Mike Patey is a pilot and airplane builder. Since getting into flying 15 years ago, he has earned multiple ratings and accumulated over 7,000 hours and flies about 400 hours per year.
More impressive is the fact he’s built a Van’s RV-6 and RV-10, a Zenith 801, a Compair 8 Turboprop, an Epic LT, and six Lancair Legacies including Turbulence, a turboprop-powered model.
“So far, 11 builds,” said Patey. “I have averaged eight to 10 months per complete build.”
His last Legacy took just five months.
My first question. How? How have you build that many airplanes in so little time, comparatively speaking?
Turns out, Patey sets goals and works to achieve those goals.
“One basic rule that commands a fast and guaranteed path to finish – once I start any project, businesses, aircraft, whatever – is something must get done and executed on the project every day, no exceptions — ever!”
Large or small, at least one project task must be completed each day “before I can lay my head on the pillow,” he said.
His wife often tells him he has an obsession with unfinished projects.
“Even if all I do is go online to choose and order a part I need,” that’s five minutes of progress, he said.
“You meet the goal and what happens next is why it works,” he explains.
“Some want the red easy button,” finished Patey. “I want the goals that create the green go button.”
You throw enough people at a project and you can get lots done. I work at Boeing and we build, on average 2 airplanes a day – but it takes 130,000 people to make that happen. I’m guessing he’s got some helpers to get those projects done in so little time. Or he’s lying.
I promise you this, he’s not lying. Is known him all my life. We used to build houses together and the three of us would build a house a week. Mike and his brother are great people and have always worked fast and hard their whole life!
All between the ages of 30 and 45 and despite growing up poor, while becoming an engineer, flying 400+ hours per year, setting world speed records, starting four companies, working in pharmaceuticals, rescuing a Costa Rican soccer team, and being a real estate investor. Right…..
http://www.prweb.com/releases/Patey/planes/prweb11768623.htm
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865575538/Utah-native-the-unexpected-savior-of-Costa-Rican-soccer-team-Herediano.html?pg=all
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/spanish-fork/two-of-a-kind-twins-share-love-of-aviation/article_cad18c48-937a-5c86-8a25-b059b1518fcf.html
https://www.ksl.com/?sid=14708478
Something doesn’t quite compute; an RV6 or an RV10 is going to take somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500 man-hours, or more, to complete a slow-build kit. If you work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 52 weeks you can get in 2,080 hours. Go figure.
Either these were quick build kits and there was more than one person working on it – or slow build with two or three people mostly full time for 8 – 10 months. Remember, Brian Williams was in a combat helicopter that was hit by enemy fire in Iraq.
Nice one Jeff W, I almost forgot about Brian Williams. An old friend of mine always said “nothing is impossible for those who don’t have to do the work” 🙂
Well yeah, if you have the money to build a turbine Lancair, you probably have the time and help to do so.
Well said sir…your right…must be nice
Building an airplane in 5 months? Having built an airplane, I’m pretty sure there’s much more here than just setting goals. What is it?
12 months working 8 hours a day, five days a week is 2080 hours. to build an RV6 or and RV10 would take a minimum of 2500 hours. therefore, RV’s built in 5 or 6 months had to be quick build kits including additional help. Slow build would require two or three helpers; ergo – lots of funding.
want to be like you
how can i be like you
I think the key here is to have a lot of disposable income.
Back in 1961 my Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander to me if you have and work to do, give it to a busy man, because he’ll make time to get it done!