inexpensive Homebuilt

I guess the most inexpensive homebuilt would be one that someone gave you after they built it and didn't charge you a dime! 

But, until that happens, check out this article from August 2008.   With some good scrounging skills, this gentleman got in the air for $6500.

Airborne for $6,500

But, I suspect that you may actually mean the most inexpensive KIT BUILT.   In that case, there are a few options - but check my signature and you'll see why I might suggest:

Sonex 

They routinely run this ad: 

(No - I'm not a company shill.  I am a Sonex assistant builder and do know John and Jeremy personally.)

Yes, my Dad and i build that for that amount of money in it (there is more in it know , with a few engine updates)

it is posable , with a great network of friends and scrounging skills

but that what being an EAA members all about!!!

Tracy Buttles

There are lots of folks that have built a plans-built Pietenpol Air Camper for less than $10,000.

Plans are available here:

http://www.pressenter.com/~apietenp/Information.html

Great Forum of Pietenpol Builders:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=bcd4d54decdfb97ce21836d5c96fba64

One of the largest single expenses in building an airplane will be the prop and powerplant.  Many of the stick and rag kit-built airplanes can be built fairly inexpensively, until you hang a powerplant and prop on them.  It also makes a difference what elevation you will be flying the majority of the time, and how high the service ceiling you will need to be able to fly.  I live in the Salt Lake Valley, and there are a large number of good homebuilt aircraft that would not be able to fly here in the summertime, due to density altitude, but would be a great airplane if operated near sea level.  There has been some conversation on the Pietenpol Forum discussing larger engines in Piets.  Most of the builders who started the conversations live at elevations more than 4,000 above sea level.  A great inexpensive airplane that you aren't able to fly where you live, is a very expensive airplane.  If you build an open cockpit airplane, and have a low tolerance for the cold, and live in one of the cold states, you have an expensive airplane, regardless of how many dollars you spent to build it.  There is always some kind of trade off.

If 1 seat is OK, how about a Sky Pup, Flitplane, or Roger Mann Rag-a-Muffin?

Derek, it's not for sale yet but the Onex (future little brother of the Sonex)...will be in the running...one seater, folding wings...

I bought my Mitchell Wing B-10 wing kit as an Oshkosh special for $1200.00 so they threw in the pilot cage for free. Also purchased a 28 hp 2-stroke engine and reduction drive for $800.00 from this new company called "Rotax". Paint, prop, instrument (Hall's airspeed/ rain gauge) and "rough field gear" added about $500.00. These were 1984 dollars, so don't know what that translates to today. Also, I was single, so had a lot more disposable income. Recently, I did find a very used Challenger ll for $2500.00 and after rebuild will have (hopefully) about $6000.00 in it. These figures don't include a charge for my labor, or the value of the knowledge, skills and friends gained in the process. I've also not included tools purchased, use of my garage/workshop, necessary time to keep the better half happy (actually not much in my case) and hangar rent. So, there are many ways to figure how much a project ends up costing. The most expensive are the ones that never get finished. If you end up with a beautiful aircraft that fulfills your mission- worth every penny.

    My scratch built HM293 ( Flying Flea ) will be flying in about a month and will come in right at $2,000.

I like the building process, but in aviation everything is a trade-off.  What do you have more of, money or time....

Derek,

I have a database of over 300 aircraft kits, which I searched by price. The manufacturers of the following kits sell them for $3,500 - $5,500 and claim that they can be completed for under $7,000 by resourseful builders.

Airdrome Aeroplanes, Inc. Dream Classic Wire Braced
Better Half VW Legal Eagle
JDT Mini-MAX 1100R Mini-MAX
JDT Mini-MAX 1500R Open Cockpit
Weedhopper Standard

I don't know anything about these kits, so I cannot recommend one over another. If you have other criteria (range, gross weight, cruise speed, useful load w/full fuel, interior width, etc.) I'd be happy to run them against the database.

The Kitplanes web site also has an online kit finder. You have to subscribe to their online option, but it's worth the $40.

The Pietenpol is definitely one of the the least expensive but most capable homebuilts out there.  Nothing will beat it by a substantial margin in the cost or capability category.  There are other similar designs out there (the Fly Baby being the most popular), but the Piet has the tremendous advantage of two seats.  This allows you to carry passengers or a big bag or extra fuel, substantially increasing the "utility" of the plane.  I bought my GN-1 for $9,200 about 7 years ago, and I've flow it over 400 hours.  It has over 600hrs total time.  My annual maintenance bills have been under $500 on average, including $300 or so to an A&P for the condition inspection (which I do as an owner-assisted inspection).

Last year I flew it from OK to Oshkosh and back, 25hr round trip, and even got to fly-it in the homebuilt review.  This weekend I flew it about 7 hours, and had an absolute blast.  Cost for those 7 hours was under $100 in fuel.  It gets compliments and attention just about everywhere you go, which I have to admit is kind of fun.  I can land behind a turbo SR-22 worth $700,000, park next to him on the ramp and the crowd will gather around the Piet.  Living in Oklahoma, if you fly in the spring, you just have to deal with high winds.  I can fly it confidently in winds gusting as high as 30-35kts.  The low, low stall speed makes it a very safe plane in the event of a power failure.  This also makes it a very capable short field plane.  As someone already said, there is a great builder/owner support group.  If you have any questions about them, please ask!

Steve,

There's no kit for the Piet right? Scratch built from plans?  Thanks.

Anh Le

Greetings Derek,

I am just starting a Volksplane build and my conservative budget puts it at $12,300 out the hanger door. With some good scrounging I should be able get it below 10K.

My budget will be posted on the site later this evening. http://www.FlyBoyJon.com

Cheers,

~Jon

I just read a Thatcher CX-4 can be built and flown for around $9000. It's an all metal (mostly), VW powered, 125 mph single seat airplane. Quickbuild options, 3rd party prefab parts, starship panels, and fancy paint will push you past $20k.