Building my first aircraft.
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Join Date: May 2013
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Building my first aircraft.
Hello all,
I have been looking at the possibilities of building a kit aircraft. I've been looking around at the various makes and models and have decided I'd prefer a tricycle gear config, with minimum two seats.
I also know that it is a long task, but seems to be very rewarding. Also this brings me onto 'fast build' kits, are these worth it?
I don't have the biggest budget in the world so could someone point me in the direction of a cheaper kit aircraft?
I'm based in the UK.
Cheers,
GBOZR
I have been looking at the possibilities of building a kit aircraft. I've been looking around at the various makes and models and have decided I'd prefer a tricycle gear config, with minimum two seats.
I also know that it is a long task, but seems to be very rewarding. Also this brings me onto 'fast build' kits, are these worth it?
I don't have the biggest budget in the world so could someone point me in the direction of a cheaper kit aircraft?
I'm based in the UK.
Cheers,
GBOZR
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If you build any sort of aircraft yourself in the UK, you're going to have to do so under the guidance of an LAA mentor/coach. Otherwise it'll be very, very hard to eventually get a Permit to Fly. These mentors, and the LAA in general, can also help you choose the right kit for you, based on budget, time available, skills you may or may not have (metal, wood, composite?) and so forth.
The LAA also runs a website which hosts a number of forums. As much as I like PPRuNe, for serious questions about kitbuilding I'd go there.
Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association
I can also recommend the following two books:
- Kitplane Construction (Wanttaja)
- Choosing your homebuilt (Armstrong)
The LAA also runs a website which hosts a number of forums. As much as I like PPRuNe, for serious questions about kitbuilding I'd go there.
Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association
I can also recommend the following two books:
- Kitplane Construction (Wanttaja)
- Choosing your homebuilt (Armstrong)
Last edited by BackPacker; 21st Oct 2013 at 21:58.
What's your budget?
What types have you flown and enjoyed before?
Have you any engineering skills?
What licence(s) do you have?
What sort of space do you have to build in?
How many hours per year, and years, do you think you can give it?
Do you have a home airfield? What's the runway length? Is there hangarage?
G
What types have you flown and enjoyed before?
Have you any engineering skills?
What licence(s) do you have?
What sort of space do you have to build in?
How many hours per year, and years, do you think you can give it?
Do you have a home airfield? What's the runway length? Is there hangarage?
G
If you build any sort of aircraft yourself in the UK, you're going to have to do so under the guidance of an LAA mentor/coach. Otherwise it'll be very, very hard to eventually get a Permit to Fly. These mentors, and the LAA in general, can also help you choose the right kit for you, based on budget, time available, skills you may or may not have (metal, wood, composite?) and so forth.
The LAA also runs a website which hosts a number of forums. As much as I like PPRuNe, for serious questions about kitbuilding I'd go there.
Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association
I can also recommend the following two books:
- Kitplane Construction (Wanttaja)
- Choosing your homebuilt (Armstrong)
The LAA also runs a website which hosts a number of forums. As much as I like PPRuNe, for serious questions about kitbuilding I'd go there.
Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association
I can also recommend the following two books:
- Kitplane Construction (Wanttaja)
- Choosing your homebuilt (Armstrong)
Our chap will need to be a full member of BMAA or LAA, depending upon aircraft type - and will need a good inspector from the appropriate organisation. Quite a few, if not all, of the best inspectors are qualified with both however.
Quick build kits are just a money and time decision. Basically more bits come pre-assembled, but you pay for that. Whether that makes sense (assuming such a kit is available for the type) is ultimately a personal decision. There are also often part built kits available from people who got part wsy through the task and gave up. There are some bargains to be had there sometimes.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 21st Oct 2013 at 22:16.
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Are you a builder or a flyer?
If the latter, don't build.
The cheapest kit is one that has already been built.
If that don't suit ya,find a project, take your LAA man with you and listen to what he says.
If the latter, don't build.
The cheapest kit is one that has already been built.
If that don't suit ya,find a project, take your LAA man with you and listen to what he says.
Thread Starter
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Location: Luton
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What's your budget?
A: 10-20k
What types have you flown and enjoyed before?
A- I've flown in a eurostar and enjoyed!
Have you any engineering skills?
A- I done a apprenticeship with Thomson/Britannia a long time a go
What licence(s) do you have?
A- EASA PPL adding a night rating + Imc as we speak
What sort of space do you have to build in?
A- Two car garage
How many hours per year, and years, do you think you can give it?
A- No time limit, just looking at the possibilities at the moment
Do you have a home airfield? What's the runway length? Is there hangarage?
A- No home airfield
A: 10-20k
What types have you flown and enjoyed before?
A- I've flown in a eurostar and enjoyed!
Have you any engineering skills?
A- I done a apprenticeship with Thomson/Britannia a long time a go
What licence(s) do you have?
A- EASA PPL adding a night rating + Imc as we speak
What sort of space do you have to build in?
A- Two car garage
How many hours per year, and years, do you think you can give it?
A- No time limit, just looking at the possibilities at the moment
Do you have a home airfield? What's the runway length? Is there hangarage?
A- No home airfield
That's enough to be going on with.
So your flying experience is (from this and your profile) EV97, AA5, C152. £10-£20k to play with, not decided on your new spiritual home, needs to be de-riggable, reasonable engineering skills. Not a taildragger pilot.
My thoughts:-
- Consider microlights as well as "group A", you're likely to get more bang for your buck with the former.
- Consider whether you can hangar your new pride and joy
- It wants to be reasonably easy to transport intact from home to airfield in the first instance.
- £20k isn't a huge amount of money these days.
In the microlight world, have a look at the Eurostar, Sky Ranger, MXP740 Savannah, Escapade (available nosewheel or tailwheel, but worth getting the conversion to have a tailwheel version which is much nicer handling), Zenair CH601. All of those should tick all of your boxes so-far, and all storable outdoors with covers if you need to (although I'd really not recommend it with the Escapade, whose life will be shortened by that). I've flown all of them, test flown all of them, and would be happy to own any of them.
In the group A world, have a look at the Group A versions of the EV97, Escapade and CH601 - same applies as the microlight versions, just a bit more payload. Also the Thorpe T211 - I think kits might be still available somewhere; not flown it myself but has a reputation as a straighforward and honest little light aeroplane.
Maybe the Rans S6 or Kitfox, but for my money both are much less refined than the newer Skyranger and Escapade respectively.
Rather cheaper, ugly, and very basic but other than that a super aeroplane, also look at the Raj Hamsa X'Air microlight. However, don't bother with the flapped Mk.2 / Falcon version - the flapless Mk.1 is nicer to fly, and cheaper.
G
So your flying experience is (from this and your profile) EV97, AA5, C152. £10-£20k to play with, not decided on your new spiritual home, needs to be de-riggable, reasonable engineering skills. Not a taildragger pilot.
My thoughts:-
- Consider microlights as well as "group A", you're likely to get more bang for your buck with the former.
- Consider whether you can hangar your new pride and joy
- It wants to be reasonably easy to transport intact from home to airfield in the first instance.
- £20k isn't a huge amount of money these days.
In the microlight world, have a look at the Eurostar, Sky Ranger, MXP740 Savannah, Escapade (available nosewheel or tailwheel, but worth getting the conversion to have a tailwheel version which is much nicer handling), Zenair CH601. All of those should tick all of your boxes so-far, and all storable outdoors with covers if you need to (although I'd really not recommend it with the Escapade, whose life will be shortened by that). I've flown all of them, test flown all of them, and would be happy to own any of them.
In the group A world, have a look at the Group A versions of the EV97, Escapade and CH601 - same applies as the microlight versions, just a bit more payload. Also the Thorpe T211 - I think kits might be still available somewhere; not flown it myself but has a reputation as a straighforward and honest little light aeroplane.
Maybe the Rans S6 or Kitfox, but for my money both are much less refined than the newer Skyranger and Escapade respectively.
Rather cheaper, ugly, and very basic but other than that a super aeroplane, also look at the Raj Hamsa X'Air microlight. However, don't bother with the flapped Mk.2 / Falcon version - the flapless Mk.1 is nicer to fly, and cheaper.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 22nd Oct 2013 at 15:35.
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With only 20k to play with you are not going to build anything I don't think. You will need circa £40k to build even the humblest of machines by the time you have included the dreaded Vat and fitted basic instruments and got it permitted etc.
So I would seriously consider some of the excellent used suggestions Genghis has made.
There are obviously cheaper aircraft out there to be had but my advice would be stick to LAA machines they will be so much lighter on your pocket for maintenance than certified aircraft.
Also look and consider a Jodel, Condor or Emeraude, quite old machines now but dependant on your level of maintenance expertise they would be excellent choices.
So I would seriously consider some of the excellent used suggestions Genghis has made.
There are obviously cheaper aircraft out there to be had but my advice would be stick to LAA machines they will be so much lighter on your pocket for maintenance than certified aircraft.
Also look and consider a Jodel, Condor or Emeraude, quite old machines now but dependant on your level of maintenance expertise they would be excellent choices.
Surly the must be some microlight kits with a 2 stroke for under 20k...even group A,
Granted anything with a 4 stroke is going to be pricey.
Granted anything with a 4 stroke is going to be pricey.
Last edited by magpienja; 22nd Oct 2013 at 16:57.
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Ok I admit I hadn't considered two stroke machines!( why would anyone)...but even then I think you will be very pushed to do it on 20K.
You certainly can't get a 'new' Eurostar, Savannah or Escapade or 601 kit complete with any sort of engine for 20k!
You certainly can't get a 'new' Eurostar, Savannah or Escapade or 601 kit complete with any sort of engine for 20k!
With time, second hand instruments, good second hand engine - you can. I've come across people who have achieved their own aeroplane under £10k with something like an X'Air or some of the LAA single seaters. Buying a part built kit from somebody who gave up can help.
I have around 500hrs behind or in front of 2-stroke engines: so far they've given me one engine problem bad enough to land me in a field. Another 800ish hours in 4-stroke engined aeroplanes has furnished me with several more such bits of entertainment.
2 strokes are cheap, light, a bit noisy, a bit thirsty. For low utilisation homebuilts and microlights, they make a lot of sense. They aren't particularly problematic compared to the 4-stroke variety as fitted in microlights and homebuilts.
G
I have around 500hrs behind or in front of 2-stroke engines: so far they've given me one engine problem bad enough to land me in a field. Another 800ish hours in 4-stroke engined aeroplanes has furnished me with several more such bits of entertainment.
2 strokes are cheap, light, a bit noisy, a bit thirsty. For low utilisation homebuilts and microlights, they make a lot of sense. They aren't particularly problematic compared to the 4-stroke variety as fitted in microlights and homebuilts.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 22nd Oct 2013 at 18:10.
That cute little Kitfox seems to go well and sounds nice with its 65hp Rotax 582 2 stroke...brand new engine should be well under 5k,
Yes it will burn around 18 LPH but how much fuel can you buy with the 11K plus saving over a 4 stroke Rotax,
Bet you can buy many s/h ready made a/c though for less than the kit price,
Are you sure you want to build it yourself....I think the Skyranger range are quite competitive kits see Flylight Northampton...cheaper with the 4 stroke Jab engine,
http://www.flylight.co.uk/tuition/home.htm
Last edited by magpienja; 22nd Oct 2013 at 18:13.
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The Groppo Trail is one of the cheapest options, but not tricycle gear. Might be worth a look.
Trail
The latest offering from the same stable is even cheaper, but not close to your requirements!
Trail
The latest offering from the same stable is even cheaper, but not close to your requirements!
The Groppo Trail is one of the cheapest options, but not tricycle gear. Might be worth a look.
Trail
The latest offering from the same stable is even cheaper, but not close to your requirements!
Trail
The latest offering from the same stable is even cheaper, but not close to your requirements!
G
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Why not buy yerself a half knackered piper warrior or similar and spend the time you planned building from scratch fixing something that's already built, then you've got a real plane that you can keep your IMC current with.
It seems that in your price range you could build a Sonex. Somewhat less for a basic kit, and close to the top of your range if you got the machined angle kit and the prebuilt spars.
Sonex -- The Sport Aircraft Reality Check!
Bryan
Sonex -- The Sport Aircraft Reality Check!
Bryan