Here’s a message from the Kitfox list that I thought was quite a philosophical outlook to building an aeroplane. Kurt was asked how it felt to be so close to finishing his plane.
Dave
——-Original Message——-
Subject: RE: Close to the end
Feel? Well Michel,
It started as a pleasant walk toward a distant dream. Occasionally I stopped to admire my work, which I enjoyed for its own purpose. The way was hilly, hot, cold, and darker than I would like to admit. Consistantly, the hardest thing to do was that which I am trying to get a handle on now. The easiest was that which I just finished.
Often I had to stop do to outside influences like my mother dying, my house flooding, etc. These last 2 years I began to walk faster, then run, afraid my father would also pass on before I got it done for him to see. But I learned that when I run, I often trip. It is better to walk fast, or you will have to repeat steps, which takes longer.
Today I see the finish line. It is ever receeding,but I am gaining. I learned today that my proposed inspector’s wife died last friday. He took her home to Virginia, just in time for the hurricane. I will not rush his return.
Michel, it feels like a test which I volunteered for. One I will, at long last, pass. One I learned much from even before the first flight. One that will carry me to high mountains on invisible currents.
And one which I was greatly helped along by this list of knowledgable friends. I have saved hundreds of pages of e-mails full of ideas I would hardly have thought of on my own, nor can I add them all to only one plane. I am richer and safer because of you all.
That is my answer and I am sticking with it.
Kurt S.
—- JMCBEAN < JDMCBEAN (at) … >
Kurt,
Thank you !!! As I am nearing completion, I have found myself running only to find that I will need to go back and redo some things that were done. I would like to hang on to your reply and share it with others if I may.
Again… Thanks!
Blue Skies!!
John & Debra McBean
“The Sky is not the Limit… It’s a Playground”
——- Original Message ——-
From: “kurt schrader” < smoke… (at) >
You may John. You are one of the people I look up to here, so please think of it as some repayment.
I wish I could say I wrote this in a drug induced state of euphoria, but actually sometimes I just thinkthat way. (?) Really it’s Michel’s fault. He askes those darn questions. “How… does… it… feel…???”
I have spent most of my time since last December correcting things, some origional and some my own fault. The header tank and exhaust were the biggest. I get frustrated and seek refuge here. Then I am ready to go and hammer my thumb again tomorrow.
Kurt S.
