| Building your airplane can be very rewarding. | | | | only because it is another option to consider if you |
| Regardless of how small or how simple the aircraft is, | | | | are more interested in maintaining and flying a |
| chances are you will spend a minimum of two years | | | | previously built and registered experimental model. |
| building it. Quick build kits usually take longer than the | | | | Some people want to build an airplane just to know |
| claims are. This is especially true if you have little or | | | | they can do it. My friend built and sold three |
| no experience. There are always exceptions, but you | | | | experimental models in three years. One of them |
| will find that people who can build that project in the | | | | was an EAA Grand Champion. Since then, he has |
| shorter periods are typically those who have the | | | | "zero timed" a 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champ. I am not |
| knowledge and experience combined with sheer | | | | aware of a single flaw. He will tell you that buying |
| dedication. | | | | certified (Yellow Tagged) parts for the Champ cost |
| Be ready for a challenge regardless of the route you | | | | far more than pieces and parts for the experimental |
| are going to take. Every successful builder I know will | | | | models. |
| tell you that the only way to "git-er-done" is to do | | | | Experimental aircraft may require a private certificate |
| something with your project every day. Building from | | | | if the aircraft does not meet weight, speed and |
| only a set of plans means you will need to research | | | | horsepower requirements. If the aircraft you will be |
| and specify materials. It takes a lot of extra time and | | | | building falls under the umbrella of the new Light |
| effort. You will be cutting and forming most of the | | | | Sport Category, you will be able to get by with a |
| pieces. It is a good way to minimize costs and | | | | Light Sport Certificate, which costs much less to |
| stretch them out over a longer period, but it may | | | | obtain and requires much less training. |
| not be the best choice for a first time builder. | | | | When it comes to safety, we must first consider the |
| Progress may appear to be so slow that the entire | | | | position of the FAA. Their overall duty is to protect |
| project becomes daunting. One person I know has | | | | the general population. It includes making sure things |
| been working on his plans only project for 9 years | | | | do not start falling out of the sky and result in |
| and is just now getting close to being finished. | | | | personal injury and property damage. In order to |
| I believe the first thing anyone should do before | | | | accomplish this, the administration needed to establish |
| building is to join a local EAA Chapter. Spend some | | | | a framework of control. This meant they needed to |
| time getting to know the members. Look at the | | | | address the fundamental questions of who, what, |
| completed projects that members have. Look at | | | | when, where, why and how. What followed was a |
| projects underway. These local chapters are generally | | | | collection of facts and engineering guidelines defining |
| loaded with people who have been where you are | | | | who could fly and what could be flown, along with |
| right now. I have found that a large amount of the | | | | when, where, how and why. You may here of |
| progress made on building is due to conversation, | | | | people concerned with the safety of homebuilt |
| education, encouragement and help from my local | | | | aircraft. The FAA Authorities actually make builders |
| chapter members. | | | | install a statement in homebuilt aircraft. THIS |
| People have many reasons for building. The most | | | | AIRCRAFT IS NOT BUILT TO FAA STANDARDS. |
| common reason is financial. While in the course of | | | | You will find that homebuilders usually have much |
| learning to fly, the student pilot often discovers the | | | | higher standards. They build their aircraft with love |
| cost of owning a certified aircraft such as a Cessna | | | | and dedication. They become increasingly aware of |
| or a Piper. Certified aircraft need maintenance and | | | | safety factors during the building cycle and take |
| inspections done by FAA certified mechanics with | | | | corrective action. An ironic thing about this is that |
| FAA certified parts. The costs can be overwhelming. | | | | FAA safety records show that regular factory built |
| Amateur builders can inspect and maintain their own | | | | airplanes are no more safe than homebuilts. |
| aircraft. To fit into the Experimental Class, the | | | | The KIS Principle is extremely important when it |
| homebuilt must be made at least 51% by the | | | | comes to building aircraft. Keep your project light and |
| amateur builder. It used to be that the only aircraft | | | | simple as possible. When it is finished, you will know |
| that you (yourself) could perform inspections and | | | | everything about it. It is hard to beat the feeling |
| maintenance on was an aircraft that you (yourself) | | | | when you combine this with your flying skills. |
| built. New FAA rules now allow the owner of | | | | My project will be ready to fly someday. All of the |
| experimental aircraft that fits within the Light Sport | | | | time and effort will suddenly become worthwhile as I |
| Category to maintain it even if they were not the | | | | get to enjoy something that very few people ever |
| builder by simply attending an FAA Light Sport | | | | get to experience. |
| Repairman Class and passing a test. I mention this | | | | |