Steve asks that I sent an intro to the list so here it is.I am a 40 year old software geek for Xerox - used to write business software for a living, now I am in the SoftwareEngineering Process Group - process weenie.One wife, two kids (boys 5 and 9), two dogs, three cats in Retsof,NY. That is 30 miles south of Rochester, NY and five miles fromwhere the National Warplane Museum was before they got intoa pissing match and the museum fell apart.Other hobbies - model airplanes (FAC and R/C), ham radio (KB2YWT), woodworking, and metal worker wanabee - blacksmith/machinist. Most of the woodworking is with handtools any moredue to CTS and wanting to let the kids play with my toys and me. I am on the Oldtools list as is at least one other member of this list. I like to build things. Built my ham radio froma kit, there is a 16' strip built canoe almost ready for varnishin the driveway, and a Windsor chair waiting for final glue upnext to me. As for flying stuff. Started building rubber kits when I wasmaybe in 1st grade, U/C for a while, R/C at 13. Built my 2ndradio from a kit at about 14. Many years of various R/C stuffand a few years of rubber F/F since then.I was looking for my next major project. The kitchen remodelin my future is not counted as a major project
. Since Iwas I kid I have wanted to build a boat, car, plane, and house.Got the boat, and have decided to put off the car until the kids are a little closer to driving. The house comes afterthey move out. That leaves us with a plane.First step in building a plane is to call a CFI and schedulea lesson. I now have 2 hours of dual, 3 takeoffs and 2 landings. The wife is not real thrilled but she will comearound. Does anyone know where I can get some taildraggerdual around Rochester, NY? Midlife crisis can be fun.Second step is to find a design - start by defining the rules.1 - safe, not the second plane built from the plans2 - cheap3 - 2 seats are nice, 4 are better.4 - technology that I can deal with. I am not a welder and I would prefer not to do resins. This leaves wood and sheet metal.I understand wood, I could be a tin knocker but a Teenie Two isnot real good for someone that weighs 240.That is how I ended up here. The Piet is one of the designs thatis under consideration. Fisher Celebrity and FFP Dakota are someof the others. The 4 seaters that I have found violate too manyof the above rules.I think that I will sit back and listen for a while now. Figurethat if I start building this winter then it will be done when I have enough hours that I don't turn myself into a smoking craterwhen it comes time to fly it.Dave________________________________________________________________________________