You know...All said and done (and I know the Affordaplane has its fans and anti-fans) but the concept actually has its place in the building community. Is it the perfect airplane? No. Is it the best airplane choice for a beginner builder? Mmmmaybe (but not definitely). Is it the safest airplane? No. Best design? No. What airplane can answer YES to any of these questions though?!
Sooooooo where is its place in our community? Well if you ever ordered the $20 plans and looked at them they contain so much information and articles on construction of aluminum and hardware that in no way is specific to the Affordaplane but general to all construction. That is worth the 20 bucks alone. I learned a ton just from this purchase. Then the rabbit hole of research that follows is another ton of education.
In my quest to find an affordable, safe project, it has me researching everything and trying to balance Time/Quality/Money. Yes I ordered the plans 20 years ago! No, I have not even started construction yet. I did spend another $20 a couple of years ago an on updated set of plans. Dave probably would have sent me an updated set but at $20 it is hardly worth the ask in the big scheme of all things home built.
Do I plan to build An airplane? Yes, most definitely YES! Will I build the Affordaplane? I still don't know but it IS top of my list. Why you ask...because it is a stupid easy to build, modifiable, repairable, rugged, stupid cheap, flying concept of an aircraft that will fly with a wide range of motors. It is a great test bed for wings and motors if you wished. The only skill I will actually have to learn is how to build a flat and level building table and that is not a cosmic endeavor.
The Affordaplane reminds me of military aircraft of witch I flew in the USAF for 20 years...Rugged, Repairable, Mission oriented!....but most of all... no matter how sleek or ugly... it is LOVED by her crews and hated by the enemy.
N'uff said.
Brett