You Can Do That?

We finally started the airplane

The week was finally here! My son and I had been waiting not-so-patiently for this week to finally come. Many of you have probably been waiting and wondering if this week was really going to happen. What week am I talking about?

The week we finally start building our airplane!

This all started at the end of 3rd grade, when my son told me he wanted to build an airplane. It winded through months of research and long conversations, me anxiously pacing laps around my living room while trying to understand if you can really build your own airplane. There were days spent imagining what we would do with our airplane, and wondering what airplanes would be good for that mission. There were hours where we watched videos of how to build an airplane. And then there was one minute where I booked our trip to a Zenith Builders Workshop. Which led us to last week.

This is the Zenith CH750 SD. Affectionally called a “sky jeep”

So how did we get here with this airplane?

We live in Montana, where we have more than 30 million acres of public land to play in. Which meant I wanted an airplane that could take us into that land. My dream mission is to take off, look for a river, land next to it, fish for 2 hours, and fly home. That means I’m looking at Bush Planes (properly known as STOL planes for short take off and landing). I also didn’t want an airplane that went too fast. My son will learn a lot better at 75 mph than he will at over 200 miles per hour. Lastly, I wanted an airplane that could take the two of us, maybe a third person, and our gear. The CH750 Super Duty meets all of those requirements, and at a price point far more affordable than many airplanes.

Which is what brought us to the Zenith Builder’s workshop last week.

My son was so excited. My normally shy boy told his babysitter about it for three hours one night. He packed his own bag two days early. He asked if his little sister could come, and then cried when I wouldn’t let him bring our dog. He barely slept for the week prior. And then finally it was Tuesday and we were flying to Missouri.

By end of day Wednesday, he had had built the entire tail of his airplane. He had fastened metal together using over 300 cleco fasteners, a process that involves squeezing a pair of hand pliers and then pushing the metal into the airplane part. I wasn’t sure his young hands would handle it, but he refused to stop. He pulled well over 300 rivets to permanently fasten the metal together into a tail. In fact, I had to beg him to let me try the pneumatic rivet gun. He begrudgingly said yes, but only for about 5 rivets. He read drawings, asked questions of complete strangers, and beat most of the older builders to the finish.

Putting together the frame of the tail

Child is a whiz with a rivet gun

His completed tail

And then there was the flight. The pilots at Zenith were so generous. They let me fly the airplane to make sure I liked it. But more importantly, they let my son fly it. For weight and balance reasons I couldn’t sit in the back, so he went flying while I waited on the ground. Roger, the head pilot, strapped him into the co-pilot seat with his shoulder seatbelt that covered his whole body. He put a green pair of headphones on him. He patiently explained how the controls work. Then he took off, climbed to 1,200 feet, and gave my son the controls. The smile on his face was the biggest I’ve ever seen when he landed.

Far and away the coolest part of the trip.

My favorite part of the whole week was meeting the other builders. Men and women from all different backgrounds — from pilots who have far more hours than I do to first time pilots wanting to learn to fly — all came together to support each other. And I think I had the same conversations a dozen times.

Them: “It’s so cool that you brought your son along.”

Me: “Actually, he brought me. This is his project.”

Them: “That’s so much fun. Does he have to write a book report or do a poster board for school?”

Me: “Nope. We don’t do book reports or poster boards.”

Them: “So what does he need to do for school?”

Me: “He needs to build an airplane.”

Them, eyes lighting up: “Whoa! That’s really cool. I wish my dad had done that with me.”

My son: “Yeah, he’s okay, I guess.”

We finished our trip with a last minute Cardinals game, and then we flew home on Friday. It was an amazing trip. And now, we need to buy the rest of the airplane.

I am still surprised at how doable the whole project was. In less than seven hours we built the entire tail. We went from never having used a rivet gun or installed a cleco to completing the tail. It was so simple my 9 year old could do it. And he walked away with a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eyes, and a huge smile.

Now I’m even more excited to build this airplane with him. If he’ll let me do anything.

---

This is the part where I need to ask for your help. The next step for us and our project is to buy the kit.

To every one of you who has so generously supported us already…thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And if you still want to support or think you can, we can use any and all help. If you want to support my son and I as we build this airplane, there are a few ways you can help.

• Consider upgrading your subscription. Every dollar goes towards buying and building the plane.

• Share this post with anyone and everyone. Forward it, tag someone, share it on Social Media, or print if and give it to someone you know. If you know anyone that would want to support a very special little boy in creating a really cool education, we’d be grateful to get to talk to them.

• You can always make a one time donation here at Buy Me A Coffee. Each donation and every dollar goes towards the plane.

• If you have another way you think you can help, please reach out. Expertise, encouragement, support, and community are so helpful.

Both my son and I are grateful for your support.