from late 2020 through early 2022.
• Plus work, kids, etc, etc.  COVID definitely helped with the build.  Prior the to pandemic, I travelled 1 to 2 weeks a month.  As of December 2021, I have not travelled for almost 2 years.

What I learned from the past 5 years:

• The build never goes as fast as you planned.  Deal with it.
• Building is a hobby, and is on the bottom of the list for the family.  Deal with it.
• Plan the build, build the plan.  When you go out to the shop, you need an objective in mind.
• It's a thousand little projects.  Do not treat it as one big one.
• If you aren't happy with something, start over.  Trying to fix something will take longer, and be of lower quality.
• Do something every day, even if that is just reading the manual or buying a part or tool.
• "When you don't know what to do, do something".  If you are stuck on something, pick something you can do and do that.  Even if its just deburring a hole.  Then move on to the next thing.
• Decide what your objective is.... building or flying.  As soon as you stray from the plans you have opened up a giant time suck.
• Example:  I decided to build my own rear seats as I thought the $4K from Glasair was too expensive.  First off I had to design them, then build the metal components, then fit them, etc.  Then I had to learn how to vacuum bag, and get all the materials to do so.  Then there was all the fitting and finishing.  I have been at it for almost 3 months.  Now I know why the kit is $4K.
• Example 2:  I decided to go with a UL power engine.  Modern, FADEC, lighter, etc.  However, there are no kits for this engine - so you are completely on your own.  UL power requires a header, which I decided to mount on the forward truss assembly.  The UL filters and pumps do not fit in the stock locations, not will they fit under the stock covers.  So all of that had to be designed, material procured, built, fit and finished.  On the 3rd go round, I finally got the top cover right.
• I miss flying.  I have gone from flying 60 to 70 hours a year, to 15.  When everyone else is hanging out at the airport, I am going home to build.

It's been fun, but I am doing this to get an airplane.  I doubt I will build another one.