I've bought an aeroplane!

Blacklines · Feb 1, 2010

Last year a friend of mine came to me with a suggestion. At first I discounted it as something totally unrealistic. However the seed was sown and after a fair amount of research I went back to my friend and started asking questions.

This is the original web page with the aircraft details.

http://www.rbaviation.com/dave/

So after some negotiation a price was agreed and the process started:

Importation to the UK.
Aviation Authorities to deal with.
Tax to pay.
Parts to buy.
Specification decisions to be made.
Build work.
Prop to select/find/buy and import.

Well that was just the start!

Our bird is still not flying but provided we have no more suprises we should be test flying by April.

Our Christen Eagle will hopefully be the newest, lightest, most powerful in the UK if not Europe. For those who may not know what it looks like (I confess I did not a year ago) I have attached a photo of what we hope ours will look like.

Aliv6 · Feb 1, 2010

Cool!

Bobbydm · Feb 1, 2010

Looks great to me, where abouts are you going to fly it from?

Dreamer · Feb 1, 2010

How much is that going to cost?? Wouldnt mind knowing a ballpark figure just out of curiosity

WLH · Feb 1, 2010

Nice...

Anonymous · Feb 1, 2010

Christ you're brave, just hope all the parts have been put together properly as it's a long way down from 1000ft

Blacklines · Feb 1, 2010

Thanks guys.

Dreamer - Cost (ah!) remember split 2 ways - To get her up and running we are looking at over £70k. Hourly thereafter we are going to budget on about £100 or so plus the hanger and insurance (and reserve fund) about £200/month each.

It might sound a lot but that is better value than renting something of similar performance. £250/hour. Fingers crossed she could be worth a fair bit more than the original 70k too.

Bobbydm - She will be kept on a grass strip just outside Stratford Upon Avon. 5 miles from my house!

Kryton - no worries about the build. My partner has done a lot of the work but it is now in the hands of a perfectionist with 30 years experience building similar aeroplanes. Every rivet is checked and re-checked. Every component is unused (hesitate to say new) albeit some older than others!

Aebous · Feb 1, 2010

Wow, cool that's awesome. When do forum members get a ride? :poke:

mcbeee · Feb 1, 2010

Really cool, my Dad was a radio control nut and naturally we had a Christen Eagle, a little smaller than yours of course. An aerobatic wonder.

I wonder if it's faster than an Mcoupe ???

Dreamer · Feb 1, 2010

That is quite reasonable costs actually. Can you rent it out when your not using it, or would you rather not?

Owning a plane is just ridiculously cool. Its uber-de-dooby-dee cool. Its get out of my way peasants cool. Its smoke me a kipper cool

AlanJ · Feb 1, 2010

Seat is set fairly well back which will make for some interesting taxiing on a grass strip - zig zag style I would suggest

Blacklines · Feb 1, 2010

Aebous said:
Wow, cool that's awesome. When do forum members get a ride?

After the Authorities finish with us and the test flight programme is complete I'll be happy to take any of you guys up for a spin.

mcbeee said:
Really cool, my Dad was a radio control nut and naturally we had a Christen Eagle, a little smaller than yours of course. An aerobatic wonder.
I wonder if it's faster than an Mcoupe ???

Nice - I thought that an RC aeroplane would be the closest I got to owning my own. Speed wise on level ground the M would be quicker. Once airborne though there will be no comparison

And supercharged included it's not possible to experience +9/-6G in a road car. (Unless you count a crash!)

Dreamer said:
That is quite reasonable costs actually. Can you rent it out when your not using it, or would you rather not?

Owning a plane is just ridiculously cool. Its uber-de-dooby-dee cool. Its get out of my way peasants cool. Its smoke me a kipper cool

Yep we reckon the costs are fair. If I added up what I spend on track days, fuel, tyres, mods etc etc I reckon it will be comparable. Plus the aeroplane is an asset that will appreciate in the short term before it starts to depreciate. We will not be renting it out. Too much time and effort has gone in to it and we don't want to offset a few pennies for such a huge risk. See answer below. There is a small possibility of selling a 3rd share to a joint friend at some point in the future.

Your cool comments made me laugh! :lol: The fact that this thing will be mine (albeit shared) still has not fully sunk in. I can hardly believe it myself.

AlanJ said:
Seat is set fairly well back which will make for some interesting taxiing on a grass strip - zig zag style I would suggest

Yep for sure. You have hit one of the main problems on the head right there. It is a 2 seater aircraft but the pilot has to sit in the rear seat for weight and balance reasons. All taildraggers (no nose wheel) suffer visibility issues - particularly on the ground. Sadly sometimes in the air too: (I only post this link to acknowledge the issues and illustrate my awareness.)

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Christen Eagle II, G-EGUL 09-09.pdf

The Eagle is not for the faint hearted but with a sensible approach is no more dangerous than any other light aircraft - but with 5 times the performance! 8)

Wondermike · Feb 1, 2010

Wow, that is way cool 8)

I used to work with someone who had a share in a plane, I can't remember all the figures but think around £5k per year is what it cost him, and he got enough use out of it to make it worthwhile, something like 4 or 6 weekends plus a week (or two) in the Summer.

I hate flying so not after a test-flight but happy to look after your Z4MC whilst you're airborne

:cpilot:

Andy · Feb 1, 2010

Long Marston then? Sweeet. I go their regularly, although I confess it's for Global Gathering, not to fly

Let me know when you get a test flight and I'll come and take some pics for the forum ! 8)

I'm definitely looking at getting a pilots licence in the next few years, been looking at the shared costs of ownership on small planes and it's astonishing - if youre figures above end up being correct and you end up with a brand new plane for that, it sounds like very good value, which I'm guessing is why you've done it.

Good luck and well done

Blacklines · Feb 1, 2010

Andy said:
Long Marston then? Sweeet. I go their regularly, although I confess it's for Global Gathering, not to fly Let me know when you get a test flight and I'll come and take some pics for the forum ! 8)

I'm definitely looking at getting a pilots licence in the next few years, been looking at the shared costs of ownership on small planes and it's astonishing - if youre figures above end up being correct and you end up with a brand new plane for that, it sounds like very good value, which I'm guessing is why you've done it.

Good luck and well done

Thanks.

Actually it is Bidford which is primarily a glider site. Just a short grass strip but perfect for our needs.

mcbeee · Feb 1, 2010

Taildraggers are fun aren't they,. My sister in law had a Citabria years ago and we used to go out and check the cows etc. at their ranch. (She checked the cows , I looked for large deer to chase the next day.

) That's when I learned what "not" to have for breakfast before getting into an aerobatic job. Kept it all down and learned a valuable lesson.

Enjoy your new "Ride" , and keep us posted with pics.

WLH · Feb 2, 2010

Looking at this it looks like it will be a lot of fun....

[youtube]_Y4T7bspDdQ[/youtube]

Bobbydm · Feb 3, 2010

Blacklines I am a very jealous man! A friend and I have discussed a Titan t51 but sadly it has taken a bit of a back burner! Get some photos on here soon, would be great to see some of the build process not just the finished article.

a vid of a t51 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmPf8cptcx8

EdButler · Feb 3, 2010

Beautiful plane mate, ive heard they are incredibly sensitive at the controls and a true pleasure to fly with their agility... Must be a bit of a crab to land with the lack of foreward visibility though! Fun!! Let me know if you're up near Netherthorpe sometime, that must be a contender for a short field takeoff award :lol:

What are the rough TO/L figures? Rotation/Approach speed etc.? Having never flown a bi-plane (except a de Havilland Tiger Moth which are somewhat different!) id be very interested to know