It's really a life issue. Whether or not taking on a building project or not will "fit" into our life.
Financially I would have to build...or wait until I can get into a financial position to buy an airplane. And if we outright bought an airplane it would probably be something like a Grummun Tiger, Mooney, or a Piper Comanche or some such factory spam can with 4 seats.
I've just always thought building a plane would be such a personal accomplishment and be really neat. and I've always liked the Thorps.
I certainly like the fact that there seems to be a really supportive and knowledgable network here for the Thorps. Which is a critical component if I'm seriously considering building.
I have one other possibility. I have a friend who has an old W8 Tailwind built in the early 1960's. He is an IA and he doesn't trust the wings simply because they are fully enclosed all wood wings with no realy way to inspect them. I might be able to pick that up cheap and build new wings or find a way to rotozip some inspection holes in the wings and figure out a way to neatly close them back up. Find an Continental O-200 or something and get it flying. Not the ideal thing but would get me up in the air with a reasonable airplane for reasonable price. And get at least a partial "build" under my belt.
One thing I know for sure. I won't build any "plastic" airplanes. Anytime I work with fiberglass etc it is a disaster mess for the most part. Although I might be willing to try a carbon fiber cowling etc on the Thorp to save some weight. Or have someone else build it for me.
So many things to think about.....
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