Since we're all chipping in, here's my saga....
Having bought the plans for an Evans VP-1, I was going to built my own. However, since I was in the RAF at the time based at Gutersloh, the RAF Laarbruch Flying Club offered their only F150G for sale. It had the old style instrument layout and the engine was over TBO and running on condition, so they decided to sell it. Since it hadn't had VAT paid on it, they needed to sell it to a Brit in Germany. With the help of a 100% bank loan, I bought the aircraft for £3K and had it delivered to Gutersloh. Since I was on a Harrier Sqn at the time, the Boss allowed G-AVIA to share a Hardened Aircraft Shelter (or HAS) with two Harriers. I recruited instructors myself. One was a Cavalry Major from Bielefeld, one a Buccaneer pilot from Laarbruch, one a local German QFI and one a Flight Sergeant aircrew from the support heli. sqn down the taxiway. I paid them all with hours. I finally got my UK PPL flying a GFT at the Laarbruch club; then I had to sell up (for £4K)and move back to UK. Since then, mortgage and kids have had priority. However, I've now managed to justify an AA-5 which I use to commute from home in Yorkshire to London where I work. How I love looking down on the M25 on a Friday evening....