From: prang@ssc-vax.boeing.com (Ron Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Review:  CHOOSING YOUR HOMEBUILT
Keywords: review, Ken Armstrong
Date: 14 Apr 92 06:48:02 GMT
Organization: Boeing Defense and Space Group, Seattle WA

My first inkling of this book was when it was reviewed in the same
KITPLANES issue _Kitplane Construction_ was in.  Uhh-oh, I thought.
Competition.

I was right... and in a sense, I was wrong.  It is definitely aimed at the
same market as my book:  Those contemplating building a homebuilt.  But Ken 
Armstrong's book takes a slightly different tack than mine... one I welcome
completely.

When I finally shipped _Kitplane Construction_ to McGraw Hill, I felt a bit
of guilt.  There was a lot of stuff I felt I should have covered... but was
unable to due to time and space constraints.  As it is, my book was 50%
longer than I'd contracted for, and included 140% more art. 

I'm feeling better now.  _Choosing Your Homebuilt_ covers those areas I
didn't.  There is some duplication, but its all in areas that *need*
reinforcement: deciding whether you really should build, the difference in
the various packages, cost of operation and ownership, etc.

Only 25% or so of our books is duplicate material.  Where Armstrong really
shines is in showing the prospective builder how to evaluate a kitplane *as
an aircraft*.

I've never made any claims to pilot godhood.  I've got about 450 hours, 95%
of it in three particular airplanes.  I'm not qualified to judge and rate
various homebuilts.

But Armstrong is.  He's got over 11,000 hours on 150 different types and is
an ex-Canadian Armed Forces helicopter pilot.  About 60% of his book consists 
of frank assessments of the flight characteristics and qualities of over 
20 separate homebuilt designs.   

He doesn't cover anything regarding the techniques used to actually
built the aircraft... but that's where my book comes in.

So _Choosing Your Homebuilt_ isn't a competitor to _Kitplane Construction_.
Rather, they're like a two-volume encyclopedia on homebuilt aircraft. 
Before making the big decision to build, you owe it to yourself to get all
the information you can.  Get _Kitplane Construction_ to learn about
workmanship and construction, and _Choosing Your Homebuilt_ for an expert 
view of the flight qualities of specific aircraft, and how to chose the one 
that's right for you.

Book Data:

Title:     _Choosing Your Homebuilt, the One You'll Finish and Fly_
Author:     Armstrong, Kenneth
ISBN:       0-932579-25-6
Publisher:  Butterfield Press
	    990 Winery Canyon Road
	    Templeton, CA 93465
	    (800) 648-6601
Price:      $19.95

And, lest we forget:

Title:      _Kitplane Construction_
Author:      Wanttaja, Ron
ISBN:        0-8306-3565-3
Publisher:   McGraw Hill (TAB division)
	     (800) 822-8158
	     The book's Catalog number is 3565
Price:       $19.95 (softcover) $29.95 (hardback)

Both books are also available through the Aero Book Club (it's not really a
club, it's just a store) on Arlington (WA) airport.  Call Red at 
(206) 368-0198 (Open Wed-Sun), or write to P.O. Box 146, Lynnwood WA 98036.

                                          Ron Wanttaja
					  prang@ssc-bee
					  ...rutgers!uw-beaver!ssc-bee!prang
                                          prang@ssc-bee.boeing.com
Newsgroups: rec.aviation