I can see how you could end up at 4000 in a hurry if you wanted to. I'm sure i wont go too extreme on this one but do you think i'd have any trouble staying under 11 pounds with lower line equipment? I'm just practicing sportsman maneuvers now so a 4k plane would be a little much for me at this point.

I used to do sheetmetal and composites, then avionics on a lot of those airplanes myself for UAL. I worked mostly on the 727, 747, 777, and GreaC-10. I'm sure glad i left when i did though cuz i'd be out of a job now I sure miss the access to tools and supplies. I moved over to just driving planes for a living although i still do some mech work on the side. I think driving them is an easier way to make a living but at this point anyone with a job in aviation is lucky!

Oh, and yes i worked on a few of fedex's scairbus's too and can't say i was impressed.