Advice for a new homebuilder

Hi Paul,

If cost is a major concern, you might want to consider a design you can build from plans. I am currently building a Sonex from plans and am thoroughly enjoying the project. I have built both wings, the tail section, and most of the fuselage for well under $5000. Scratch building allows you to spread the costs out by buying raw materials and hardware as your finances are available.

The Thatcher CX4 and Zenith 701 are a couple other great designs to build from scratch. You can start by buying and studying  the plans. When you're ready, buy a sheet of aluminum or some angle and start making small parts. You'll be surprised at how quickly you skills will grow.

Learning to fly in your homebuilt may not be the best situation for you. Someone has to fly off the initial test period hours before you can carry a passenger. Then there is the problem of finding an instructor with experience in that particular type of aircraft.

Good luck,

Dave Clay

Our motivations and situation appear to be somewhat similar. About the cheapest thing I looked at is the Texas Parasol, even the plans are free:

http://home.earthlink.net/~cavelamb/parasol.htm

But since my daughter insisted on a two-place I went with the Double Eagle:

http://www.doubleeagleairplane.com/

Don't worry about your current skill level. Any big project can be broken down into smaller ones until the task becomes simple enough to tackle.

- Dave

There are many excellent aircraft that can be built easily and inexpensively from plans. One with a great reputation is the Hummelbird.

You can check it out HERE .

I agree with the others that if startup costs are an issue, building from plans is the way to go.  If you prefer working with wood, take a look at the Pietenpol.  Its a design thats been around since 1929, and there is huge online builder support that is very friendly and helpful.  It will probably end up costing at least $10000 by the time you are finished including the engine, but you  can spread it out as long as you need to.  I'm 5 years into building mine and doing the final assembly.

One piece of advice you'll hear over and over is to have a work place close to home.  The completion rate for plans built airplanes is horrible, but if you can work on it just an hour a day and stay motivated it can be done!

Learning to fly in your own homebuilt will probably be problematic, because it has to be flown solo for either 25 or 40 hours depending on your engine/prop combination before passengers can be carried.

My advice would be to find a local EAA chapter and start hanging out with those guys and see what they are buildingm what they are flying, etc.

This website has tons of pictures of Pietenpols in various stages of completion:

http://westcoastpiet.com/

Ben Charvet

Hi Paul

Any and all plans built airplanes can be built on a budget. All you need to do is a lot of scrounging.

The best advice I can give you is...

1. Make it an airplane that you want to have. You're going to be spending a lot of time building it. If it isn't one that you would love to have... when you'll push it to the back of your garage and it'll sit there like a lot of other projects.

2. Build and airplane because you WANT TO BUILD. If you're building an airplane, because you want an airplane, you'll get fustrated when you've made a part for the third or forth time. And if you start saying "Good enough... is good enough" walk away from the project until you can say "Good enough... isn't good enough."

3. There is a lot of learning when it comes to building a plane. And just about anyone can learn a new skill. It just takes a lot of practice practice practice.

The best of luck with your build, Paul

cheers

Jerry