[Wittmandriver]

I have been watching this site for a few years now and it is time to post a reply.

My first flight instructor hates homebuilts-don't know why. Maybe he just doesn't like me...when I told him I was flying a homebuilt around, he didn't answer back.

You will all have your own opinion. I can attest first-hand being an A&P that Cessna/Piper/(you name the company) aircraft are not all created with craftsmanship and care as you would like to believe. They are created with turning out as many units as they can with a product that can "pass" inspection. If you think all units coming out of the factory are inspected thoroughly, think again. Like any factory line, a unit gets picked for inspection every certain amount of units. Don't believe me? Then pop the cowling off or pull a panel off of your favorite trainer and look at the rivet job. If your eyes are trained like mine, your opinion may change a bit. I have seen rivets bent over like nails.

Granted, some homebuilts are not built up to snuff either. Mine is a Wittman Tailwind-built to plans steel tube/fabric fuselage with metal wings. It is built quite well with craftsmanship and care put in it. I do pamper it like a previous poster said, enough to where my wife calls it my "mistress". Plus, it will out-perform all but your fastest singles and twins on the line. I get places in a hurry very efficiently. Most homebuilts are built better than most factory builts, in my opinion. When it is all said and done, with both factory and homebuilt aircraft, pilot error causes most fatalities, a proven fact.

Wittmandriver