Being relatively new to this forum, I would like to propose a question. I started building from kits about 3 years ago as sort of therapy after a heart attack and have built an avistar 40, a slow poke kit not arf, a super skybolt biplane, and am currently working on a sr telemaster. My circumstances do not allow me much time to actually fly but I use a GP realflight sim a lot. I find that I really enjoy the building as much if not more than the flying. Any one else have an opinion?

I'm in sorta the same boat except, mine was a car wreck 4 years ago. Had built and flown some 22 years prior but used my love for RC as an excuse to build planes. I needed therapy for my hands, anyhow and the doc's thought it was a great idea.I've built an extra 300s (GP) 40 size cub, 4* 60, Midwest trainer, and am in the middle of a proctor antic bipe. The big diff. came along in the form of a friend I found on this site named Dave Agar. He lives just a few miles from us and happened's to be a moderator here. He is also a great flying instructor and made it a personal goal to GET ME OUT TO THE FIELD! I did get realflight and practiced , but I can't tell you how great it felt to actually fly my planes.I thought being a good builder would be enough as I'm a semi-quad,wheelchair bound with very limited use of my hands. Now I'm very excited for the weather to back-off enough for us to get back out and fly. I guess it's a push now, I still love to build but look forward to flying as much. Here's a pic of myself, Dave and my cub at the field.

You have got to love a Cub. My first flying experience was in a home made Ironica (probably misspelled) champ 1949. The guy that owned it had two and charged $2.00 per hour to give lessons. You had to buzz the cow pasture to move the the cows to land. I really had some great times in that old plane. Thanks for your reply.
Dave

There is probably many on here that build more than fly.

In the last year or so I have gotten back to the hobby Myself, I am raising My youngest Son (3) and I work from home now, So I build more than fly. I flew RC from the early 70's to 97, But taking to the field with the little guy is a problem waiting to happen.

We go watch and He likes that, but I keep him with Me at all times. When He gets a little older we both will be flying, But right now its too hard to keep him in one place.

Enjoy the hobby is the main suggestion I have, its well worth it.
Dan Z

Well I have been in this hobby since '54 and started as a young kid, and yes you have to love the cubs. My Mom and step-Dad for my 10th B'day paid for a ride in one, man was I ever hooked by that!!!! I am also disabled and it's painful for me to walk any distance so flying is a luxury for me but still go. I took last year off to try and get the low back fixed and now I am ready to fly this year and what happens??? I get rear ended on the 10th of this month, 2 years of rehab down the tube!!! I don't know how much stick time I will get in now this year. Now back to the main question, I love building, period!!!!! I like flying, just not as much. I am quite happy spending the day in my shop gluing and sanding and watching all that wood turn into the plane on the box.

I'd have to say I love building as much as flying. Although, I don't shake as much when I build. Flying is an incredible rush. Both aspects of building and flying are awesome (I've never been able to come up with a good enough word).

Boy, I feel so much better now-I'm not alone....neither young and intense, or older and retired, I find that so many times I'd like to be at the field but I can't as someone of something needs my attention.(wouldn't trade my family for all the gold in Kentuchy though) But the basement workshop is all mine! I do feel guilty for not flying enough-kinda letting my planes down.....wallflowers at the dance.

At times I will enjoy building more than flying,other times I will rather be flying,I enjoy both.

Why don't you builders put your planes in the hands of flyers? Let them live on the wing not the wall.

There a quite a few builder/flyer partnerships in my club. It seems to work out well.

I build more than fly. Got into a partnership with a friend who has more $ than time, so he spreung the bucks for a short kit B-17 at 123" and 40 lbs. I did the building. Got her finished and ready to fly, now we only need some nice weather. It is a great idea, to partner. Here's another. Look up the Slow Survivable Combat rules, then go the www.spadtothebone.com and find the Hell On Rails. I build these for and sell them to clubbies for cost to promote wild combat that does not need $$$ or lots of skill. Many folks would love to combat with a $25 airplane. The SSC rules level the playing field and make it really fun. I don't mind the work if it generates lots of high heart rates at the field.

I find it hard to get to the field. I used to work all night to test fly a plane in the morning. Now I find I still build, just can't fly as much. I enjoy it just as much, but fly full scale for a living and am gone a lot. I have a ton of new planes to test. It is nice to get them out and fly them. Take a new plane to the field ever weekend in the spring. You gotta love this hobby.