{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Pilot to Pilot","title":"I Threw Away Half My Airplane: Building a Zenith Kit Plane with Carson Stilson","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2380,"description":"Carson Stilson built his own Zenith Super Duty kit plane in two and a half years and about 1,200 hours, then flew it to Oshkosh. He shares what building an experimental aircraft really takes.\nCarson never planned to build an airplane in his thirties. He did it anyway, while working full time and raising two young kids. He explains why he chose a Zenith over a tailwheel kit, why he did most of the build himself, and how he kept going through the slow stretches. One of those stretches came a few weeks in, when he accidentally threw away half his airplane's skins.\nIn this episode:\nWhy Carson chose a Zenith: STOL performance, cost, and no ground-loop worries\nHow the Zenith rudder workshop led him to buy the kit\nBuilder Assist vs. building it yourself, and when to get help with the engine and avionics\n\"90% done, 90% to go\": wiring, final assembly, and the last six months\nPutting a Lycoming IO-390 on a Super Duty for high-density-altitude backcountry flying in Utah\nThe DAR inspection, the first flight on July 4th, and flying to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh\nWhy experimental and kit aircraft, along with MOSAIC, could be the future of personal aviation\nCarson's dream fleet: a bush plane, a 200-knot family hauler, and a show plane\nThinking about building a kit plane? Send this to the friend who keeps saying \"someday.\"\n\nPilot to Pilot Magazine\nGet your copy at https://pilottopilothq.com/mag\n\nOur Sponsors\nPlease support the companies that support the show.\nAero Tow: The Aero Tow T2 moves tail draggers and medium twins up to 15,000 lbs. Pilot to Pilot listeners get $100 off with promo code PILOT100 at https://amigoaerotow.com\n\nTextron Aviation: Owner support from the people who built your aircraft. Learn more at https://txtav.com\n\nAvemco Insurance: Pilot to Pilot listeners save 5%. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit:\nAircraft owners: https://avemco.com/4297-owner\nNon-owners: https://avemco.com/4297-non-owner\n\nGarmin: Plan, file, fly, and log with the Garmin Pilot app.\nAllworth Airline...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/s8a-VNhA3KT8ziTM9GEoglQYN8nsFNC-InL8Qj1FlcM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80OWFm/YzIzMjA3N2UwMGRj/MmFlY2YzNTNlOGJj/N2RlZC5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}