I often dream of building my own plane. I had originally wanted to build one of the Vans RV models, then my attention drifted toward the composites like the Lancair Legacy RG. Lately, since I have had so much enjoyment flying my Baron up and down the east coast, I have been dreaming about building a composite twin. My dream twin would be a 5-6 place, perhaps club seating, diesel powered engines, composite props, retractable gear, TKS equipped, plumbed for oxygen.

What do you think about an experimental twin?
What if plans/kits were to be offered for sale?
What design requirements/options would you like to see?

IF you are going to the trouble to do it you may as well Pressurize it or make it a option. Run on Jet A, full fuel (4-5 hrs) and 1600lbs in the cabin. One more thing keep the parts count LOW .

Have fun it should be a fun project.

Jay

Ideally, what you want is a 58P with turbodiesel engines, but I don't see any decent diesel 300hp options out there.

Or just keep flying the Baron, get the same capability, save a hundred grand or more and 6-7 years of your life Honestly, unless the building part itself is the goal, I think it's waste of money... single or twin.

It would certainly be a long term endeavor for me, it would be about learning how to design/build an airplane. I need a distraction or project of some kind. If I don't do that, I might end up doing something silly like going to law school. I love flying way too much to sell the Baron - I'm sitting here thinking of how to get the ice off the ramp, preheat the engines, and go flying with these 9 degree wind chills.

Did anyone ever see this twin-engine LSA before? Ironically it's also dubbed an "A36"

This would be at the top of MY List:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/36314339/Ruta ... ics-Nov-96

OH yeah...Burt Rutan did everything but beg George Adam to go with the Boomerang concept when Adam hired Scaled to do the A500 proof of concept, but Adam had been a Skymaster owner and was hung up on perfecting the push/pull idea. So sad.

No kidding? I did not know that. Who knows if that would have changed the outcome, but it would be hard to imagine the Boomerang converted to a twin jet like they did the A500.

I'd love the Boomerang as-is.

Drifting here, but you got my attention when you mentioned law school. What about getting your A&P or working on some more ratings? Being a CFI is very rewarding. Although... you would spend less time and money attending law school than what you are contemplating.

Dont waste your time building one, if you want a plastic twin, just buy a Diamond Twinstar, there is lots out there.

I saw the Boomerang at KSJC in the 90's. I thought is was a beautiful plane then, as I do now. If they were available I would have purchased one long ago.

Here is a video of another Rutan design that I would buy as a kit in a heartbeat:
[youtube:143xl9bn]http://youtu.be/zG9LlHcX8lg[/youtube:143xl9bn]

As you, I also dreamed of building. It is more of a mind-set, and I've often seen beautiful aircraft finished and flying, only to be sold, as the builder misses the process, and returns again to the dream and the creative process. I went as far as building an RV-8, and immensely enjoyed the long hours in the "laboratory". The project was interrupted by the awareness that I would be putting about 100 AMU's into an aircraft that, albeit beautiful and satisfying, would never have the capabilities of my Baron. I purchased a Pitts special, which is a remarkable aircraft; learned initially to take off and land it, and eventually progressed to competition acrobatics. For excitement, it beats running away with that 30-something woman that's been texting you, and is way less expensive.
As far as law school... These are no longer the Perry Mason days. The profession of Law is a bit like the concept of love. Much better in theory than in practice.
I would humbly recommend starting an enterprise, however small, and perhaps aviation-related. Or perhaps writing the novel. I have found that to be equally as challenging and creative.
Regards,
TN

Dear Mike,
I don't know of any good twin kits, but Compair now offers a couple of presurized composite single engine turboprop kits. I have not seen them in person but they look interesting on the web.
Good luck with your search.

How about an aircam?
[youtube]http://youtu.be/XWMhjLKgbpI[/youtube]

Adam, I liked the video, it looked like a great trip. Would love to achieve something similar in the Baron. The Aircam is superb for photos and videos without have to shoot through glass.

Daniel, if I could afford a Lancair Evolution, that would be the pressurized single kit I would build. Initial costs are high, and at 38+ gph, it's expensive to own too. Insurance would high as well.