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Homebuiltaircraft
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Homebuiltaircraft,alsoknownasamateurbuiltaircraftor
kitplanes,areconstructedbypersonsforwhomthisisnota
professionalactivity.Theseaircraftmaybeconstructedfrom
"scratch,"fromplans,orfromassemblykits.[1][2]

Contents
1Overview
2History
2.1Earlyyears
2.2Technologyandinnovation
2.3Futuretrends
3Buildingmaterials
3.1Woodandfabric
3.2Wood/compositemixture
3.3Metal
3.4Composite
4Safety
5Culture
6Seealso
7References
8Externallinks

ARutanLongEZhomebuiltin1984in
England

Overview
IntheUnitedStates,Brazil,AustraliaandNewZealand,homebuiltaircraftmaybelicensedExperimentalunder
FAAorsimilarlocalregulations.Withsomelimitations,thebuilder(s)oftheaircraftmusthavedoneitfortheir
owneducationandrecreation[3]ratherthanforprofit.IntheUS,theprimarybuildercanalsoapplyfora
repairman'scertificateforthatairframe.[4]Therepairman'scertificateallowstheholdertoperformandsignoff
onmostofthemaintenance,repairs,andinspectionsthemselves.[1][2]
AlbertoSantosDumontwasthefirsttoofferforfreeconstructionplans,publishingdrawingsofitsDemoisellein
theJune1910editionofPopularMechanics.[5]Thefirstaircrafttobeofferedforsaleasplans,ratherthana
completedairframe,wastheBabyAceinthelate1920s.[6]
HomebuiltaircraftgainedinpopularityintheUSin1924withthestartoftheNationalAirRaces,heldin
Dayton,Ohio.Theseracesrequiredaircraftwithusefulloadsof150lb(68kg)andenginesof80cubicinches
orlessandasaconsequenceoftheclasslimitationsmostwereamateurbuilt.TheyearsafterCharles
Lindbergh'stransatlanticflightbroughtapeakofinterestbetween1929and1933.Duringthisperiodmany
aircraftdesigners,buildersandpilotswereselftaughtandthehighaccidentratebroughtpubliccondemnation
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andincreasingregulationtoamateurbuilding.Theresultingfederalstandardsondesign,engineering,stress
analysis,useofaircraftqualityhardwareandtestingofaircraftbroughtanendtoamateurbuildingexceptin
somespecializedareas,suchasracing.In1946GoodyearrestartedtheNationalAirRaces,includingaclassfor
aircraftpoweredby200cubicinchandsmallerengines.ThemidgetracerclassspreadnationallyintheUSand
thisledtocallsforacceptablestandardstoallowrecreationaluseofamateurbuiltaircraft.Bythemid1950s
boththeUSandCanadaonceagainallowedamateurbuiltaircraftto
specifiedstandardsandlimitations.[2]
Homebuiltaircraftaregenerallysmall,onetofourseatsportsplanes
whichemploysimplemethodsofconstruction.Fabriccoveredwood
ormetalframesandplywoodarecommonintheaircraftstructure,but
increasingly,fiberglassandothercompositesaswellasfullaluminum
constructiontechniquesarebeingused,techniquesfirstpioneeredby
HugoJunkersasfarbackasthelateWorldWarIera.Enginesare
mostoftenthesameas,orsimilarto,theenginesusedincertified
Canada'sfirsthomebuiltaircraft,
aircraft(suchasLycoming,Continental,Rotax,andJabiru).A
StittsSA3APlayboyCFRAD,first
minorityofhomebuiltsuseconvertedautomobileengines,with
flownin1955,seenintheCanada
Volkswagenaircooledflat4s,Subarubasedliquidcooledengines,
AviationandSpaceMuseum.
MazdaWankelandChevroletCorvairsixcylinderenginesbeing
mostcommon.Theuseofautomotiveengineshelpstoreducecosts,
butmanybuilderspreferdedicatedaircraftengines,whichareperceivedtohavebetterperformanceand
reliability.Otherenginesthathavebeenusedincludechainsawandmotorcycleengines.[1][2]
Acombinationofcostandlitigation,especiallyinthemid1980sera,discouragedgeneralaviationmanufacturers
fromintroducingnewdesignsandledtohomebuiltsoutsellingfactorybuiltaircraftbyfivetoone.In2003,the
numberofhomebuiltsproducedintheUSAexceededthenumberproducedbyanysinglecertified
manufacturer.

History
Thehistoryofamateurbuiltaircraftcanbetracedtothebeginningofaviation.EveniftheWrightbrothers,
ClmentAder,andtheirsuccessorshadcommercialobjectivesinmind,thefirstaircraftwereconstructedby
passionateenthusiastswhosegoalwastofly.

Earlyyears
AviationtookaleapforwardwiththeindustrializationthataccompaniedWorldWarI.Inthepostwarperiod,
manufacturersneededtofindnewmarketsandintroducedmodelsdesignedfortourism.However,these
machineswereaffordableonlybytheveryrich.
ManyU.S.aircraftdesignedandregisteredinthe1920sonwardwereconsidered"experimental"bythe(then)
CAA,thesameregistrationunderwhichmodernhomebuiltsareissuedSpecialAirworthinessCertificates.Many
ofthesewereprototypes,butdesignssuchasBernardPietenpol'sfirst1923designweresomeofthefirst
homebuiltaircraft.In1928,HenriMignetpublishedplansforhisHM8PouduCiel,asdidPietenpolforhis
AirCamper.Pietenpollaterconstructedafactory,andin1933begancreatingandsellingpartiallyconstructed
aircraftkits.[2]
In1936,anassociationofamateuraviationenthusiastswascreatedinFrance.Manytypesofamateuraircraft
begantomakeanappearance,andin1938legislationwasamendedtoprovideforaCertificatdenavigabilit
restreintd'aronef(CNRA,"restrictedoperatingcertificateforaircraft").1946sawthebirthoftheUltralight
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AircraftAssociationwhichin1952becamethePopularFlyingAssociationintheUnitedKingdom,followedin
1953bytheExperimentalAircraftAssociation(EAA)intheUnitedStatesandtheSportAircraftAssociationin
Australia.
Theterm"homebuilding"becamepopularinthemid1950swhenEAAfounderPaulPobereznywroteaseries
ofarticlesforthemagazineMechanixIllustratedwhereheexplainedhowapersoncouldbuyasetofplans
andbuildtheirownaircraftathome.Thearticlesgainedworldwideacclaimandtheconceptofaircraft
homebuildingtookoff.[7][8][9]

Technologyandinnovation
Untilthelate1950s,buildershadmainlykepttowoodandclothand
steeltubeandclothdesign.Withouttheregulatoryrestrictionsfaced
byproductionaircraftmanufacturers,homebuildersintroduced
innovativedesignsandconstructiontechniques.BurtRutanintroduced
thecanarddesigntothehomebuildingworldandpioneeredtheuseof
compositeconstruction.Metalconstructioninkitplaneswastakento
anewlevelbyRichardVanGrunsveninhisRVseries.Asthe
sophisticationofthekitsimproved,componentssuchasautopilots
andmoreadvancednavigationinstrumentsbecamecommon.[1][2]
TheQuestairVenturesetnew

Litigationduringthe1970sand1980scausedstagnationinthesmall
standardsforspeedinkitbuilt
aircraftmarket,forcingthesurvivingcompaniestoretainolder,
aircraftdesign
provendesigns.Inrecentyears,thelessrestrictiveregulationsfor
homebuiltsallowedanumberofmanufacturerstodevelopnewand
innovativedesignsmanycanoutperformcertifiedproductionaircraftintheirclass.
AnexampleofhighendhomebuiltdesignisLancair,whichhasdevelopedanumberofhighperformancekits.
ThemostpowerfulistheLancairPropjet,afourplacekitwithcabinpressurizationandaturbopropengine,
cruisingat24,000feet(7,300m)and370knots(425mph,685km/h).Althoughaircraftsuchasthisare
considered"homebuilt"forlegalreasons,theyaretypicallybuiltinthefactorywiththeassistanceofthebuyer.
Thisallowsthecompanywhichsellsthekittoavoidthelongandexpensiveprocessofcertification,because
theyremainownerbuiltaccordingtotheregulations.Oneofthetermsappliedtothisconceptiscommonly
referredtoas"The51%Rule",whichrequiresthatbuildersperformthemajorityofthefabricationandassembly
tobeissuedaCertificateofAirworthinessasanAmateurBuiltaircraft.[10]
Asmallnumberofjetkitplaneshavebeenbuiltsincethe1970s,
includingthetinyBedeAircraftBD5J.[2]

Futuretrends
Van'sAircraftandAircraftKitIndustryAssociation(AKIA)
PresidentDickVanGrunsvenwasaskedaboutthefutureofthekit
aircraftindustryinawideranginginterviewinKitPlanesmagazinein
December2012:

SwearingenSX300

Idon'texpecttoseedramaticchangesintheindustry
withinthenextveyears.Tenyearswhoknowsits
toodependentonfuelprices,FAApolicy,etc.Overall,
Ithinkourindustrywillcontinuetomature,particularly
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asAKIAissuccessfulingrowingandhavingapositive
inuenceontheprofessionalismofitsindustrymembers
andonthebuilders/pilotsofitsproducts.Withconcern
overfuelprices,wemightseeatrendtowardlower
poweredaircraftintendedmoreforpuresportying
ratherthanthetrendtowardcrosscountryaircraft,
whichhasbeenthenormoverthepast30years.I
wouldexpectthattowardtheendofthatperiod,there
mightbesomedesignventuresintoelectricpowered
aircraft,butonlyifbatterytechnologyimproves
signicantly.Wemightseemoremotorglidertype
homebuilts,tiedbothtohighfuelpricesandemerging
electricpropulsiontechnology.
WhatwedoatVan'scouldmirrorsomeoftheabove
thinking.Unfortunately,Idon'tseethegrowthpotential
thattherewasinthe1980sand1990s.Thereseemsto
beashrinkingpilotbasefromwhichtodrawpeopleto
buildkits.Plus,withdemographicchanges,thereis
possiblyadiminishinginterestin,orabilitytoundertake,
aircraftbuildingasapastime.Hopefully,EAAand
AOPAinitiativestointerestmorepeopleinlearningto
ywillhelpcreatealargermarketforourairplanes.
EmergingmarketssuchasChinaandIndiacouldalso
boostdemandforourproducts,butentireinfrastructures
willneedtobeformedbeforesmallplayerslikeuscould
benet.[11]

Buildingmaterials
Homebuiltaircraftcanbeconstructedoutofanymaterialthatislightandstrongenoughforflight.Several
commonconstructionmethodsaredetailedbelow.

Woodandfabric
Thisistheoldestconstruction,seeninthefirstaircraftandhencethe
bestknown.Forthatreason,amateurbuiltaircraftassociationswill
havemorespecialistsforthistypeofcraftthanotherkinds.[1][2]
ThemostcommonlyusedwoodsareSitkaspruceandDouglasfir,
whichofferexcellentstrengthtoweightratios.Woodenstructural
membersarejoinedwithadhesive,usuallyepoxy.Unlikethewood
constructiontechniquesusedinotherapplications,virtuallyallwooden
jointsinaircraftaresimplebuttjoints,withplywoodgussets.Joints
aredesignedtobestrongerthanthemembers.Afterthestructurehas
beencompleted,theaircraftiscoveredinaircraftfabric(usually

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Atypicalwoodandfabric
constructionamateurbuilt,the
BowersFlyBaby.

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aircraftgradepolyester).Theadvantageofthistypeofconstructionis
thatitdoesnotrequirecomplextoolsandequipment,but
commonplaceitemssuchassaw,planer,file,sandpaper,and
clamps.[1][2]
Examplesofamateurbuiltwoodandfabricdesignsinclude:
TheclassicPietenpolAirCamper,ahomebuiltthathasbeen
builtsincethe1920s.
TheBowersFlyBaby,alowwingmonoplanewhichhasbeen
popularsincethe1960s.
TheIsonminiMAX

Wood/compositemixture

APietenpolAirCamperunder
construction,showingthewooden
framestructurethatwillbecovered
withaircraftfabric.

Arecenttrendistowardwoodcompositeaircraft.Thebasicloadcarryingmaterialisstillwood,butitis
combinedwithfoam(forinstancetoincreasebucklingresistanceofloadcarryingplywoodskins)andother
syntheticmaterialslikeglassandcarbonfibre(tolocallyincreasethemodulusofloadcarryingstructureslike
sparcaps,etc.).[1][2]
Examplesofwoodcompositedesignsinclude:
Ibisexperimentalaircraftproject,designedbyRogerJunqua
KRseriesofhomebuiltsdesignedbyKenRand
PIK26designedbyKaiMellen

Metal
Planesbuiltfrommetalusesimilartechniquestomoreconventional
factorybuiltaircraft.Theycanbemorechallengingtobuild,requiring
metalcutting,metalshaping,andrivetingifbuildingfromplans.
"Quickbuild"kitsareavailablewhichhavethecutting,shapingand
holedrillingmostlydone,requiringonlyfinishingandassembly.Such
kitsarealsoavailablefortheothertypesofaircraftconstruction,
especiallycomposite.[1][2]

Anontypicalwoodconstruction
amateurbuilt,theIBISRJ03.

Therearethreemaintypesofmetalconstruction:sheetaluminium,
tubealuminium,andweldedsteeltube.Thetubestructuresare
coveredinaircraftfabric,muchlikewoodenaircraft.
Examplesofmetalbasedamateuraircraftinclude:
TheMurphyMoose,Rebel,SuperRebelandMaverick,
producedbyMurphyAircraft.
TheVansRV4,RV8,RV10andothermodelsproducedby
Van'sAircraft,arethemostpopularmetalhomebuiltaircraft.
ChrisHeintz'sZenithCH601ZodiacandZenithSTOLCH701

Van'sAircraftlikethisRV4arethe
mostcommonmetalhomebuilttype.

Composite
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Compositematerialstructuresaremadeofclothwithahightensilestrength(usuallyfiberglassorcarbonfiber,or
occasionallyKevlar)combinedwithastructuralplastic(usuallyepoxy,althoughvinylesterisusedinsome
aircraft).Thefabricissaturatedwiththestructuralplasticinaliquidformwhentheplasticcuresandhardens,
thepartwillholditsshapewhilepossessingthestrength
characteristicsofthefabric.[1][2]
Thetwoprimarytypesofcompositeplanesaremouldedcomposite,
wheremajorstructureslikewingskinsandfuselagehalvesare
preparedandcuredinmoulds,andmouldless,whereshapesare
carvedoutoffoamandthencoveredwithfiberglassorcarbon
fiber.[1][2]
Theadvantagesofthistypeofconstructionincludesmoothsurfaces
(withoutthedragofrivets),theabilitytodocompoundcurves,and
theabilitytoplacefiberglassorcarbonfiberinoptimalpositions,
orientations,andquantities.Drawbacksincludetheneedtoworkwith
chemicalproductsaswellaslowstrengthindirectionsperpendicular
tofiber.Compositesprovidesuperbstrengthtoweight.Material
stiffnessdependentupondirection(asopposedtoequalinall
directions,aswithmetals)allowsforadvanced"elastictailoring"of
compositeparts.[1][2]

InsideofthetailconeofaMurphy
Mooseunderconstruction,showing
theallmetalsemimonocoquedesign

Examplesofamateurcraftmadeofcompositematerialsinclude:
CanarddesignssuchastheVariEzeandLongEZdesignedby
BurtRutan
ThepusherpropellerCirrusVK30designedbyJeffViken
andtheKlapmeierbrothers
TheEuropaXSfamilyofBritishtwoplacemonoplanes
designedbyIvanShaw

Afiberglass/foamQuickieQ2.

Safety
Thesafetyrecordofhomebuiltsisnotasgoodascertifiedgeneral
aviationaircraft.IntheUnitedStates,in2003,amateurbuiltaircraft
experiencedarateof21.6accidentsper100,000flighthoursthe
overallgeneralaviationaccidentrateforthatyearwas6.75per
100,000flighthours.[12]

AcompositeconstructionCirrusVK
30,oneofthelargesthomebuilt
aircraftofitstime.

TheaccidentrateforhomebuiltaircraftintheUSAhaslongbeena
concerntotheFederalAviationAdministration.AtSun'nFun2010FAAAdministratorRandyBabbittsaid
thathomebuilts"accountfor10percentoftheGAfleet,but27percentofaccidents.It'snotthebuilders[getting
intoaccidents],butthesecondowners.Weneedbettertransitiontraining."[13]Itisimportanttonotethatinthe
USAapersonmayreceiveflightinstruction,includingprimaryflighttraining,inanexperimentalaircraftthat
he/sheownsfromanyCFIwillingtoprovidesuchtraining.[14]
Astudyreleasedin2012bytheUSNationalTransportationSafetyBoardconcludedthathomebuiltaircraftin
theUShaveanaccidentrate34timeshigherthantherestofthegeneralaviationfleet.Almost10%of
homebuiltaccidentsoccurredonthefirstflightand9%offirstflightsbypurchasersofusedhomebuiltsresulted
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inaccidents.Thestudyalsoidentifiedthatpowerplantfailuresandlossofcontrolinflightaccidentsweremuch
higherthanthesameratesforcertifiedaircraft.[11][15]
Mostnations'aviationregulationsrequireamateurbuiltaircrafttobephysicallymarkedassuch(forexamplein
theUK"OccupantWarningThisaircraft...isamateurbuilt."mustbedisplayed[16]),andextraflighttestingis
usuallyrequiredbeforepassengers(whoarenotpilotsthemselves)canbecarried.

Culture
ThelargestairshowintheworldistheExperimentalAircraftAssociation'sannualEAAAirVentureOshkosh
airshowinOshkosh,Wisconsin,whichtakesplaceinlateJulyandearlyAugust.Otherannualeventsarethe
SunN'FunFlyIn,whichoccursintheearlyspringinLakeland,Florida,andtheNorthwestEAAFlyInin
Arlington,Washington.Theseeventsarecalledaflyinasmanypeopleflytheirhomebuiltsandotheraircraft
intotheairporthostingtheshow,oftencampingtherefortheduration.Botheventslastaweek.Takeoffsand
landingsattheseshowsnumberinthethousands.

Seealso
Aircraftdesignprocess
Ultralight
SpecialAirworthinessCertificate
Heathkit
Kitcar

References
1. Armstrong,Kenneth:ChoosingYourHomebuilttheoneyouwillfinishandfly!SecondEdition,pages3952.
ButterfieldPress,1993.ISBN0932579264
2. PeterMBowers:GuidetoHomebuiltsNinthEdition.TABBooks,BlueRidgeSummitPA,1984.ISBN0
830623647
3. ExperimentalCategoryOperatingAmateurbuilt,Kitbuilt,orLightsportAircraft
(http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/airworthiness_certification/sp_awcert/experiment/expt_operating/)
4. Pratt,Jim,AviationSafetyInspector,Manufacturing,FAA,AGrowingTrend!ExperimentalAircraft
Inspection(http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/orl/local_more/media/ppt/experia.ppt)
5. Misegades,Kent(March2013)."EuropeanDesignersofHomebuiltAircraft
(http://www.1114.eaachapter.org/ap_mar_13.pdf)"EAANewsletter.Retrieved24July2015.
6. Clark,Anders(5October2014)."HistoryoftheExperimentalCertificate(https://disciplesofflight.com/history
experimentalcertificate/)".DisciplesofFlight.Retrieved24July2015.
7. DavidGustafson(2012)."HowtoBuildanAirplane"(http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/perspectives
homebuilding/howbuildairplane).
8. DavidGustafson(2012)."PaulPoberezny'sThreeGreatAccomplishments"
(http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/perspectiveshomebuilding/paulpoberezny%E2%80%99sthreegreat
accomplishments).
9. "51HeroesofAviation"(http://www.flyingmag.com/photogallery/photos/51heroesaviation?pnid=41850).
Retrieved23February2015.
10. AmateurBuiltAircraftFederalAviationAdministration
(http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/ultralights/amateur_built/)
11. Bernard,MaryandSuzanneB.Bopp:Q&AwithAKIAPresidentDickVanGrunsven,Kitplanes,Volume29,
Number12,December2012,page2829.BelvoirPublications.ISSN08911851
12. NationalTransportationSafetyBoard(2007)."U.S.GeneralAviation,CalendarYear2003"
(http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2007/ARG0701.pdf)(PDF).AnnualReviewofAircraftAccidentData.Retrieved
20080601.
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13. Grady,Mary(April2010)."FAAAdministratorBabbittTakesInSun'nFun"
(http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/SunNFun2010_FAAAdministratorBabbittTakesInSunnFun_2023791.html).
Retrieved17April2010.
14. "CanIbeinstructedinmyownaircraftfortheSportPilotcertificateifitisregisteredasanexperimental
homebuilt?"(http://www.sportpilot.org/questions/afmviewfaq.asp?faqid=64).ExperimentalAircraft
Association.Retrieved13Feb2012.
15. Grady,Mary(22May2012)."NTSBCompletesHomebuiltSafetyStudy"
(http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/NTSBCompletesHomebuiltSafetyStudy_2067251.html).AVweb.
Retrieved24May2012.
16. "CAP659:AmateurBuiltAircraft:AGuidetoApproval,Construction,andOperationofAmateurBuiltAircraft"
(http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP659.PDF)(PDF).CivilAviationAuthority.November2005.

Externallinks
ExperimentalAircraftAssociation(http://www.eaa.org)(EAA)
LightAircraftAssociation(http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/),therepresentativebodyinthe
UnitedKingdomforamateuraircraft.
FAAAdvisoryCircular2027G:CertificationandOperationofAmateurBuiltAircraft
(http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%202027G.pdf)
Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Homebuilt_aircraft&oldid=672925978"
Categories: Homebuiltaircraft
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