Truth is , these are all 'old school PFA' types . Back then , only about two thirds of projects were ever completed , and their builders were seen as eccentrics , 'birdmen' , or nutty professors . Except in PFA circles , where there was a lot of knowledge , experience and understanding .
Fast fwd. to today . Everyone is building bloody aeroplanes , which is good ! LAA's recent stats show a record amount of active PtF types . Just look in 'Project News' , it's not at all unusual to see projects which were delivered at Xmas and were flying for the Summer . Of course , there's a trade-off though isn't there - and we all know what it is! [£££££££££ ]
Now let's go back to the VP . It took lots of patience and commitment to get them old wood/fabric, classic homebuilds airworthy , and as the previous generation fade away , it will take lots of patient and committed people to restore and revitalise these old birds and get them airworthy again.
Comparatively , it won't cost much financially , but believe me mate , whether you restore/recommission or build from scratch , you'll be grafting !
Some people would rather stick needles in their eyes.....I loved it ..!!
But sometime ,,,,you'll need to stop talking ,,,,and start doing ..
And there's a bit of a give-away here .
You've been talking to enthusiasts on here . Enthusiasts who have built , restored and flown a different selection of VP's . and you have most definitely NOT been given just a "one-sided picture". We've all given you the in's/outs and the ups & downs of building/operating a VP . Your "decision making" will never be more "informed" than it is now.Michael Brooks wrote: ↑Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:23 pmAs for only talking to enthusiasts, fun as that is and great for motivation, it builds a very one-sided picture. I like to get a balanced view of anything where I can - it leads to more informed decision-making.
It was the work of one person that guided me into building G-EVPI . Robert Lowe .
I saw his book in my local library in 1990 . Took it home and read it in 2 days [& nights]. Even after finishing it , I had to keep going back and recapping . After taking it back to the library , I went down to SHM and bought my own copy. The thoughts of this , festered within me until 1996 . and the rest , as they say..........................
I did mention what I was up to at the time to some of my flying pals . They all thought I was bloody mad ! Possibly true , but I'm bloody happy as well though !
[I didn't give a **** what they thought anyway.. .]
Look at yourself in the mirror Michael , and say : " did old Chris Martyr make the right decision 30yrs ago ? or should he have procrastinated" .
If you don't have Robert Lowe's book , then buy it ! If you do have Robert's book . Then read it again..
For the unfortunates who haven't read it . I offer this beautiful paragraph from p.14.
" And those of us who do eventually get our funny flying machines into the air , find there a new joy in living and a unbounded sense of freedom which is given to nobody else at all . Others may fly higher or faster and make a rich living from the sky but we still take off into the golden light of the dawn of aviation and oh , how fortunate we are ".
Robert Lowe. D.F.C.