Introduction
Hey there! My name is Steven Burrichter and this site is pretty much going to be my builder's log for an experimental amateur-built aircraft. My goal is to plan's build a plane, so I expect to be filling this blog with tons of findings as I go along!
A little bit about me
A little bit about myself aviation-wise: I'm a 250 hour Private Pilot and the current owner and operator of N219GH - a 2010 Rans S-19 built by George Happ of Matco Manufacturing (which I believe to be Matco Aircraft Landing Systems now).
I've always had my hands in aviation in some shape or form. In fact, I had my first recorded flight two decades ago when my parents saved up to send me off to an aviation summer camp. I had been to various aviation-related things before then, but that was the moment that I set my sights on getting licensed.
As a senior in high school (2009-2010), I made an attempt to earn my Private Pilot's license. Between me working a bit and my parents saving up, I had enough funds to go for it. I got 40 hours done and was just about ready to take my written and check ride. However, I had to head off to college and naturally ran out of money to pursue it. Considering the big financial crash around that time, I was also discouraged from pursuing aviation any further.
While college was fun and so was getting my start in my chosen career path, aviation always seemed so far away. Between racking up tons of debt and low wages, it felt like I was never going to come back to flying. My hiatus ended up being 10 years until I was financially stable enough to finally earn my wings. It was an incredibly emotional moment for me to finally accomplish that 15 years after my first flight.
While those 10 years were painful, there was a key moment half way through that helped keep that flame alive: an invitation to fly in a freshly built experimental aircraft (after the phase 1 fly off of course). A former manager of mine - John Courte - had been building a Van's RV-6 for...nearly 10 years if I remember correctly. After he found out I loved flying and even kept onto my old Zulu headset for years, he invited me to fly in his freshly built aircraft.
I was just astounded. A plane he built from a kit in his dining room?! No one in my family comes from anywhere near an aviation background, so I had no idea that was even a thing (let alone folks who plans build planes!). It's been years now and I barely remember the flight we took, but I do remember how I felt. It was just pure excitement. It was a flight that made me so happy and free that I held onto that for years. No matter how tight money got, there was a future where I could finally come back to flying.
So why start this blog?
Sorry, there's a little more context to go!
When I financed my plane, it was under the assumption that we weren't going to be buying a house for at least 5 years. I could earn all my ratings, build a bunch of hours, and sell when it came time to pivot.
After a quiet couple of years, we moved to a house out in the Scottsdale area of Phoenix, AZ. Shortly after moving in however, our landlord decided he wanted to sell off part of the lot. We had enough trouble as is with all our pets finding a place, so we agreed to buy the place with what funds we had left. We did like the place, but it also felt like we kind of got backed into a corner.
The result: a couple of seller financed loans where we have 5 years to refinance or get foreclosed on. We purchased an acre to start with, then executed the purchase contract for the rest a year-ish later. He gave us a deal on interest rate and we agreed on interest-only payments so we can get our finances in order.
With 10% invested in equity, we're officially out of money. That means the plane has to go.
But here's the thing: I'm not going to spend another 10 years waiting to come back to aviation. If I'm going to take a long break, I damn well better have an aviation related project that will get me back in the air.
That's where this blog comes in. While I can't really afford a kit plane, what I do have is time and 15 years of maintenance skills (motorcycles, cars, and my plane!). So, my game plan is to plan's build a plane. Buy whatever raw materials I can, fabricate the parts needed, and assemble something that will get me back in the air.
I'll certainly buy some things that'll be difficult to fabricate, but my goal is to build a plane as inexpensively as I can. Hopefully in a few years, I might be in a position to push towards a more fun powerplant/prop/avionics setup...but we'll see when the time comes.
First thing's first: What plan to build?
While I'm at it, here are all the certificates and ratings I've earned so far (FAA and specialized training like the Rotax one):
- Private Pilot - Single Engine Land
- Remote Pilot - Small Unmanned Aircraft System
- Ground Instructor - Advanced & Instrument
- Light Sport Repairman - Inspection (Airplane)
- Independent Rotax Maintenance Technician - Rotax 9 Series Service & Maintenance