7/1/1997 12:00:00 AM By Ron Alexander(originally published in EAA Sport Aviation, July 1997)
Building an airplane is a challenging task. The decision should be made only after you have determined what is required financially, emotionally and physically. It is impossible to completely understand what lies ahead but you can acquire enough information to have a good concept.
Read More4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM By Tony Bingelis (originally published in EAA Sport Aviation, April 1993)
I’m sure there are a number of different airplane designs you would enjoy building and flying but how do you decide which of them would be the best project for you?
Read More3/1/1987 12:00:00 AM By Tony Bingelis (originally published in EAA Sport Aviation, March 1987)
No sooner does a flashy new design taxi onto the Oshkosh tarmac than eager would-be builders descend on it with checks and credit cards clutched in their hot hands, desperately striving to be the first kid on their block with the plans and kit for the virgin design.
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The builder of an aircraft is the person who builds the major portion of the aircraft. When you build 51% of the parts and do 51% of the assembly of the total, you have done the major portion. The FAA calls this the Major Portion Rule. In order for the aircraft to be certified under the favorable Experimental Amateur-Built category, the 51% builder must be an amateur (e.g., building the aircraft for education or recreation per FAR 21.191[g]). The FAA maintains a list of kits that the FAA has determined that the kit manufacturer has completed a maximum of 49%. Being on the approved kit list helps the inspector quickly determine if you have built the major portion. Just because a kit isn’t yet on the list does not automatically mean it doesn’t meet the major portion rule, it may be that the kit manufacturer has not yet had the FAA look at their kit.
Read MoreBy Ed Kolano
A primary mission of EAA is to encourage the safe construction and operation of experimental amateur-built aircraft, known informally as “homebuilts.” One of EAA’s most fundamental elements in this mission is promoting informed builders and buyers.
Read MoreBy Budd Davisson (originally published in EAA AeroCrafter 6th Edition)
This is a dangerous time! This is the time when rationality and logic have been overpowered by the dread disease, "I gota build an airplanitis." At exactly the critical moment, when your saner self should reign supreme, your mechanical hormones are running amuck.
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