Dane,

 

Welcome!

 

The toughest time is the gap between ordering your kit and starting.  I was trying to stay busy building workbenches and cutting tables.  I had Lancair send the manuals 3 months early.  I had mentally built my ES three times before I started!

 

I would highly recommend doing the workshop in Redmond.  Some of the tricks I learned over the two weeks gave me a huge confidence boost.  Plus you get a lot of work done.

 

It wouldn't hurt to have a light sport aircraft to go with your IV.  I was a the Rocky Mountain Fly-In, talking to the Rans guys.  He said several IV drivers over the years had purchased a putt-putt for recreational flying.  You can build a Rans, or other light sport planes, for less than the IV engine!

 

Mike Easley

Colorado Springs