This post is intended for potential new aircraft builders who maybe have yet to purchase a kit or are awaiting delivery.  I apologise in advance if what I have to say is old news. It is however a late night reflection on my building experience with a CH750 STOL which I am now in the process of test flying to learn its capabilities. I started the project in January 2012. First flight was on 25 November 2020.

The single most important thing to consider is your time. Not money. Not mission. Not performance. It's your time between deciding to build and getting airborne. I am no longer the man I was when I started my build. You won't be either. None of us know how long we have in this world and age, medical conditions, family circumstances and pandemics can either delay or stop your project permanently in the blink of an eye. I read somewhere  that about fifty percent of aircraft projects are not completed by the original builder. I am now not surprised. I am very grateful to g-d that I was allowed to finish and take that scary but wonderful first flight. I hope for many more flights and adventures before age catches up with me but nothing is guaranteed in this life.

The next thing to remember is the educational component of your project. You may think you know it all but boy! Whether you like it or not you are going to get edjumicated in the subtle art of aircraft construction. It's like no other vehicle! As you build, unless you are a wooden head, you are going on a journey that takes you from the Wright Brothers (build it light and straight) all the way to state of the art electronics if you so choose. Enjoy the ride and approach things with an open mind.

If that hasn't scared you off, then I would like to say that although their are other kit aircraft on the market, the Zenith CH750 STOL is a fantastic aircraft. I built mine from a fantastic Zenith kit. The Zenith support and service was and is fantastic. I recommend them without any reservations at all. The quality of  every part of the kit was perfect. The instructions are clear. The plans are excellent and I could not find one part where Zenith has taken a low quality shortcut. Remember your time is your most valuable asset. You do not want to spend it sorting out mistakes and omissions made by your supplier.

From that observation comes rule #1. I can now safely say that if something doesn't fit together right when you are building from a Zenith kit, then 99 times out of 100 it's you who have screwed up somewhere. The plans are right, the instructions are right, the parts are right, it's you that are wrong. Go  back and reread everything again and again and again. Look in the forums. Chances are if something is a bit confusing someone else has sorted it and documented the solution.

Rule #2 also relates to time. Keep things simple as possible. complexity, modifications and adding gadgets and electronics and "nice to have" stuff wastes a huge amount of time....and you don't know how long you have do you? I could have been flying at least a year earlier if I hadn't lusted after a glass cockpit with all the trimmings, fuel injected engine and autopilot. At my age (70) an extra years flying is beyond price.

Rule #3. Don't over engineer things. In my case I alodined and primed with aircraft primer virtually every bit of airplane inside and out. Apart from adding twenty pounds to empty weight, it probably added another year to the build. Prime the ribs and spars and use a spray can of primer where the skins touch. Nothing more. You are going to corrode faster than the aircraft. Assemble the plane, debur the holes and pop rivet it together. It may not look like an RV10 but you will be flying while they are still pounding solid rivets.

Rule #4, enjoy the ride. Involve friends and family. Get help and advice. Have fun. Do a little bit each day. Pretty soon you will be flying. Once you are flying, all I can say is what a sweet aircraft it is. Part of the learning is discovering the amount of genius,  thought and time that has gone into the original design which is just superb. Then there is the thought and time and attention to detail in the kit and plans.

I don't know how long I'll be flying for, but building the CH750 STOL has been worth it.