So this is 20+ years coming after getting my pilot's license and never owning an FAA-certified aircraft.  There's been a lot of rentals, several ultralights, paramotors, gliders, but this will be our first "real" aluminum-skinned airplane.  My youngest, 13-year-old son is very much an engineer at heart and struggles with doing the redundant and "unnecessary" school work.  He's always wanted to build an airplane after doing numerous projects on his own. The kid can fly a Skyhawk or Piper just as good as anyone, especially off of instruments since he wasn't able to see over the dash.  An on-going airplane project such as this seems to be the motivation he needs to get the good grades and to get prepared for a future in engineering/aviation.