TANSTAAFL

I started out in aviation building plastic, then radio controlled model airplanes. Several years ago I got back into RC model building, and to my delight discovered Performance RC Hobbies, a local hobby shop run by Craig and Suzy. Big hearted people, they always had a moment for a hello, hug, or How's the project going, Steve? Whenever I stop by I never hurry, and half the fun of model building is the pleasure of the company of people at the store. 

Being part Irish, I do have a temper, but over the years I've gotten better at keeping it in check. I do admit though, I have a hard time when people stop by the store with projects they bought cheaper from an on-line outfit, and expect Craig or Suzy to drop what they're doing and give unlimited free advice. When it happens and I get the urge to charge in as a knight in shining armor to tell the person to buy local, I’ve usually gotten a Look that tells me to stay out of it, and I’ve reluctantly gotten back on my high horse and ridden away. 

As we started lacing the wire bundles together this afternoon, the work gave me pause. Being a pilot I’m a bit of a nickle nose*, and instead of buying everything through Jim and paying him to help me do my harness, once in a while I think that with advice from internet aircraft building forums I probably could have made up my own wiring plan, could have gotten a few parts a little cheaper from other sources, and collected more credit card rewards points if I had bought my equipment from Aircraft Spruce. I could have saved a bundle of money doing it myself.

But what about when I run into problems? I've learned the hard way that just because someone can post on the internet, it doesn't necessarily mean they know what they're talking about, and when I checked the ACS website I couldn't find a tech support phone number for self-built electrical systems. The GhostBusters don't work on airplanes, conventional A&Ps are often reluctant to work on homebuilt/experimental aircraft, and when they do they have to spend time (and money) learning how something was designed and built before they can even begin to troubleshoot a problem. The great SF writer Robert Heinlein used the term TANSTAAFL in his books, There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, there's always a price to pay.
 
OspRey is more than the sum of her parts, she's a product of and her heart comes from the years of experience and, yes, love of the people helping build her, and sharing their knowledge for her future.

Some things, like the experience of the people helping you, are worth paying for.