Stephanie Builds An Airplane

Building an airplane may be less about the skill of building and more about the skill of organizing. Time, resources, but most especially, tiny little parts. And so I have found my dream hobby. My label maker and I are in heaven. This is the start of the rivet and hardware organization system. A place…

I have started counting the rivets. I should not have started counting the rivets. Amazon should be delivering the dozens of small boxes I have ordered to organize and store the rivets. Did I mention there are a lot of rivets? I have taken the day off from inventory. It is now done. I spent…

I spent almost two hours uncrating and inventorying my empennage kit. what I have learned so far: airplanes have a lot of parts. It’s a good thing I own a coffee company (www.rockymtnroast.com if you haven’t discovered our Pilot Fuel coffee line yet). I am going to need a lot of caffeine. Prying the top…

I am in Oregon for a little vacation. And Friday is a big day. I will be visiting Van’s for a factory tour and test flight. There is not much more to say about that. If you know, you know. Then back to Colorado where my empennage kit is sitting in my garage waiting to…

The time is here. Delivery of the empennage/tail section is in two days. And in three days, I leave for Oregon for vacation where I will visit the factory and take a test flight. Did I mention, the time is here!!! I cannot believe it. I am not ready. But I am so ready. And…

I got the email! You know, the one telling me I needed to pay the balance on my account so they can start crating part one! Not sure if I am more excited or more scared. It’s about to get real. There were so many things at Sun N’ Fun that I will be revisiting…

Anyone out there going to Sun N’ Fun? I will be there and am planning to stalk the RV tent as well as Garmin and anyone selling tools. I should be easy to recognize. I will be the one wearing a Stout Aircraft Builders hat, giggling with pure glee at all the sheet metal, and…

Last night, I had dinner with my first flight instructor. He is just about to start flying jets for the airlines and if you are on one of his flights, you are very lucky. He is an amazing pilot. He’s also a great person. His parents definitely raised him right. We had a great time…

I have been trying to figure out what to name my airplane. As many of you know, I am a criminal defense attorney. My dogs are named after Supreme Court cases (Gideon and Brady). Law practice has consumed much of my adult life. And law practice is what has made this airplane a viable reality.…