Editor's Page

Precious Metal

by Rob Riggen

When I was at EAA Airventure last year I saw an airplane that caught my attention so I took some photos. I've always been drawn to the P-51 for it's grace, beauty and power. The lighting and the weather set an interesting tone that was enhanced by the weathered look of the metal on this beautiful craft. I honed in on the nose art specifically. Not thinking too much about what the letters were saying I captured them as part of my images; "Precious Metal".

The aircraft is certainly a special one. It's a P-51A which was completely scratch built. An impressive feat, for sure. The aircraft might warrant a higher degree of recognition because it wasn't mass produced as a kit like ours, but the metal is no more precious than the metal on any flying RV airplane. I can't think of a more apt name for an aircraft, especially one that is homebuilt.

How precious this metal is that we use to construct our aircraft. It's aircraft grade aluminum alloy that is produced in large sheets, precision machined and pressed into rough shape to be included in our kits. Many hands work the metal before we even inventory the parts and begin to transform it further in our garages and basements.

Thousands of hours later we've cut, buffed, bent, shaped and riveted these metal pieces together to form a strong yet fragile vessel which we then use to transport our beings, our souls into the sky. The airplane can take us into an environment that without it we might never know. We rise above the fields and trees. We achieve speeds and heights matched only in our dreams. We observe the lands and seas from a unique perspective devoid of borders and boundaries. The aircraft designs are tried and proven to work well. We trust these craft to carry not only ourselves but our friends and loved ones as well. At the moment of first flight we enter a new realm of responsibility.

Precious metal, indeed. Especially considering the thin strip of molecules that protects us from the searing heat of our engines. The same thin strip protects us from 200 MPH winds. The same thin strip holds us suspended thousands upon thousands of feet above the planet, in the air, with our lives on board.

We give up a lot as builders to own some of this precious metal. After all of the hours and dollars spent we transform a collection of oddly shaped parts into a single whole that is capable of taking us to a completely alternate reality. Each aircraft that is produced and flown for the first time is testament to the special nature of the metal.

Homebuilt aircraft accidents will continue to happen. This is especially true as more projects move from the workshop to the sky. As homebuilders and pilots we have a solemn and awesome responsibility to take the greatest pains to protect the lives within our aircraft. We need to approach each flight related decision with the care and skill of a professional. We need to be ultra-conservative in our approach to flight, especially when there are passengers on board. We need to be able to say, "no" when we are out of our comfort zone or faced with issues that might present hazards to flight. Most of all, before each flight we need to give pause and appreciate the precious metal.

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Precious Metal


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