I’ve started building a Vans RV-7A homebuilt aircraft. I ordered the empennage kit in May 2022. The factory estimated delivery in approximately 11 months. A long time to wait, but I still needed to setup a workshop, buy lots of tools, and learn the process of aircraft building. However, the kit arrived at the end of June, after just 2 months.
A flying example of the RV-7A kit
Empennage kit unboxing. Workshop build in-progress Parts laid out for inventory in what will become the parts room
After taking inventory of the kit, and laying out parts in a room inside, I continued to build a workshop in my garage, and order tools I would need. Many of the tools I would need, I purchased from a kit from Planetools.com.
I ordered a couple of practice projects with the kit. They gave me an opportunity to make mistakes and learn how to use my new tools and construction methods.
Also I took a trip to Airventure to see some flying examples of what I was building and learn as much as I could.
AirVenture Oshkosh 2022