Over the last two years we have had a number of friends write an extended piece to share their perspective on a topic in homebuilding. Below are a collection of these stories. The aviators here are known guys in the Corvair movement.
Consider: Kevin Purtee, host of CC#22 and #28, Cherry Grove trophy 2012; Arnold Holmes, host of CC#17, #25 and #29; Phil Maxson, director of the ‘Zenvair’ list and Cherry Grove trophy 2013; Jeff Moores, furthest north Corvair pilot, most float time on a Corvair; Terry Hand, ATP/USMC, runs our youth program; Greg Crouchley, frequent contributor, now building 2nd Corvair powered plane; Oscar Zuniga, host of 2003 College in San Antonio, Texas.
I am going to put this story up on our home page of Flycorvair.com. Most companies have some form of testimonials on their website. It’s common enough that people tend to look at ‘5 star’ product reviews, but they often don’t say much or are easily faked. Conversely, I think these stories offer a great testimonial, not to any particular product of ours, but to building a Corvair and to home building in general. They are from real aviators and express their real thoughts on homebuilding. I think they make an outstanding case for the rewards of traditional Home building by the motto of “Learn, Build and Fly.” If their stories ring true, welcome to your home in home building. -ww.
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Click on any color link to read the full story.
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Guest Writer: Pietenpol builder/flyer Kevin Purtee “A lot of people build airplanes and then are afraid to fly them. Got it. It can be scary sometimes. The only way to solve that, move on, and get better is to GO FLY! I found one major aspect of my professional flying to be very difficult when I first started. I vowed to get better at that aspect. The only way to get better is to practice.”
Above, Kevin Purtee, host of CC#22 and #28, awarded the Cherry Grove trophy 2012, getting in his Pietenpol. Kevin’s day job is flying AH-64 Apaches for the Texas Air Guard.
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GuestEditorial, Arnold Holmes On Affordable Aircraft…“the failure in our success is really that we progressively featured only the very best award winners and show planes in the magazine. I think that over the years this has cultivated a common ideology that if you did not build an award winner than you are not worthy of building anything. People have come to believe
that the requirements for success are so high that the ideology itself is defeating.”
Above, Arnold Holmes and his son Cody at our booth, Oshkosh 2010. Arnold is a renaissance man of General Aviation and Home building. He has been a good friend for nearly 20 years.
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Guest writer: Phil Maxson, flying a 3100cc Corvair in his 601XL “On Saturday, I had one of my most enjoyable days flying I’ve had in very long time. It was the first flight in my plane using a
new engine. I now have a 3100 Big Boy temporarily installed.”
Above, Phil Maxson of NJ with his Corvair powered 601 XL that has been flying since 2006.
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Corvair Powered Merlin Flying Over Newfoundland “I follow the weather closely to get every bit of flying I possibly can. Even a 15 minute flight before dark after work provides me with a fix. I usually don’t go very far; but I don’t have to be in the middle of uninhabited wilderness. Low and slow over barrens, lakes, rocks, and trees. When the weather is good, it is beautiful here.”
Above, Jeff Moores, at the controls of his Corvair Powered Merlin on full lotus floats, in Newfoundland, Canada.
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Guest Editorial, Pietenpol builder Terry Hand. “I had an Instructor in NAS Pensacola teach me early on when he said, “Read and heed those warnings. Most of them are written in blood.” What he meant was most of those warnings were added after some pilot had done something wrong in operating the aircraft that either damaged the aircraft, injured or killed someone, or had done both.”
Above, Terry Hand with his steel tube Pietenpol at CC#24. He flies B-767s today, but has long instructed in aircraft from Helicopters to 757s and 767s. He has a tremendous range of skills, but a very humble approach.
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Guest Editorial, Greg Crouchley, Waiex/Corvair builder. “So, where to start? Totally unfamiliar with Corvairs, I was skeptical of your statement that cores are plentiful and everywhere and to look on Craig’s List. Did it, and a week later I found myself in Alexandria, Va under a Monza
helping a car enthusiast pull the motor. “
Waiex/3,000cc Corvair builder Greg Crouchley, above, demonstrates that you can put a Corvair into a Porsche. He is now working on a Corvair powered Zenith 750.
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Oscar Zuniga – Guest perspective “I learned a lot about life and about frugality and practicality from what my parents and grandparents taught me and from how they lived, but I learned even
more about those things from my own growing-up years. I’m the second eldest of 10 children”
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Above, Oscar Zuniga and myself at the 2003 Texas college. The photo is more than 10 years old, but the memories of time well spent never fade.-ww
