Today I did something all aviators should do every now and then. I visited a Tennessee garage in which four retired men—Charles McNabb, Brinson Fender, Allen Green and Larry Norris—are busily building, with a little bit of help from their friends, a Rans S-7 airplane. My visit was just plain fun (pun intended).
Y’all, that garage—with some 8,000 airplane parts inside—was neater than Martha Stewart’s guest room! I was as jealous as if I’d just come in fourth in the Olympics and my best friend had won the bronze medal.
It wasn’t the airplane itself that caused all that envy. It’s the certain knowledge that I could never—ever—do what they are doing. I’ve known for a long time that if I ever started to build an airplane I’d never finish it.
The quality of their work is superb. These men are moving at a fast pace for airplane homebuilders. They started last August and hope to fly the airplane to Oshkosh for the big show this summer. From what I saw today, I believe they’re gonna make it. Right now the fuselage frame is complete, as are all of the control surfaces and the wings. It’s going to be a beautiful airplane.
My hat’s off to them, and I plan to keep in touch with the project and report back to you.
