Originally Posted by
Bill Greenwood
Sometimes just the wording lends too meaning more than what is said or the facts.
How about, homebuilt airplane , experingetal don't go through the same Govt. FAA , approval process as normal certified planes, nor the extensive testing certified planes do. However many thousands of homebuilt airplanes have been built and are flying successfully, some with better performance and lower prices than factory built ones.
There is a vast range of designs for homebuilts, some well proven by the thousands like RVs and some that are only almost prototypes. Some designs, like the Cub replicas have top safety features and some are on the edge of safety with often small wings ( high wing loading) highere stall speeds or sensitive controls ,and less than idea landing and runway characteristics, very high power and speeds and demanding of careful piloting. No homebuilt is the whole market any more than a sunfish boat is the same as a all out racing catamaran.
In almost all planes the most important part of safety is the pilot, not just his skill, but his judgement.
And yes, I have co built , the minor part, of a plane in the garage and it flew fine.