license question

[nidaho]

has anyone ever bought and started building a kit before getting their pilots license. i have wanted to build and fly a plane for more than 15 years and am finally financially ready. not sure if this is a good idea or not. also trying to decide between a lsa and a pp license i dont think i need the private pilots license, i cant see myself every wanting to go into towered airspace or flying something bigger. . maybe im wrong and i should get private pilot license first and then order a kit? the whole thing is a little nerve racking lots of time and money, i dream of flying every time i see a plane go over head. gotta do something, time keeps on ticking by i aint getting any younger. any advice from those that have done it would be great thanks willy

[jiott]

Yes, I ordered and built a Kitfox SS7 before I had a pilot's certificate. At age 69 I finished building it (took 2+ years) and got the airworthiness certificate. THEN I went to Stick & Rudder in Boise to get my Sport Pilot certificate. Then I did my maiden flight and now, at 77, I have 960 hours in my tailwheel Kitfox (1075 hrs total) and am having the time of my life.
A Sport Pilot certificate only has the following restrictions:
- Light Sport aircraft only
- No night flying, day VFR only
- No instrument flying
- Must always have visual reference to the ground
- Stay clear of clouds 500/1000/2000'
- Can't fly into Canada (bummer)

[jiott]

I have the proper endorsements so even as a Sport Pilot I can fly into any towered airspace B, C or D.

[nidaho]

thanks for response, appreciate it willy

[Dave S]

Willy,

A few years back we had a teamkitfox list member who built his kitfox first, then received his pilot's certificate in the plane he built.

OK - so that sounds a bit different. You can't receive instruction in an experimental that has not completed phase 1 testing.

More to the story. The person had an acquaintance who was an instructor; and, who was willing to do the phase 1 testing for the builder. After phase 1 was complete, the builder went on to receive instruction from the test pilot/instructor in the plane he built achieving his private pilot certificate in short order.

All depends on your situation, many ways to skin that cat.

[Av8r3400]

I've known several people who have built planes over the years and some never getting a license or flying them, they just love to build. So, It certainly can be done that way.

I would council to go for the PPL if you can afford it. There will be advantages in that the additional training gives you. Usually leads to at least better insurance rates. It also opens options for you to fly other aircraft if you choose later. Renting a Cherokee or 172 to take more than one passenger for a flight is one reason. Maybe you don't see this now, but why restrict your options?

[nidaho]

i kinda wondered how it worked with a new plane it would be nice to use my own to train in, but it doesnt sound like that would work. i am probably going to sign up for ground school in fall and get pp license seems like the easiest way. checked with kitfox they are out to the the 2nd quarter of 2023 on kits, so i have lots of time to get license, just need to send off the 5000 deposit

[Benbell4140]

I found that ground school was more difficult to understand without flight time. After I started actually flying with an instructor the ground school stuff started to “click”. I’m sure everyone is different but you may want to consider going on a few flights with an instructor before starting ground school.


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[nidaho]

i have flown with my friends in a 150 cessna and they let me fly around, he had me do some stalls, that was pretty fun, i got to land with his help that was a little nerve racking. never flown in a kit fox that would be fun, i think there is one that flys around at our local airport. got a ride in a rv8 or 9 a friend built, fast airplane, not my style. i really enjoy flying just need to jump in.

thanks again for all the input from those that have done it. really appreciated, thanks willy

[Agfoxflyer]

I started flying lesson two years after starting my Kitfox 5 kit.

[Redline]

I'm in my PPL training now and am building a Series 7 STi with my dad. My goal is to have at least 100 hours and a TW endorsement by the time we finish the build. We'll also get some instruction from a CFI who owns and flies a Kitfox. It was mentioned above about ground school not 'clicking' until training started, and that was definitely my experience. I watched all of the Sporty's classes online last year but once I started training it all made more sense.

[napierm]

I started TW training in a Talorcraft. Good start although I found my KF3 to be more sensitive on the ground.

[nidaho]

i work full time from april to january and part time in winters. i could work couple hours a day 3 or 4 times a week and at least one full day on weekends and in winter probably at least couple full days during the week. would a two year build time be reasonable for a first time builder. i really dont see a need for a full private pilots license but not sure how else to go about it. my airport doesnt have any lsa planes to train in. stick and rudder looks pretty appealing might have to go that direction. lots of planning ahead and everything is booked way out, sounds like in need to get the kit and start building

thanks for input willy

[GuppyWN]

Current rules for sport pilot are LSA only. If any of you buy a Kitfox and put a constant speed prop on it, it's no longer LSA. It's a big world out there. I always recommend a full pilots license unless you have underlying issues that drive you toward LSA.

[henrysamson]

Yes, I ordered and built a Kitfox SS7 before I had a pilot's certificate. At age 69 I finished building it (took 2+ years) and got the airworthiness certificate. THEN I went to Stick & Rudder in Boise to get my Sport Pilot certificate. Then I did my maiden flight and now, at 77, I have 960 hours in my tailwheel Kitfox (1075 hrs total) and am having the time of my life.
A Sport Pilot certificate only has the following restrictions:
- Light Sport aircraft only
- No night flying, day VFR only
- No instrument flying
- Must always have visual reference to the ground
- Stay clear of clouds 500/1000/2000'
- Can't fly into Canada (bummer)


You sir are an inspiration!