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Daniels Web Site
Welcome to my experimental aircraft Web site. Thank you for visiting my build log. If you found my site here, the chances are you are not a stanger to the experimental aircraft segment of general aviation. I'll try to explain my who, what, when, where, why, hows and intents briefly before getting wrapped up in my build. The main purpose of this site is to log my build, keep me and the plane organized during the build process, prove to the FAA that I am indeed the >51% builder of this airplane, this is for entertainment purposes of family and friends, reference ideas for other builders as to how I accomplished different sections of my personal build. This log / website is in NO way, shape or form to be used as instructions on how to build an airplane. It is merely to document and share the progress of my Experimental build aircraft project in a educational / recreational context only. Anything contained herein that sounds like a tip or guidance should not be taken as firm guidance. Reference your plans or kit manufacturer. Build your airplane at your own risk, period! With that said and out of the way, I’m Daniel Schoning, I’m 36 as of September 2011 and I’ve been an aviation-aholic since the age of three. On my fifth birthday, my dad and I got on his motorcycle and drove up to the local rural airport (Columbia airport 4G8) to watch the planes we could see from our house take off and land. We normally did this on Saturday mornings and ate lunch at the restaurant in the FBO… But this was no normal day… It was my birthday and my dad got me a flight with a guy in a C-152. I will never forget my first flight! Thanks Dad!!! I was a lifer at that point even more than I was before. I couldn’t get aviation out of my head (and still can’t). I went on to tinker with RC planes and helicopters since I couldn’t really fly / train through my pre-teen / teen years. At 17 I started flying for real and studying for my Private Pilot License, I finally crossed that mile-stone at 20. ( I had to work and pay for *most* of my flying addiction(s), so it took me a while. I ended up going to a 141 school at Kent State University (1G0) and flying all through college, adding on ratings and working as an apprentice A&P. All while pursuing a degree in Biology & Psychology. I wanted to be a flying psychiatrist at the time . Somehow, after undergrad, I ended up in the mortgage industry and have been riding that “fun wave” ever since. Unfortunately, while riding the career wave, relocating to Georgia and dealing with the market turmoil, I lost track of time and haven’t flown much in years. I never lost my passion for aviation nor did I lose sight of my dream of owning my own plane and traveling the countryside with my lovely wife on the weekends. Finally, in the past couple years, things have settled down a bit after a couple stints of un-employment. This past year (2011) I married the most awesome / beautiful woman ever (Kim), we bought a house and I acquired a really awesome 15 year old step- son (Kade) in the mix . It was a ready-made family and we are pretty well settled now. I couldn’t be happier!!! Kim hasn’t flown in a spam-can yet but she soon will after I get current again and eventually, we’ll travel in our own 200MPH+ spam-can. The smallest plane Kim has flown in was the EAA’s Ford Tri-motor. The ride has another awesome / meaningful birthday gift for me last year. I don’t think Kim quite understands my passion for aviation but she fully supports me in pursuing my dreams. She even goes as far as attending the local EAA meetings with me. She definitely looks forward to us traveling freely around the country and beyond. The few “small” plane crashes over the holidays this year made for some pretty interesting conversations between us knowing that I was planning to build in the near future. I know she is a bit (pretty) nervous about small planes, not to mention “experimental AB”. With several hundred flight hours under my belt I am not naïve enough to promise that nothing will ever go wrong but I can console her by pointing out the where these pilots went wrong, the price of inexperience and pushing the envelope. I don’t claim to be the most experienced pilot, but I can promise my wife that we will never intentional takeoff over gross weight, fly out of CG, fly into known icing conditions / storms without proper equipment or take any undue / known risks. Like I learned 20 years ago during my initial flight training, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t go! I’ve taxied out and returned to the ramp several times while at the 141 school just because I didn’t like how I felt. That sometimes didn’t always go over to well at a 141 school. I plan to always follow my gut (no pun intended) and play it as safe as possible… Why am I building an experimental class airplane and specifically why the Van’s RV-7A? Is it less expensive than a production TSO’d plane? Nope, It’s not “really” any less expensive, except for in the maintenance labor area because, for the most part you do your own maintenance and it’s your time. I could go out today and pick up a older model Mooney and have my own plane for the same cost, get my A&P current and also be at the same place but that is not the route I have ever wanted to go. I love building functional things, I am quite a perfectionist, love new / emerging technology and I want to know the quality of every single rivet going into the plane that is going to carry me and my family members. My plane is only ever going to be used for recreation, pleasure, education and donation flights (Angle Fight Etc.). With this being the case, building an experimental AC lends itself the most flexibly to my personal wants / needs. Experimental AC are the proving grounds for newer technology that is not yet available in TSO’d planes. Experimental AC are not bound to strict performance / flight characteristics / controllability (self correction etc.) criteria that limit production aircraft. With an Experimental class AC, I can get the perfect blend of high performance, responsiveness, maneuverability and docile flight characteristics to suite my personal mission, tastes and needs. Newer technology (not stuck in the 80’s), new plane, higher performance, knowing every facet of your personal aircraft and learning a hell of a lot. Win, Win, Win for me anyway. It’s not in everyone’s blood. I plan on putting a decent amount of TSO’d equipment in my RV because I plan on Day / Night VFR / IFR missions and want to be as safe as possible. But I also do intend on installing a ton of cutting edge equipment too. Who knows what will be available in 5-7 years. 5 years+ is my build goal. Why the RV-7A? Well first off, let’s say proof of concept. There are 4000+ RVs flying today with an outstanding track record. Insurance companies prefer them over most experimental AC. Insurance premiums prove it. The simple fabrication process (aluminum construction) has been around been around since the earlier years of aviation and has pretty much been perfected… Remember Rosie the Riveter from WWII? I don’t either but I’m just say’n it’s been a long proven construction method that is pretty simple and straight forward. The flight performance of the RV is pretty kickin for 180 HP and the light aerobatics are plane fun! When I was in my teens and knew I wanted to build my own plane, I wanted to build the Rutan’s design Cozy. But after learning a lot about composites while doing my apprenticeship, I learned that composites can hide A LOT of internal damage that is very evident on aluminum construction. With composites a small ding (heavey hanger rash) can sometimes cause loss of the complete hull (airframe). Composites are a ton of toxic crap I don’t want in my shop and too much sanding & filling for me. With a metal airframe, you can usually replace a single part and return to service. Let’s just say that I have been researching experimental aircraft for 10+ years and the RV is the right plane for me and my family. It’s just my opinion and that what this site is all about anyway. My wife and I did kick around the idea of building a RV 10 for a while but settled on the 7A.. That’s a story for another day. Enjoy!
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