Also known as amateur-built aircraft, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by one or more persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits. The word amateur is used here is used in its positive form, indicating someone who is not paid for this activity. However, the finished product is often of good quality. After all, the enthusiast will be flying in his own construction!

In the United States, such aircraft may be flown as Experimental Aircraft under FAA regulations, provided that the owner has done at least 51% of the construction work her or himself.

The first aircraft to be offered for sale in this form was the Ace Baby Ace in the late 1920s. Homebuilt aircraft gained in popularity in the US in the 1950s with the formation of the Experimental Aircraft Association and with a large demand for light aircraft created by ex-military pilots after World War II.

Homebuilt aircraft are typically small, one- to four-seat sportsplanes, and employ simple methods of construction. Fabric-covered wood or metal frames and plywood are common in the aircraft structure, but increasingly, fiberglass is being used. Engines are often converted from automobile engines, with Volkswagen air-cooled flat-4s proving popular. This helps to keep costs down, but some builders use dedicated aircraft engines which typically give better performance. There are some newer aircraft engines becoming common, such as those from Rotax, that use modern technology to keep costs and fuel burn down compared to the small Lycoming or Continental engines.

History

One can trace the history of amateur-built aircraft almost to the beginning of aviation itself. Even if Clément Ader, the Wright brothers, and their successors had commercial objectives in mind, their first aircraft were amateur-built, constructed by passionate enthusiasts whose goal was to fly.

Aviation took a leap forward with the industrialization that accompanied the First World War (1914-1918). In the post-war period industries needed to find new markets and introduced models designed for tourism. However, these machines were affordable only to the very rich. In 1928 Henri Mignet published plans in the magazine Les ailes ("Wings") for the HM-8 aircraft, which could be easily constructed by the home-built enthusiast. In 1934 he publicized his HM-14, the famous Pou du ciel ("Sky Louse"). These planes responded to a genuine need and many were constructed.

The year 1936 saw the creation in France of an association of amateur aviation enthusiasts. Many types of amateur aircraft began to make an appearance, and in 1938 legislation was amended to provide for a Certificat de navigabilité restreint d'aéronef (CNRA, "restricted operating certificate for aircraft").

The Second World War put a temporary halt to this movement, but after the end of hostilities activities resumed. In 1946 there appeared:

• the AS70 of André Starck
• the RA14 of Roger Adam
• the n° IV of Jean Van Lith .

And in 1947:

• the n° 7 of André Brodeau
• the MB50 of Maurice Brochet .

Meanwhile, the French administration had tightened up the CNRA. At the end of 1946 the RSA(Réseau des sportifs de l'air, Air Enthusiasts Association) was formed to negotiator with the authorities an easing of the certification system. Amateurs did not have at their disposal the means for such an undertaking.

And in 1948 developments in the movement continued with the unveiling of Émilien Croses's Criquet ("Cricket"), and the famous Jodel D-9 or bébé Jodel ("Baby Jodel") created by Jean Délémontez and Édouard Joly .

The power and reliability of motors improved. A 65-hp motor appared with the Continental C-65 . Automobile motors were also adapted for aviation use. Quite frequently it was the famous Volkswagen Beetle's (known as the Coccinelle in France).

Some amateur aircraft were so well-conceived that they gave birth to "industrial" planes: the Jodel inspired the DR series, such as the DR400 on which Jean Délémontez collaborated with Pierre Robin. Among others was the Piel CP-30, known as the Émeraude ("Emerald") of Claude Piel 's.

Besides the easing of CNRA requirements, 1952 saw the birth of the Popular Flying Association in the United Kingdom, followed the next year by the Experimental Aircraft Association in the United States.

Until then mainly restricted to the classic wood-and-cloth design, amateurs showed great creativity in introducing innovations: metal construction, composite materials, canard designs (canard meaning "duck", as the wings were roughly the same length as the fuselage), and autopilots.

At the present time (2004) France has 1800 amateur planes that are flown. In the near future a thousand craft are said to be under construction, although this estimate depends on reports from builders and not all of them may end up being flown.

Aircraft Types

Wood and cloth

This is the oldest construction, seen in the first aircraft and hence the best known. For that reason amateur-built aircraft associations will have more specialists for this type of craft than other kinds.

The structure of this type of plane uses wood, which is light and resistant. It is then overlain with cloth.

The biggest advantage of this type of construction is that it does not require a lot of complex tools and equipment, but rather such commonplace items as a saw, plane tool, file, sandpaper, and clamps are sufficient.

Amateur wood/cloth planes include:

• the Jodel models including the bébé D-9, D-112, and the more D-18, D-19, and D-20
• the Piel CP-30 or Émeraude
• the motorized glider Fournier RF-5 .

Metal

Planes built from metals are more challenging to build, requiring metal-cutting, metal-shaping, and rivetting. However, full or component assembly kits are relatively easy to obtain. (A component assembly kit has the material needed to built part of the aircraft, such as the fuselage. Such kits are also available for the other types of aircraft construction.)

The metals used are aluminum and above all an aluminum alloy known as duralumin.

Examples of metal-based amateur aircraft include:

• Chris Heintz 's Zenith (Aircraft)
• Jean Pottier 's Pottier P-230 Panda
• The RV-4, RV-6, and other models produced by Van's Aircraft, a U.S. manufacturer whose designs are also available in kit form.

Composite

"Composite" refers to a plaster case made of fibreglass (or even of carbon or Kevlar) injected with a synthetic polymer resin (polyester and epoxy).

The advantage of this type of construction is the range of modern and aerodynamic forms that can be obtained. Drawbacks include the need to work with chemical products, and the weight, which can be even greater than with wood/cloth or metal models.

Examples of amateur craft made of composite materials include:

• canard designs such as the VariEze designed by Burt Rutan
• all Lancair designs
• the MCR de Dyn'aero ,a high-performance craft available in kit form.

See also

Category:Homebuilt aircraft

External Links

• Experimental Aircraft Association "EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, is a growing and diverse organization of members with a wide range of aviation interests and backgrounds."
• Popular Flying Association "The Popular Flying Association is the representative body in the United Kingdom for amateur aircraft construction, recreational and sport flying."
• Réseau du Sport de l'Air (In French) "Le Réseau du Sport de l'Air est la Fédération Nationale dédiée à la Construction et la Restauration d'aéronefs grandeur nature depuis 1947 (avions, planeurs, ulm, hélicoptères, ballons...)" ("The Air Enthusiasts Association is the national federation dedicated to the construction and restoration of heavier-than-air craft since 1947 (planes, gliders, ultra-lights, helicopters, balloons, ...)")
• Igo Etrich Club The Igo Etrich Club was founded in 1987 by to provide a place for all Austrians interested in building aircraft. The association assists it members at the following tasks: own developments; building a copy using a plan; building a kit plane; restoration of an old plane or overhauling of an old-timer.