Experimental/Homebuilt

[loehle]

PLEASE HELP!!!Interested in building a "homebuilt" Have tried EAA no answer. What are the regs, what catogaries are there, which aircraft qualify? (where is the spel checker), any and all info would be appriciated!!

[LarryMcG]

Eish! Tough question! What do you want it for? How fast? Do you want wood, Aluminium, fabric? Do you want to order a kit, or scratch build?

Try to get a copy of the americam kit planes magazine from cna etc, that might help a little.

[Rob Mirtle]

HI

Have a look at the EAASA web site ,there is a lot of information
as well as local contacts in your area

[Dusty Eagle]

Hi Loehle.

A simple question with so many answers, and none of them easy. It also invokes a multitude of questions from those you are asking.

To start, are you a pilot, what do you fly, why do you want to change, what do you want to change to, do you want to fly fast or slow, have a STOL aircraft or something mean and sleak, a tail dragger of tricycle, do you have lots of money, what are your levels of expertise, do you want to go wood and fabric, composit construction or metal. If you want perfection go to Rudi Greylings RV site and see what can be done, do you want to build from plans and source your own materials, cut and manufacture every part, or do you want a kit supplied with every part supplied with minimal fabrication and simplicity to build, and why do you want to build as against buying some-ones hard work and completed ready to fly plane.

You can buy a local product called bushbaby where all is supplied in a combination of steel tube, wood and fabric with an instruction manual or go to your namesake in America Loehle ] where they have a range of kits available from a parasel type to a few warbirds, all in simple wood and fabric construction in the microlight catagory, or Vans all alum. RV

If you are near JHB, I have tons of Kitplanes mags you can borrow, including the one where almost every experimental type available is listed either as plans or in kit form.

You are going to get a lot of answers on this forum, many I guess will be invites to see a project under way which is the route to go to help you decide.

Good luck, I can show you two if you want.

Regards.

You have some serious researching and soul searching to do.

[loehle]

Thanks guys! OK a bit about me. No I am not flying (currently, did a tad in the '70s) Semi retired and have always wanted to build my own 'plane so the question really is which planes, that would qualify as experimental in SA, can I look at. At this point it's a case of first seeing whats available and then narrowing the choise (a Spit or a Storch)

[justin.schoeman]

Thanks guys! OK a bit about me. No I am not flying (currently, did a tad in the '70s) Semi retired and have always wanted to build my own 'plane so the question really is which planes, that would qualify as experimental in SA, can I look at. At this point it's a case of first seeing whats available and then narrowing the choise (a Spit or a Storch)

Just about anything can be built as an experimental/homebuilt.

A few points:
1) Weight.
Weight restricts what type of license you need to fly it. Very few homebuilts (esp single seaters) fit into the microlight category. Many fit into the new RPL category, and the rest into the PPL category.

2) Stall speed.
As for weight above, this also determines which category license you will require. Many of the scale warbirds stall too fast for microlight (or even RPL) category.

3) Already in SA, and factory support
If you are building a type that has not been recently built in SA, you are going to need to get A LOT of supporting documentation from the factory to get the design approved for SA. Make sure the factory/designer is willing to help you with this.

-justin

[Boet]

Let me solve your problem quickly. Buy a local aerie, Bushbaby is a good choise. The most bang for your buck. Good quality and the price will be hard to beat. 082 8041896. You are welcome to contact me for more info.

[swiftprop]

Hi Loehle
Welcome to Microlighters (I see this is your 2nd post) Have a look at the various posts under technical. I agree with local such as a Bushbaby or a Carl Babst Raven.
Best wishes
Andre

[justin.schoeman]

Judging by his post (and his handle), I assume he is looking for a replica? If this is not the case, the raven is certainly a great option.

-justin

[loehle]

Ok so what are the weight limits and the stall speed limits of the various categories? Is there not a single document that will give me all this info? Sorry guys but the Bushbaby seems a little boring!!!

[Boet]

Your loss..

[justin.schoeman]

Ok so what are the weight limits and the stall speed limits of the various categories? Is there not a single document that will give me all this info? Sorry guys but the Bushbaby seems a little boring!!!

Microlight requirements:

Single seat:
300kg MAUW
201kg Empty weight
65km/h Min speed

Two seat:
450kg MAUW
260kg Empty weight
65km/h Min speed

Unfortunately, I don't have the part 62 (RPL) requirements handy. Maybe someone else has them?

[priester]

Ok so what are the weight limits and the stall speed limits of the various categories? Is there not a single document that will give me all this info? Sorry guys but the Bushbaby seems a little boring!!!

Many years ago I decided to buy a Mooney. When I mentioned this to someone mostly the reaction was: It is a very nice plane, but it uses so much runway to take-off. I eventually got pissed off with this story, and I then started to ask the guy how many hours he had on the Mooney, every time it was "none". As a matter of fact the take-off distance for the Mooney at gross is 50 m more than a C182 at gross. I went to Oshkosh one year and happened to overhear an owner of a RV say to some wisecrak: Don't go shooting your mouth off about something you know nothing about.(with the American accent.)

I would like to say to you: don't go shooting your mouth off about Bushbabies you know nothing about. (with the South African term Asshole added.)

Have a nice day.

[swiftprop]

Hi Loehle
Chech out this section of Budd Davidson's site. Very informative on homebuilt aeroplanes
http://www.airbum.com/articles.html#How

[loehle]

Your comments are a bit harsh or is this what a total novice in search for advise, who makes a personal observation is to come to expect from the flying fraternity? It was this type of attitude that stop me flying from clubs back in the '70s and I see it has still not changed, what a pity!!!