New Member Looking for Ideas

[Fightfire50]

Hi Everyone,

I am researching the feasibility of building my own airplane. The first thing I found is that there are thousands of plans and kits out there, and no real discernable way to narrow the search down. I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want the plane to do, but no idea how to narrow down the selection. If anyone could suggest kits or plans that suit what I am looking for, I would really appreciate it.

Plane specs:
Bi-plane or low wing
Easy to build for first time builder
Easy to fly/land
2 seats
Safe
Must be able to easily communicate with passenger
Low cost-like fly baby cost but 2 seats
If open cockpit, Easy to add a removable canopy

Uses:
Local site seeing solo, with my son, or with another adult
$100 hamburger runs with my son
Occassional x/c. Willing to make fuel stops if needed

My skills:
Woodworking
Home construction
Automotive

I cannot:
Weld
Paint very well

If I have omitted any useful information needed for a suggestion, please let me know. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

[CHICAGORANDY]

Your level of pilot experience and license? MOST important would be your realistic budget, availability of a hangar and your realistic budget.

Oh, and your realistic budget?

[Fightfire50]

Ppl, but currently with low time and no extra ratings. I am planning to get instrument rating, though I don't necessarily expect this plane to be ifr. If I need to, I could also get a tail wheel endorsement.

For a realistic budget, I am not 100% certain because of the mountain of kits and plans available. I think $20-$25k, but don't know how realistic it is.

[CHICAGORANDY]

A single place Aerolite 103 Ultralight kit runs a little bit over $20,000 - https://www.uflyit.com/aerolite_103_prices.htm . 2 place aircraft kits like say an RV come close to doubling that number? I'll let others chime in as I'm quickly getting beyond my personal knowledge base.

[Eric Page]

You’ll be hard pressed to build any of the aluminum 2-seater kits for less than $50k, all-in, unless you’re extraordinarily good at scrounging, and willing to install a used engine.

A Pietenpol Air Camper (https://www.pietenpolaircraftcompany.com/) might fit your criteria, but it’s a parasol wing and I haven’t seen one with a canopy.

You might keep your eyes open for an unfinished Kitfox, particularly one of the early ones (Model 1 - Model 4). They’re pretty popular right now, so finding one at a reasonable price could be a challenge. Rotax has stopped (or soon will…) making the 582, so unless the project comes with an engine, that could be another hurdle.

Amother possibility is the Double Eagle design by Leonard Milholland (http://www.betterhalfvw.com/doubledetails.htm). It’s a high wing also, but it can be built pretty cheaply, has two seats, and is usually powered with an economical VW conversion. It’d be hard to find another 2-seater that could be built or operated as cheaply as this one.

Fisher Flying Products (http://www.fisherflying.com) has a wide range of budget-friendly models, including some 2-seaters and biplanes.

The only aircraft I can think of that meets your 2-seat, low-wing, low-cost criteria is the KR-2S. It’s a wood and fiberglass kit with a pretty attractive price and is also powered with a VW conversion. I don’t know what the current status of this kit is, as the old website (http://www.fly-kr.com/) now directs readers to another site (http://www.nvaero.com/), which appears to be dead.

For any aircraft type you consider, look for an online builders’ group or forum where you can ask about realistic build times, complexity and cost. Good luck!

[Fightfire50]

Thank you for the input so far. I really like the KR-2S, but it looks like the website hasn't been updated since 2004.

[CHICAGORANDY]

I would suggest you check out the Zenith 650 - their website has all the pricing info you'll need for a realistic new kit budget with engine package. Add SEVERAL hundred $$ (or more than a couple $1000) for the necessary tools to do the build.

https://www.zenithair.net/purchase-kit-stol-ch-650/

This guy built his Zenith high wing and at the end of the video suggests a total cost of about $75,000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6vwV2AMR_o

[Fightfire50]

That is a really nice airplane. He mentions in the video that his engine is around $13k. Should I expect the average engine to be in that price range, or is that more like an upgrade? I don't think I mentioned, but I do expect the power plant and instruments/avionics to be additional costs above the $25k. From what I've seen, the instruments/avionics vary by what you prefer.

[CHICAGORANDY]

I would not be shocked to learn that many builders have spent as much on the firewall forward and avionics as they did for rest of the airplane kit. You're kinda asking how much does a car cost? I was once wisely advised that if I had to ask the price of something? I couldn't afford it. And they were right - LOL - but that's just ME, not anyone else.

[Fightfire50]

Lol, that certainly could turn out to be true. For now, I'm just trying to gain an understanding of the costs involved. I guess it's a side effect of my day job.

[JLS]

20000$ on barnstormers (search "emeraude") on that day. This fine airplane has the most pleasant control harmony and is a joy to fly.
Put your 5000$ in for flying it safely (extensive carry-through inspection).

9008

You won't build an emeraude for less money and you will fly soon in your own airplane.

See Budd Davisson pirep
http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepEmeraude.html

[Fightfire50]

That is an interesting idea and may not be a bad way to go. I was really hoping I could find something my son and I could work on together and he could start learning some mechanical skills.

[JLS]

Ask help from a local EAA counselor for needs of restoring it (fabric, engine, instruments). Nevada, IA is central, and I don't know if it's wet or not. I don't know if an emeraude is rare on the market, I wish you the best for future if you take that route (note: this aircraft is not out of annual and is ready for flying, price is honest).

[CAVU Mark]

Buy a partial Van's kit and learn the rest. Best resale, buy flying, just make sure you do a prebuy.

[byronhead]

How about a gyrocopter? Safe and easy to fly. Doesn't stall like a plane.

[ransfly]

Hi Everyone,

I am researching the feasibility of building my own airplane. The first thing I found is that there are thousands of plans and kits out there, and no real discernable way to narrow the search down. I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want the plane to do, but no idea how to narrow down the selection. If anyone could suggest kits or plans that suit what I am looking for, I would really appreciate it.

Plane specs:
Bi-plane or low wing
Easy to build for first time builder
Easy to fly/land
2 seats
Safe
Must be able to easily communicate with passenger
Low cost-like fly baby cost but 2 seats
If open cockpit, Easy to add a removable canopy

Uses:
Local site seeing solo, with my son, or with another adult
$100 hamburger runs with my son
Occassional x/c. Willing to make fuel stops if needed

My skills:
Woodworking
Home construction
Automotive

I cannot:
Weld
Paint very well

If I have omitted any useful information needed for a suggestion, please let me know. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Consider looking at the Pietenpol or the Sonex.