Can You Build Your Own Plane and Fly It? Hell Yes You Can!
As an avid gamer and flying enthusiast, I‘m thrilled at the idea of combining my passions by constructing my own aircraft from the ground up. So let‘s take an epic journey into the world of homebuilt aviation and explore what it really takes to make this awesome dream a reality!
Freedom of the Skies Awaits
Building and piloting your own plane is completely legal in the United States, firmly within reach of ordinary folks like you and me according to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). With some mechanical aptitude, essential piloting skills, regulatory know-how, and a reasonable budget, we can take to the open skies in a high-flying craft of our own creation!
License to Fly
Before starting this exciting project, you’ll need at least a Sport Pilot license which involves passing an FAA exam and checkride. The Recreational or Private Pilot certificates offer more privileges if you want to fly a larger or more advanced plane.
| License Type | Minimum Flight Hours | Max Passengers | Example Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport Pilot | 20 (powered parachute) 40 (airplane/gyroplane) | 1 | Light sport planes |
| Recreational | 30 (additional after sport pilot) | 1 | Simple kit planes |
| Private Pilot | 40 (additional after sport pilot/recreational) | Up to 5 | Faster/complex homebuilts |
Data sourced from AOPA
The flight hours shown are on top of any you may have already logged. So I’d recommend starting flight training now if you haven’t already!
Choose Your Materials Wisely
Homebuilt planes can be constructed from metal, wood, tube and fabric, composites like fiberglass, or any combination thereof. This table from the EAA outlines the most common DIY aircraft building materials and key stats for each category:
| Material | Example Homebuilts | Avg Build Hours | Avg Empty Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | Vans RV Series | 1500-2800 hrs | 1000-1600 lbs |
| Wood | Sonex Aircraft | 800-2500 hrs | 600-1000 lbs |
| Tube & Fabric | Kitfox Series | 1000-2000 hrs | 500-900 lbs |
| Composites | Glasair Sportsman | 1200-3000 hrs | 900-1300 lbs |
| Combination | Zenith CH Series | 1500-2500 hrs | 850-1250 lbs |
With so many sweet options, it may be hard deciding which route to take for your one-of-a-kind bird! Weight, strength, build complexity, cost, and availability of kits or plans are all factors to consider when selecting materials.
Building Your Dream Machine
So you’ve got your pilot’s license, workshop, and a stack of aluminum sheet metal or fiberglass cloth…now what? The FAA estimates between 1000-3000 hours of sweat equity to build an average amateur aircraft. Having some mechanical knowledge or handy skills will come in…well, handy!
Many builders join type-clubs to network and get guidance from others constructing similar models. I’d also consider starting with a proven kit or plans rather than designing my own flyer as an aviation newbie. Vans Aircraft and Zenith are popular choices in the kit world.
Here’s a quick rundown of the typical build process:
- Study plans and organize parts/materials
- Fabricate primary components like wings and fuselage
- Install fuel system, controls, engine, avionics, instruments
- Complete electrical wiring and plumbing
- Apply coverings if needed (metal skin, fabric, fiberglass)
- Add interior, paint exteriors
- Inspect and test-run extensively
- Make final tweaks and adjustments
- Submit paperwork and obtain airworthiness certificate
Then finally, the magic moment…taxi and first flight! Videos of this milestone give me chills every time.
Maintaining Your High-Flying Machine
Once built, amateur-constructed aircraft must be inspected by FAA-licensed mechanics every 12 months. Owners also perform routine maintenance tasks between inspections like changing fluids, lubricating parts, adjusting equipment, and testing systems.
Annual inspection fees run $500-1000. Budget several thousand per year for maintenance items and parts replacement. Properly caring for your homebuilt keeps it airworthy and ensures many hours of fun flying time!
Cost Considerations of Aircraft Ownership
Building and flying your DIY plane is an immensely rewarding endeavor that makes you part of an elite pilot-builder club. That said, it ain‘t cheap! Here are typical costs beyond the purchase of aircraft kits and materials:
- Engine: $8,000-$15,000+
- Avionics/Instruments: $3,000-$10,000+
- Painting Supplies: $500-$5,000
- Misc Parts, Hardware: $2,000+
- Tools and Equipment: Varies widely
- Pilot Training: $5,000-$15,000
- Yearly Insurance: $1,500+
- Hangar Rental: $200-$500/month
- Maintenance and Fuel: $2,000-$5,000/year
All said, you’re likely looking at $25,000-$75,000+ invested depending on choices made during construction regarding engines, avionics, building methods and materials. Those can add major cost but also extra speed, range, and flash! Additional ownership expenses tally $5k+ annually.
Immeasurable Rewards
While clearly not an inexpensive hobby, building your own airplane offers rare experiences you simply can’t put a price on. The pride of creating an incredible flying machine with your own hands, touring the landscape from your custom-built cockpit, and joining a special fraternity of air-minded makers is a one-of-a-kind adventure.
As an ambitious gamer seeking unique life journeys, I say full speed ahead into the hangar for some real-world aeronautical magic! Just don’t forget to logoff Flight Simulator 2020 before firing up that propeller 😉
Let me know if you have any other questions on this epic quest of personal aviation. Maybe I’ll see you above the clouds one day in our matching custom planes!
